Now that North Carolina and North Carolina State each have generated momentum this week, they’ll try to take that to another level.
The rivals face off Saturday at Raleigh, N.C., for the first of two meetings this season.
“I’m excited and can’t wait,” said NC State guard Marcus Hill, a transfer from Bowling Green. “I’ve been told that it’s a big game. I have to do whatever I can to help my team win.”
During the past week, both teams have posted comeback victories by one-point margins against Notre Dame. NC State’s rally came Wednesday night at home.
NC State (9-6, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) halted a two-game skid. North Carolina (10-6, 3-1) began its two-game win streak last Saturday at Notre Dame.
Last March, NC State stole the spotlight from the ACC regular-season champion Tar Heels, upsetting them in the ACC Tournament final and eventually advancing to the Final Four. UNC leads the all-time series, which began in 1953-54, by a 119-51 margin.
The rivalry aspect will take care of itself.
“What I’m worried about more with us is how do we get better,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts said. “Because our focus going into Notre Dame was more about NC State opposed to Notre Dame. So we’re going to do some of the same things, like how can we get better as ourselves and then obviously we’ll turn our focus to Carolina.”
North Carolina freshman Drake Powell is anxious to experience the matchup. He grew up in the area, so he’s aware of the rivalry.
“I asked my teammate Elliot Cadeau what that was like, going to Duke and NC State,” Powell said. “How hectic it was.”
The Tar Heels might be building some mojo.
“As a team, we all believe in each other and believe in each other to make more shots,” freshman Ian Jackson said.
It will be a reunion for NC State guard Dontrez Styles, who began his college career at North Carolina before transferring to Georgetown and then returning to his home state with the Wolfpack.
“Growing up and watching this rivalry, it was very fun,” Styles said. “I knew as a kid that I wanted to be a part of this growing up and be in this type of environment.”
North Carolina led for more than 39 minutes of Tuesday’s game against SMU. Guard RJ Davis left late with a bloody nose after scoring 26 points. It was his 40th career game with 20 or more points.
“I was more efficient,” Davis said. “Just play my game.”
On Wednesday, the Wolfpack led Notre Dame for only 31 seconds in the second half in pulling out the 66-65 victory.
NC State leads the ACC in turnover margin (3.67). The Wolfpack committed only seven giveaways in the Notre Dame game.
–Field Level Media
