Syracuse Basketball: Orange better hit boards hard versus North Carolina

Syracuse basketball faces an excellent rebounding team when the Orange visits UNC.

As is often the case with Roy Williams-led squads at North Carolina, the Tar Heels in 2020-21 are one of the best rebounding teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which means Syracuse basketball will have its hands full in their league clash on Tuesday evening.

Not only is UNC faring well in the rebounding department within the ACC, but also the Tar Heels at present are the No. 1 offensive-rebounding group across the country, averaging a ridiculous 16 offensive rebounds per contest, according to statistics posted on ncaa.com.

Considering that the Orange has had its share of struggles keeping some opponents off of the offensive glass, for example in a three-point loss to fellow ACC foe Pittsburgh on the Hill last Wednesday, if the ‘Cuse doesn’t hold its own versus North Carolina on the boards at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C., it will likely prove a long night for the Orange.

Per statistics on ESPN.com, UNC is grabbing five more rebounds a game than the Orange. What really worries me, though, is whether the ‘Cuse 2-3 zone can fend off the Tar Heels’ big men as they crash the boards.

North Carolina is not all that stellar shooting the ball from the field as a whole, at 41.9 percent, or from beyond the arc, at 30.4 percent. Therefore, what could really potentially hurt Syracuse basketball is giving the Tar Heels an abundance of second-chance points via offensive rebounds.

The Orange (7-2) is slated to commence this league encounter on the road versus North Carolina at 9 pm, with television coverage on the ACC Network.

The ‘Cuse is coming off a five-point triumph against former Big East Conference rival Georgetown this past Saturday night in Central New York. The Tar Heels (7-4), meanwhile, have captured two successes in a row, versus Notre Dame and Miami, by a combined three points.

Williams, who like Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim is a Hall of Famer, possesses three national championships, whereas Boeheim has one.

Both teams, to date in 2020-21, are hovering around the proverbial March Madness bubble, according to bracketologists, so the Orange has an opportunity here to notch a solid win away from the Carrier Dome.