Read below for a full UNC vs Pittsburgh prediction and preview.
UNC is now entering the point of their season where every win matters. After falling 87-70 to their in-state rival Duke last Saturday, the Tar Heels fell to 1-9 against teams in Quad 1 of the NET rankings. In fact, the loss has increased the noise from the Carolina fanbase on whether or not Hubert Davis is the coach to lead the Tar Heels moving forward.
Hubert Davis still believes in UNC to reach its potential https://t.co/2tScgKeXhV pic.twitter.com/TWFQtPPSm6
— Tar Heels Wire (@tarheelswire) February 5, 2025
Pittsburgh has dropped two straight games after defeating UNC on January 28th. In their most recent game, the Panthers fell to 73-57 to a Virginia squad that has fallen on hard times after Tony Bennett resigned just three days before the season started.
The Tar Heels lead the series 17-8 and have won the last two games.
Game information:
Teams: UNC (13-10, 6-5) and Pittsburgh (14-8, 5-6)
Tip-off: 4 p.m. EST
Watch: ESPN2
Listen: WCHL 97.9 FM (Internet Radio)
Latest on Pittsburgh Basketball:
The Panthers are coming off their worst first half offensive performance against Virginia, allowing a 17-0 run in the first 10 minutes of the game and could not come back from it.
“I think we got hit in the first half, and we never recovered from that,” said junior Jorge Diaz Graham. “I think our body language wasn’t right since the beginning, and I think we gave up.”
The forward from the Carnary Island attempted to give the Panthers a spark off the bench, scoring nine points and four rebounds while going 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.
The Panthers only forced seven turnovers against Virginia, just the fourth time this season that Pitt forced opponents to single-digit turnovers.
Latest on UNC Basketball:
The Tar Heels got dominated from the tip-off as they allowed the Blue Devils 52.8% from the field on 53 attempts while allowing 10 three-pointers. RJ Davis and Drake Powell both lead the team with 12 points.
Ven-Allen Lubin notched a game-high five offensive rebounds, but Carolina could not capitalize on that. The team went 1-for-4 on his second-chance opportunities, with Lubin missing two tip-ins.
“Our unforced turnovers are something that we’ve got a problem with,” said Davis after the game. “It’s just turning the ball over. We’ve talked at great length about how important it is to take care of the ball.”
Duke 34, UNC 13 | 7:32 1H pic.twitter.com/Sqxb1ID5Dw
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) February 2, 2025
Carolina, with the final nine games of the season, has five games that would be considered either a Quad 1 or Quad 2 victory. They play three of those games in a row, starting with hosting the Panthers.