North Carolina vs. Rhode Island
Free Pick: North Carolina +1 -110 odds
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At the start of the NIT, the big question was how North Carolina was going to react after such a disappointing season. Those questions have been answered. Expectations were high to start the season and an 11-3 start pointed toward the Tar Heels at least making it back to the NCAA Tournament to defend their National Championship from a season ago. A horrendous ACC season however pushed the Tar Heels out of the big dance and into the NIT but they have stepped up and are playing some great basketball right now. Especially on defense as North Carolina has held all three NIT opponents to less than 42 percent shooting. In the past seven games, North Carolina is holding its opponents to a 37.6 field goal percentage on 160-of-425 shooting. Six of those seven games has seen the opposition shoot below its season average. In comparison, in its previous 28 outings, it held its opponents to 41.9 percent shooting so it has been a big improvement. North Carolina’s three counterparts in New York this week all shoot 44.6 percent or better from the field, so continued growth defensively is essential. Improved play from point guard Larry Drew while seniors Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard have been playing with a sense of urgency. “We understand this was not the year we wanted to have, that we ever would have dreamed of having,” Ginyard says. “But it got to the point as a team that we had to make the best of the situation. It’s been a joy for us to continue to play. We’re still excited to play, and we’ve been showing that enthusiasm on the court.” He thinks good will come from the Tar Heels’ hard fall. Rhode Island has also been playing very well after another weak finish to the regular season. The Rams defeated Northwestern and Nevada at home before pulling off the upset at Virginia Tech to make it to New York. The defense remains a big issue as Rhode Island allows opponents to shoot 46.9 percent from the floor and that is bad news against a North Carolina team that has finally found some offense. The Rams play a similar style and it will be up to the Tar Heels to continue the defensive improvement. Rhode Island is just 2-9 ATS in its 11 games following an ATS win this season while North Carolina is on a 9-0 ATS run in tournament games the last two seasons away from home. 3* North Carolina Tar Heels