North Carolina @ Gonzaga preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 15, 2018 ) Gonzaga 90, North Carolina 103

Second-ranked Gonzaga hopes to take advantage of injury-depleted and cold-shooting North Carolina when it hosts the 23rd-ranked Tar Heels for a battle of national powers Wednesday night. The Bulldogs are rolling along with three straight victories over Texas Southern, Washington and Arizona while North Carolina has dropped three in a row and star freshman guard Cole Anthony is expected to be out 4-to-6 weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Gonzaga, which lost its only game to Michigan in the Bahamas, is shooting nearly 50 percent from the field through the first 12 games and handed Arizona a rare loss on its home court Saturday with an 84-80 triumph after trailing by seven early. “We’re really resilient,” Bulldogs sophomore guard Joel Ayayi, who contributed 15 points, told reporters. “We never quit. We never think the game’s over until it’s over. For us to win on the road in that type of atmosphere is a pretty good win.” The Tar Heels will have to find more answers without Anthony, who is averaging team highs of 19.1 points, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals, and starting guard Leaky Black is also dealing with a sprained right foot while the team is shooting 39.8 percent from the field overall after Sunday’s 68-64 loss to Wofford. “We play exceptionally hard and try to do the right things and guys were out there trying to play,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams told reporters after the latest loss. “. … We’re going to benefit in the long run from it, but it doesn’t make it any more pleasant to go through right now.”

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (6-4): The Tar Heels shot just 36.5 percent from the floor against Wofford and senior guard Brandon Robinson told reporters: “We’ve just got to believe in ourselves, believe in each other, and our shots. I’m still optimistic that it’s going to fall.” Junior K.J. Smith, the son of former North Carolina star Kenny Smith, had seven points in 26 minutes as a starter Sunday after logging just 21 total minutes in his first eight games. Junior forward Garrison Brooks is the top active scorer (12.1) and adds 8.5 rebounds per game while freshman Armando Bacot (10.3 points, team-high 8.6 rebounds) has also been productive.

ABOUT GONZAGA (11-1): Sophomore forward Filip Petrusev tops the Bulldogs in scoring (15.8), rebounding (8.4) and blocks (1.4) after scoring 16 on 6-of-12 shooting at Arizona. Junior forward Corey Kispert led the way with 18 points versus the Wildcats to push his season average to 14.1 while senior forward Killian Tillie (12.7 points, team-high 1.4 steals) and Ayayi (10.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, team-best 4.1 assists) are also major factors. Senior guard Ryan Woolridge averages 9.8 points and four assists after playing a big part limiting talented Arizona freshman Nico Mannion to just 3-of-20 from the field on Saturday.

TIP-INS

1. The Tar Heels entered Tuesday ranked 310th in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage (28.7).

2. Gonzaga senior G Admon Gilder scored 13 points at Arizona, his most in seven games.

3. North Carolina has won the last three meetings after dropping the first matchup with the Bulldogs in 2006.

PREDICTION: Gonzaga 84, North Carolina 68