Geno Smith was still the quarterback of the Jets at the time, so it was easy to brush off the National Football League and start checking out Maryland’s basketball schedule. This is North Carolina’s first appearance in an ACC title game. It seems almost that long since a game between the heavyweights has meant this much. The Bobby Frasor missed layup followed by a Mike Jones three that keyed a Maryland run in 2007. Maryland has lost five straight in Chapel Hill since upsetting then-No. And of course Greivis’ triple double when the Terps stormed back from 9 down with 1:40 left in regulation to get an OT win.
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Sulaimon said he didn’t want to allow the hostility directed at him to distract from his focus. Without the creator Paige, the team has settled for more jump shots around the perimeter.
At least not in the four years that Marcus Paige has been in Chapel Hill.
The Tar Heels played all those games without standout guard Marcus Paige due to a fractured bone in his non-shooting hand.
On one of the first possessions that Cole was court side, North Carolina’s Joel James hit a turnaround jumper over a Maryland defender and, on his way back down court, winked and pointed at the Fayetteville native. So it will be interesting to see how Paige fits into this game.
The key player for UNC so far this season has been Justin Jackson. Switzer is known best for his work on punt team, recording his 7th career punt return against Miami (shown in the feature image), moving to just one shy of Wes Welker and Antonio Perkins for the FBS career record. The Tigers are the more talented team and have played well all season and to discredit them going into the ACC Championship Game would be a awful thing to do. Especially with Paige returning (39.5% from three last season), the sample size is too small to judge a player or team’s outside shooting. “I just tried to totally invest in our team and do whatever the team needed me to do to help us win tonight”. The shots were falling for the Heels, and Terps star Melo Trimble was fumbling the ball all over the gym. Brice Johnson scored 16 points while Kennedy Meeks had 12 with both collecting six rebounds each.
The Terps are also just 1-5 against the number in their last six games versus the Tar Heels and are 1-5 ATS in their last six road games versus UNC.
They are averaging a three touchdown margin of victory this season. If both Marquise Williams and Elijah Hood can get tough yards while ripping off big plays, the Clemson defense will open up for guys like Switzer and Hollins to stretch the field. Trimble was responsible for 52 of the Terps 81 points tonight. Last week against the Wolfpack, quarterback Jacoby Brissett was able to rush for over 100 yards, and while he only threw for just over 200 yards, he took advantage of some big plays that opened up for touchdowns.
“[Sulaimon] played on a team that’s probably the most hated team in America everywhere he went, so he’s used to it”, said coach Mark Turgeon.
Marcus Paige will make his season debut on Tuesday night as UNC hosts Maryland. It was the kind of finish that gave the Tar Heels confidence that they could succeed even without Paige. Trimble will need to outperform Paige, and someone in the middle will need to step up alongside Carter in the trenches against Meeks and Johnson.
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There are several solid matchups in this year’s challenge, but none feature two Top 10 teams beside this one.
