NCAAB Game Preview - North Carolina at Arkansas
Fri Nov 24, 2017 3:30 PM EST

Duke
85
Tex
78
F(OT)
Purd
89
Ariz
64
F
Oakl
59
Kansas
102
F
UConn
57
MSU
77
F
Vill
64
NrthIA
50
F
Fla
111
Gonz
105
F(2OT)
UNC
87
Ark
68
F
UMass
51
Minn
69
F
Xav
86
AzSt
102
F
Pepp
65
TAMU
81
F
StFPA
72
Lou
84
F
Vand
59
Seton
72
F
StMar
79
WaSt
84
F
UCF
45
WVU
83
F
Bama
71
BYU
59
F
Mizzu
90
StJon
82
F
ChiSt
73
Presb
75
F
TNTec
86
NebOm
85
F
ArkSt
61
SoFL
72
F
Furm
78
UNH
64
F
ECU
47
Rut
61
F
LongB
74
OrSt
69
F
NoAZ
71
UCIrv
77
F
SeLA
77
Samf
71
F
AbCh
85
Campbl
80
F(OT)
Tenn
67
NCSU
58
F
MD-ES
66
JackSt
63
F
Nich
88
UMBC
89
F
PorSt
69
Butl
71
F
SprH
67
NOrl
74
F
Bry
78
Hartfo
73
F
Seatt
84
Wash
89
F
ORU
48
PSU
86
F
TXSo
77
Clem
84
F
UtSt
71
NE
67
F
Harv
77
StJos
71
F
AlaAM
74
Niag
96
F
Toled
77
Corn
80
F
StFNY
76
Navy
85
F
N TX
49
GaTec
63
F
JU
92
Fairf
84
F
E MI
67
Ind
87
F
UNCW
78
LoyIL
102
F
CenCT
74
Clev
73
F
USC-Up
74
BGSU
83
F
Portl
71
Okla
93
F
Norf
53
RobM
75
F
USM
71
SDak
84
F
W Ky
63
SMU
61
F
UGA
68
SDSU
75
F
WCU
65
TexAr
89
F
NM
67
TCU
69
F
FlaAM
50
WIGB
57
F
GWebb
47
WriSt
67
F
Winth
85
Aub
119
F
Denv
71
FlGlf
79
F
UNCG
75
Wake
81
F
MtStM
77
Ohio
96
F
HiPt
67
UNCC
70
F
Kent
67
Valpa
77
F
UVA
70
URI
55
F
NCC
73
Ill
86
F
Nebras
84
Maris
59
F
GrgWas
59
KSU
67
F
E WA
69
Utah
85
F
TXAMC
58
UTSA
72
F
(N/A)
48
MOSt
80
F
Citad
78
FSU
113
F
(N/A)
44
E IL
96
F
SacHr
50
NW
81
F
Stan
71
OhSt
79
F
NWSt
60
ColSt
72
F
N CO
80
YSU
67
F
WIMil
49
Wisc
71
F
ArkPB
69
Pacif
78
F
CAPoly
53
CenMI
56
F
Oreg
89
DeP
79
F(OT)
Sac
63
CS-Ful
68
F
StBon
63
MD
61
F
PVAM
66
UCSB
69
F
Hamp
80
Rider
94
F
TxSt
62
Canis
68
F
Ida
62
CSBak
64
F
Nev
67
HI
54
F
Arkansas gets rematch with North Carolina
Fri Nov 24, 2017 2:10 AM

North Carolina's run to the national championship last year nearly didn't happen thanks to a feisty Arkansas squad.

Now the Razorbacks will have their chance at revenge when the teams face off in the second round of the Phil Knight 80 Invitational on Friday in Portland, Ore. The winner advances to the championship game of the Victory bracket on Sunday.

"We're just going to take it as another game. Yeah, we did play them last year and we lost to them, but we also have to give them their respect," Arkansas guard Daryl Macon said. "They're national champions. We're just going to go out there and play with the same intensity we did (Thursday in a win over Oklahoma)."

Ninth-ranked North Carolina survived an early scare from Portland in the first round with a dominating second half en route to a 102-78 win. Arkansas battled a tough Sooners squad for 40 minutes but emerged with a 92-83 victory.

The Tar Heels lost key players from last year's national championship team but still return the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, Joel Berry II, as well as postseason darling Luke Maye.

"I've really had a concerted effort on scoring more in the post," Maye said. "We lost three top players in the post. I'm trying to make more shots in the paint and be a presence in there. I've got a long way to go, but I'm getting there."

Maye and Berry were instrumental in North Carolina's opening-round victory. Maye posted a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Berry added 18 points, including a 4-of-9 showing from beyond the 3-point arc.

Kenny Williams added 17 points for the Tar Heels, and Theo Pinson was solid all around with 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

"I don't think I've ever had a player get a triple-double, but he might be the first," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said of Pinson.

Macon was lights out for the Razorbacks in their first-round win, dropping 27 points on 7-of-13 shooting with six 3-pointers. Daniel Gafford chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds.

Apart from Macon and leading scorer Jaylen Barford, Arkansas is going to want to get out in transition and run. The Razorbacks, who average 93 points per game, pushed the pace against Oklahoma by scoring 20 points off 19 forced turnovers. They also shot 27 of 33 from the free-throw line.

North Carolina has no problem running, as the team is more of a guard-orientated squad. Maye has the capability to step out and hit the 3-pointer, thus really spreading out defenses and opening up lanes for players such as Pinson to attack.

"It's just something I've been gifted to have my whole life," Pinson said about his offensive prowess. "I just try to be aggressive and (make) plays ... when I get to the basket, good things happen."

When the teams met last year in the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels were down by five with a couple minutes left but rallied for a 72-65 win.

The teams have one common opponent early this season. North Carolina defeated Bucknell 93-81, three days after Arkansas routed the Bison 101-73.

Team Record Comparison

Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
North Carolina  
Arkansas  

Hot Players (Last 10 team games)

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