Predicting the 8 biggest games for Louisville basketball in 2019-20

vs. North Carolina

February 22nd

All bias aside, I still don’t see how North Carolina was picked to finish second behind Duke and ahead of Louisville in the ACC. It’s most definitely because of the name, but UNC just is not as good as they have been in the past.

Only three returning players were on the floor for double-digit minutes per game last season, and Garrison Brooks is by far the most important of the three. Brooks will be relied on as a good inside scorer and he will probably be the Tar Heels second-best rebounder.

With that said, North Carolina will undoubtedly ride on Cole Anthony, the fourth-best player in the 2019 recruiting class.

He can score in a variety of ways and he’s often praised for his advanced abilities as a passer and undersized rebounder. North Carolina also will need fellow 5-star recruit Armando Bacot to step up. Bacot is a 6’10 center who is an incredible rebounder and can score inside at will when he’s playing at his best.

North Carolina will also welcome two impactful graduate transfers into the fold in Christian Keeling, who averaged nearly 19 points per game in his final season at Charleston Southern, and Justin Pierce from William & Mary.

The Cards went 1-2 against the Tar Heels last season but they destroyed UNC in Chapel Hill in January. The Yum! Center will be an incredible environment and the Cards are going to prove that they are the better team.

Prediction: Jordan Nwora will have a big game and Dwayne Sutton will put up solid numbers as well, while Ryan McMahon knocks down some pivotal three-pointers. It’s a great game and both teams go back and forth down the stretch but Louisville pulls away late. Louisville over North Carolina, 84-77.