A loss, however, means the end of the road for an IN team that has showed continued growth and improvement all season.
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I think that if Johnson and Morgan play fully healthy IN will edge North Carolina by hitting threes and rebounding well enough to keep UNC from getting extended possessions. But he remains as the heart and soul of this team and likely the guy who will command the last shot when the game is on the line. He’s also no stranger to Yogi Ferrell, as the two played against each other frequently in various AAU and HS camps. He has been dynamic in the frontcourt and is averaging 16.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. This could be the critical matchup that IN can exploit.
Perhaps the most vital statistic that could be a determining factor in this one is UNC’s performance in defending the three-point arc against the Hoosiers’ barrage. The Indiana Hoosiers are averaging 82.5 points on 50.5 percent shooting and allowing 69 points on 44.2 percent shooting.
This time, they are up against the Indiana Hoosiers and nothing less than another stellar performance is needed for them to continue their journey this season. And while his arm has UNC fans eager to see him in a full-time role as the Tar Heels’ starting quarterback, his legs might be the key to maintaining North Carolina’s status as one of the country’s elite offenses. According to KenPom, he ranks as the nation’s 13th best defensive rebounder and is just outside the top 100 on the offensive glass.
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“They play fast, up and down, kind of like Iowa”, Hoosiers point guard Yogi Ferrell said. This has the potential to be one of the best and most high-profile games in the Sweet Sixteen. “Being in the Sweet 16, it doesn’t get better”. But Wisconsin and Notre Dame are hardly Cinderella’s. You’d have to like Indiana’s chances to beat either squad and advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2002, when the Hoosiers fell to Maryland in the national championship game. Of late, it’s also helped offset Meeks’ struggles (21 points in five postseason games) since posting a double-double in the win at Duke to close the regular season. A buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Michigan’s Kam Chatman knocked IN out of the conference tournament. Coach Roy Williams has long preferred balance, having the ability to attack teams both in the paint and on the perimeter to wear down opponents, get them in foul trouble or both. “They’re going to shoot a lot of 3s”, Williams said. With how many forwards they can go to on the bench, with how they can go to the bench with their guards. It has been 29 years since the Hoosiers have won a national championship, that back in 1987 with a 74-73 victory over Syracuse. He’s best used as a lockdown defender, but his passing and rebounding have been crucial for the Tar Heels. The main weakness for the Badgers’ D, however, is the three-pointer, which is something the Irish are pretty good at. Vizio started as a “budget” TV brand that you’d get if the top-of-the-line Sony or Samsung sets were too expensive. “But they are a team that’s not afraid to push the tempo”. “Coach Williams always told us stories about the 2009 team and how they had to invest in defense”. While the other matchup may be aesthetically pleasing, this one will be a highlight reel of fundamentals, and two solid, underrated coaches in Greg Gard and Mike Brey, will make for one of the most important matchups of all.
