• Carolina plays host to Virginia Tech on Thursday, January 26th, at 8 p.m. (ESPN).
• UNC returns to action less than two days later when the Tar Heels travel to Coral Gables, Fla., to play at Miami. Game time on Saturday, 1/28, is 1 p.m. (CBS).
• This is one of three instances on the ACC schedule this year when the Tar Heels play two games in three days: Jan. 14-16 (home games vs. Florida State and Syracuse); Jan. 26-28 (home vs. Virginia Tech and at Miami); and Feb. 25-27 (away games at Pitt and Virginia).
• The Tar Heels are 18-3 overall and 6-1 in the ACC. UNC has won six conference games in a row and scored 85 or more points in all six games, the first time in school history the Tar Heels have scored 85 or more points in six straight ACC games.
• This is the eighth time in 14 years under Roy Williams the Tar Heels are at least 6-1 in conference play (2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017).
• Carolina started ACC play 7-1 or better in five of Williams’ first 13 seasons (2005, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016).
• UNC is ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press and No. 6 in the USA Today/Coaches polls.
• Virginia Tech is 15-4, 4-3 in the ACC with wins in three of its last four games. The Hokies are 11-1 at home and 2-2 on the road.
• The Tar Heels are 10-0 at home this year, including 3-0 in league play (wins over NC State, Florida State and Syracuse).
UNC-VIRGINIA TECH SERIES
• Carolina is 66-13 against the Hokies, including 13-3 since Virginia Tech joined the ACC.
• Carolina has won the last six games in the series and 11 of the last 12.
• The Tar Heels are 5-1 in the Smith Center against Virginia Tech and 29-6 in Chapel Hill.
• Roy Williams is 13-3 against Virginia Tech, all as UNC’s head coach.
LAST YEAR AT VIRGINIA TECH
• Brice Johnson had 19 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks and three steals to lead UNC to a 75-70 win in Blacksburg on 1/24/16.
• The Tar Heels led by 20 points in the first half but the Hokies rallied to take the lead in the second half. • The win was Roy Williams’ 350th win at Carolina. He became the only coach ever to win 350 NCAA Division 1 games at two different schools (418 at Kansas).
• UNC was 3 for 23 (.130) from three-point range, its lowest percentage for at least 20 attempts in the Roy Williams era.
• The Tar Heels shot 37.8 percent from the floor, lowest of the season to that point.
• The Tar Heels committed only seven turnovers and outscored the Hokies, 19-8, in points off turnovers. • Joel Berry II was the only other Tar Heel in double figures (13).
• Marcus Paige had a game-high 7 assists and hit two key free throws in the closing seconds.
UNC 90, BOSTON COLLEGE 82
• Justin Jackson scored 22 points and Kennedy Meeks had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead Carolina to its fifth straight win at Boston College and the Tar Heels’ 10th win in a row over the Eagles.
* Carolina has scored 85 or more points in six consecutive ACC games for the first time in its history.
• It was the fifth time in the last six games and 11th time this season UNC scored 20 or more second-chance points (24 at BC).
• It was Justin Jackson’s ninth time this year with at least 20 points. He did that five times in his first two seasons. It was also the ninth time he led UNC in scoring this year, a team high.
• Meeks scored 20 points. It was his second 20-point game this year and his sixth career 20-point game. • It was Carolina’s 73rd ACC road win in Roy Williams’ 14 years at Carolina. Only one other school has more than 42 ACC road wins in that span (Duke has 70).
• Isaiah Hicks was 7 for 8 at the free throw line at BC and is 29 for 32 in the last four games.
• Hicks has 32 free throw attempts in the last four games. His previous high four-game stretch this year was 17, and his career high was 30. Hicks also had a season-high five offensive boards. He had three offensive rebounds in one of his first 13 games and three or more in six of his last eight games.
• Hicks also led UNC in assists with four. It was the second time in three games he led UNC in assists.
• Theo Pinson had three offensive rebounds, all in a four-possession stretch, when UNC scored eight second-chance points to up its lead to six points late.
• The Tar Heels have 10 straight wins over BC, including five in a row at Conte Forum. UNC is 7-1 at Conte all-time.
• Tony Bradley had six rebounds and five points in 11 minutes in his first game back after missing a pair of contests due to a concussion suffered at Wake Forest.
• Boston College attempted seven free throws, which matches Syracuse for the fewest by an opponent this year, and made 12 three-pointers, which equals the dozen made by Tulane in the season opener.
TAR HEEL NOTES
Scoring/Shooting
• Carolina is averaging 89.4 points per game, first in the ACC and fourth in the nation.
• UNC is on pace for the fourth-highest scoring average in school history and the second-highest average in Roy Williams’ 14 years as Carolina’s head coach. Points Per Game, UNC Single-Season History 91.3 1986-87 90.0 1988-89 89.9 2008-09 89.4 2016-17 89.1 1971-72
• The Tar Heels have scored under 80 points four times, 80 or more 17 times, 90 or more 12 times and 100 or more five times.
• Carolina is fourth in the nation in scoring margin, fourth in points per game and fourth in assists. Points Per Game 1. The Citadel 94.5 2. UCLA 93.0 3. Kentucky 92.9 4. North Carolina 89.4 5. Central Michigan 89.3 Scoring Margin Per Game 1. West Virginia 23.6 2. Gonzaga 22.0 3. Kentucky 20.8 4. North Carolina 18.7 5. Wichita State 17.7
• Carolina is 12th nationally in offensive efficiency and 12th in defensive efficiency (KenPom’s version of points per 100 possessions). Carolina, Gonzaga and West Virginia are the only schools in the nation in the top 12 in both offense and defense efficiency
• The Tar Heels have scored 85 or more points in each of their last six ACC games, the first time UNC has done that in its history.
• Carolina’s 107 points vs. NC State, 93 at Wake Forest and 96 vs. Florida State marked the first time UNC scored 90 or more points in three consecutive ACC games since 1992 and the first time UNC scored 93 or more points in three straight ACC games since the 1986- 87 season (only happened 12 times in ACC history).
• Small forward Justin Jackson and point guard Joel Berry II are Carolina’s leading two scorers. The last time UNC’s top two scorers were perimeter players was 1990-91, when small forward Rick Fox (16.9) and shooting guard Hubert Davis (13.3) were UNC’s top two scorers.
• Jackson and Berry are the fourth-highest scoring duo in the ACC (all games) at 33.7 points per game.
• Carolina is the only school in the ACC with multiple players (3) ranked in the top 10 in field goal percentage (Isaiah Hicks is first, Kennedy Meeks is fifth and Joel Berry is ninth). No other team has more than one player in the top 10.
• Carolina averages 5.0 more field goal attempts per game than its opponents. Only three UNC teams have averaged more – 1967 (9.4), 1968 (6.5) and 1961 (5.04).
• Four Tar Heels are averaging in double figures in all games and in the 18 wins, but in the three losses only Justin Jackson (23.7) and Joel Berry II (13.0) are averaging double figures. The Tar Heels have scored 76.7 points in their three losses (11.2 below season average).
• Jackson (18.2), Berry (15.5), Hicks (13.1) and Meeks (13.0) are averaging at least 13 points a game. This is seventh time in UNC history four players have averaged that many points in a game.
Four Tar Heels Averaging 13 Points/Game
1959-60: Lee Shaffer, Doug Moe, York Larese and Harvey Salz
1968-69: Charles Scott, Bill Bunting, Rusty Clark, Dick Grubar
1975-76: Phil Ford, Mitch Kupchak, Walter Davis, Tom LaGarde
1976-77: Ford, Davis, LaGarde, Mike O’Koren
1986-87: Kenny Smith, Joe Wolf, J.R. Reid, Jeff Lebo
2008-09: Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Danny Green
2016-17: Jackson, Berry, Hicks, Meeks
• Three different perimeter players have led UNC in scoring in 17 of the 21 games (Justin Jackson has been the top scorer nine times, Joel Berry II six and Kenny Williams twice.)
• Forward Isaiah Hicks led UNC in scoring three times (Hawai’i, Chaminade and Syracuse) and forward Kennedy Meeks topped the Tar Heels with 18 points vs. Northern Iowa.
• Justin Jackson leads the team with 19 double-figure scoring games. Isaiah Hicks is second with 16.
• Justin Jackson has scored 20 or more points nine times, including 27 or more four times. Brice Johnson scored 27 or more four times last year en route to first-team All-America honors.
• The last player to score 27 or more points five times in a season was Tyler Hansbrough who did it six times in 2008-09 (he did it 11 times in 2007-08).
• Jackson’s scoring average is up 6.0 points from a year ago (12.2 to 18.2). The last returning starter to improve that much in one season was Marcus Paige, who increased his average 9.3 points from his freshman to sophomore seasons.
• Four Tar Heels have scored 20 or more points in a game this year. Justin Jackson has nine 20-point games, Joel Berry II has seven, Isaiah Hicks has three and Kennedy Meeks two.
NORTH CAROLINA VS. VIRGINIA TECH
Thursday, January 26, 2017
8 p.m.
Dean E. Smith Center
Chapel Hill, N.C.
TV: ESPN (Karl Ravech, LaPhonso Ellis)
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network (Jones Angell, Eric Montross, Adam Lucas, Dave Nathan)
Satellite: Sirius/XM and Internet 81
North Carolina Tar Heels
2016-17 Record: 18-3, 6-1 ACC
Head Coach: Roy Williams (UNC ‘72)
Williams’ Overall Record: 801-212 (29th year)
Williams’ Record at UNC: 383-111 (14th year)
Rankings: #9, Associated Press, #6 USA Today/ Coaches
Virginia Tech Hokies
2016-17 Record: 15-4, 4-3 ACC
Head Coach: Buzz Williams
Overall Record: 199-127 (10 years)
Record at VT: 46-41 (3rd season)
Rankings: not ranked
• UNC returns to action less than two days later when the Tar Heels travel to Coral Gables, Fla., to play at Miami. Game time on Saturday, 1/28, is 1 p.m. (CBS).
• This is one of three instances on the ACC schedule this year when the Tar Heels play two games in three days: Jan. 14-16 (home games vs. Florida State and Syracuse); Jan. 26-28 (home vs. Virginia Tech and at Miami); and Feb. 25-27 (away games at Pitt and Virginia).
• The Tar Heels are 18-3 overall and 6-1 in the ACC. UNC has won six conference games in a row and scored 85 or more points in all six games, the first time in school history the Tar Heels have scored 85 or more points in six straight ACC games.
• This is the eighth time in 14 years under Roy Williams the Tar Heels are at least 6-1 in conference play (2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017).
• Carolina started ACC play 7-1 or better in five of Williams’ first 13 seasons (2005, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016).
• UNC is ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press and No. 6 in the USA Today/Coaches polls.
• Virginia Tech is 15-4, 4-3 in the ACC with wins in three of its last four games. The Hokies are 11-1 at home and 2-2 on the road.
• The Tar Heels are 10-0 at home this year, including 3-0 in league play (wins over NC State, Florida State and Syracuse).
UNC-VIRGINIA TECH SERIES
• Carolina is 66-13 against the Hokies, including 13-3 since Virginia Tech joined the ACC.
• Carolina has won the last six games in the series and 11 of the last 12.
• The Tar Heels are 5-1 in the Smith Center against Virginia Tech and 29-6 in Chapel Hill.
• Roy Williams is 13-3 against Virginia Tech, all as UNC’s head coach.
LAST YEAR AT VIRGINIA TECH
• Brice Johnson had 19 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks and three steals to lead UNC to a 75-70 win in Blacksburg on 1/24/16.
• The Tar Heels led by 20 points in the first half but the Hokies rallied to take the lead in the second half. • The win was Roy Williams’ 350th win at Carolina. He became the only coach ever to win 350 NCAA Division 1 games at two different schools (418 at Kansas).
• UNC was 3 for 23 (.130) from three-point range, its lowest percentage for at least 20 attempts in the Roy Williams era.
• The Tar Heels shot 37.8 percent from the floor, lowest of the season to that point.
• The Tar Heels committed only seven turnovers and outscored the Hokies, 19-8, in points off turnovers. • Joel Berry II was the only other Tar Heel in double figures (13).
• Marcus Paige had a game-high 7 assists and hit two key free throws in the closing seconds.
UNC 90, BOSTON COLLEGE 82
• Justin Jackson scored 22 points and Kennedy Meeks had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead Carolina to its fifth straight win at Boston College and the Tar Heels’ 10th win in a row over the Eagles.
* Carolina has scored 85 or more points in six consecutive ACC games for the first time in its history.
• It was the fifth time in the last six games and 11th time this season UNC scored 20 or more second-chance points (24 at BC).
• It was Justin Jackson’s ninth time this year with at least 20 points. He did that five times in his first two seasons. It was also the ninth time he led UNC in scoring this year, a team high.
• Meeks scored 20 points. It was his second 20-point game this year and his sixth career 20-point game. • It was Carolina’s 73rd ACC road win in Roy Williams’ 14 years at Carolina. Only one other school has more than 42 ACC road wins in that span (Duke has 70).
• Isaiah Hicks was 7 for 8 at the free throw line at BC and is 29 for 32 in the last four games.
• Hicks has 32 free throw attempts in the last four games. His previous high four-game stretch this year was 17, and his career high was 30. Hicks also had a season-high five offensive boards. He had three offensive rebounds in one of his first 13 games and three or more in six of his last eight games.
• Hicks also led UNC in assists with four. It was the second time in three games he led UNC in assists.
• Theo Pinson had three offensive rebounds, all in a four-possession stretch, when UNC scored eight second-chance points to up its lead to six points late.
• The Tar Heels have 10 straight wins over BC, including five in a row at Conte Forum. UNC is 7-1 at Conte all-time.
• Tony Bradley had six rebounds and five points in 11 minutes in his first game back after missing a pair of contests due to a concussion suffered at Wake Forest.
• Boston College attempted seven free throws, which matches Syracuse for the fewest by an opponent this year, and made 12 three-pointers, which equals the dozen made by Tulane in the season opener.
TAR HEEL NOTES
Scoring/Shooting
• Carolina is averaging 89.4 points per game, first in the ACC and fourth in the nation.
• UNC is on pace for the fourth-highest scoring average in school history and the second-highest average in Roy Williams’ 14 years as Carolina’s head coach. Points Per Game, UNC Single-Season History 91.3 1986-87 90.0 1988-89 89.9 2008-09 89.4 2016-17 89.1 1971-72
• The Tar Heels have scored under 80 points four times, 80 or more 17 times, 90 or more 12 times and 100 or more five times.
• Carolina is fourth in the nation in scoring margin, fourth in points per game and fourth in assists. Points Per Game 1. The Citadel 94.5 2. UCLA 93.0 3. Kentucky 92.9 4. North Carolina 89.4 5. Central Michigan 89.3 Scoring Margin Per Game 1. West Virginia 23.6 2. Gonzaga 22.0 3. Kentucky 20.8 4. North Carolina 18.7 5. Wichita State 17.7
• Carolina is 12th nationally in offensive efficiency and 12th in defensive efficiency (KenPom’s version of points per 100 possessions). Carolina, Gonzaga and West Virginia are the only schools in the nation in the top 12 in both offense and defense efficiency
• The Tar Heels have scored 85 or more points in each of their last six ACC games, the first time UNC has done that in its history.
• Carolina’s 107 points vs. NC State, 93 at Wake Forest and 96 vs. Florida State marked the first time UNC scored 90 or more points in three consecutive ACC games since 1992 and the first time UNC scored 93 or more points in three straight ACC games since the 1986- 87 season (only happened 12 times in ACC history).
• Small forward Justin Jackson and point guard Joel Berry II are Carolina’s leading two scorers. The last time UNC’s top two scorers were perimeter players was 1990-91, when small forward Rick Fox (16.9) and shooting guard Hubert Davis (13.3) were UNC’s top two scorers.
• Jackson and Berry are the fourth-highest scoring duo in the ACC (all games) at 33.7 points per game.
• Carolina is the only school in the ACC with multiple players (3) ranked in the top 10 in field goal percentage (Isaiah Hicks is first, Kennedy Meeks is fifth and Joel Berry is ninth). No other team has more than one player in the top 10.
• Carolina averages 5.0 more field goal attempts per game than its opponents. Only three UNC teams have averaged more – 1967 (9.4), 1968 (6.5) and 1961 (5.04).
• Four Tar Heels are averaging in double figures in all games and in the 18 wins, but in the three losses only Justin Jackson (23.7) and Joel Berry II (13.0) are averaging double figures. The Tar Heels have scored 76.7 points in their three losses (11.2 below season average).
• Jackson (18.2), Berry (15.5), Hicks (13.1) and Meeks (13.0) are averaging at least 13 points a game. This is seventh time in UNC history four players have averaged that many points in a game.
Four Tar Heels Averaging 13 Points/Game
1959-60: Lee Shaffer, Doug Moe, York Larese and Harvey Salz
1968-69: Charles Scott, Bill Bunting, Rusty Clark, Dick Grubar
1975-76: Phil Ford, Mitch Kupchak, Walter Davis, Tom LaGarde
1976-77: Ford, Davis, LaGarde, Mike O’Koren
1986-87: Kenny Smith, Joe Wolf, J.R. Reid, Jeff Lebo
2008-09: Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Danny Green
2016-17: Jackson, Berry, Hicks, Meeks
• Three different perimeter players have led UNC in scoring in 17 of the 21 games (Justin Jackson has been the top scorer nine times, Joel Berry II six and Kenny Williams twice.)
• Forward Isaiah Hicks led UNC in scoring three times (Hawai’i, Chaminade and Syracuse) and forward Kennedy Meeks topped the Tar Heels with 18 points vs. Northern Iowa.
• Justin Jackson leads the team with 19 double-figure scoring games. Isaiah Hicks is second with 16.
• Justin Jackson has scored 20 or more points nine times, including 27 or more four times. Brice Johnson scored 27 or more four times last year en route to first-team All-America honors.
• The last player to score 27 or more points five times in a season was Tyler Hansbrough who did it six times in 2008-09 (he did it 11 times in 2007-08).
• Jackson’s scoring average is up 6.0 points from a year ago (12.2 to 18.2). The last returning starter to improve that much in one season was Marcus Paige, who increased his average 9.3 points from his freshman to sophomore seasons.
• Four Tar Heels have scored 20 or more points in a game this year. Justin Jackson has nine 20-point games, Joel Berry II has seven, Isaiah Hicks has three and Kennedy Meeks two.
NORTH CAROLINA VS. VIRGINIA TECH
Thursday, January 26, 2017
8 p.m.
Dean E. Smith Center
Chapel Hill, N.C.
TV: ESPN (Karl Ravech, LaPhonso Ellis)
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network (Jones Angell, Eric Montross, Adam Lucas, Dave Nathan)
Satellite: Sirius/XM and Internet 81
North Carolina Tar Heels
2016-17 Record: 18-3, 6-1 ACC
Head Coach: Roy Williams (UNC ‘72)
Williams’ Overall Record: 801-212 (29th year)
Williams’ Record at UNC: 383-111 (14th year)
Rankings: #9, Associated Press, #6 USA Today/ Coaches
Virginia Tech Hokies
2016-17 Record: 15-4, 4-3 ACC
Head Coach: Buzz Williams
Overall Record: 199-127 (10 years)
Record at VT: 46-41 (3rd season)
Rankings: not ranked
