Elon University @ North Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 9, 2018 ) North Carolina 116, Elon University 67

North Carolina is still seeking to produce a performance that pleases coach Roy Williams, but the fourth-ranked Tar Heels will try to start the season with four straight victories when they host in-state rival Elon on Wednesday night. North Carolina led by just four midway through the second half before pulling away for a 77-61 win over Gardner-Webb last Friday as freshman phenom Cole Anthony came through again with 28 points.

Anthony is averaging 27.3 points - 16 more than anyone else on the team - 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the first three contests for the Tar Heels, who are only shooting just 42.6 percent from the field overall and Williams told reporters: “I think we can be a good shooting team. But so far we haven’t been.” North Carolina, which travels to the Bahamas for the eight-team Battle 4 Atlantis tournament after taking on Elon, shot 50 percent from the field and drained 5-of-8 from 3-point range in the second half against Gardner-Webb and hopes to carry that over. “Offensively, it’s been a slow process, but it’s a long season,” Anthony told reporters. “Obviously we have a long way to go, but I’m confident in this group of guys. I think everyone loves being around each other, so I think we’re going to be fine offensively.” Elon, which lost to the Tar Heels 116-67 last season, beat two non-Division I teams to open 2019-20 before losing at Georgia Tech (64-41) and Michigan (70-50) in the past two contests.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra

ABOUT ELON (2-2): The Phoenix were picked to finish last of 10 teams in the preseason Colonial Athletic Association poll, but put up at least 90 points in the first two games before the competition stiffened. Senior guard Marcus Sheffield II, a transfer from Stanford where he averaged 5.6 points last season, has led the way in the first four games while producing team highs of 17.3 points and 3.8 assists to go along with 5.8 rebounds. Sophomore forward Federico Poser from Italy, who is shooting 58.1 percent from the field, and freshman guard Hunter McIntosh are tied for second on the team in scoring at 9.8 per game.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (3-0): Freshman Armando Bacot recorded his first career double-double Friday with 12 points to go along with 11 rebounds and Williams said he expects a lot from the 6-10 forward if he can pay more attention to detail. “He can score inside at times,” Williams told the team website of Bacot. “I think he can defend the rim better than what we have had the last couple of years. I think he is going to be able to do that and give us some efficiency as an inside scorer.” Junior forward Garrison Brooks is averaging 11.3 points and a team-high nine boards while grad transfer Justin Pierce has contributed 10.3 and 8.7, respectively.

TIP-INS

1. North Carolina senior G Brandon Robinson (ankle) warmed up before Friday’s game and is closing in on his season debut.

2. Elon junior forward Simon Wright has secured at least seven rebounds in all four games and averages a team-high 7.3.

3. Tar Heels senior G Christian Keeling, a transfer from Charleston Southern, scored a season-high nine points against Gardner-Webb.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 104, Elon 60