Clemson @ North Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 2, 2019 ) North Carolina 81, Clemson 79

Struggling North Carolina looks to begin proving coach Roy Williams’ statement wrong and make its record 60-0 all time at home against Clemson when the ACC rivals meet Saturday afternoon. Williams said on his radio show early in the week that this team is the “least gifted” he has coached at North Carolina, and the Tar Heels followed that by coughing up a nine-point halftime lead in a 73-65 setback against visiting Pittsburgh on Wednesday for their seventh loss in 10 games.

Williams, who is tied with mentor and former North Carolina coach Dean Smith for fourth all time with 879 Division I wins, said the Tar Heels played harder against Pitt and told reporters: “some way, somehow we’ve got to figure how to stop the bleeding and start playing better.” North Carolina senior guard Brandon Robinson said his confidence in the team is still high and freshman forward Armando Bacot told reporters Williams meant no harm with his quote: “He still believes in us. He’s just coach - that’s how he is. He keeps it real.” Clemson comes to Chapel Hill, N.C. well rested and with some confidence following an 81-70 victory over visiting North Carolina State last Saturday after losing six the previous seven contests. “We definitely needed this game,” Tigers sophomore guard John Newman III told reporters after scoring 12 points against the Wolfpack. “We’ve had some ups and downs this season, but this was a good game to get our momentum back. We’re getting into the nitty-gritty of conference play, so it was a big win.”

TIME: 4:30 p.m. ET. TV: RSN

ABOUT CLEMSON (7-7, 1-3 ACC): Junior forward Aamir Simms leads the team in scoring (13.5 points) along with rebounding (7.4) and has picked up his production of late, averaging 17.4 points over the past five games. Senior guard Tevin Mack is the only other Tiger averaging in double figures scoring (11.1) after snapping a slump - 18 points total on 8-for-31 shooting in four games - by scoring 14 and grabbing seven boards against NC State. Newman (9.4 points) is also contributing and freshman guard Al-Amir Dawes (9.1 points, team-high 3.0 assists) scored 16 versus the Wolfpack after totaling 11 in the previous three contests.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (8-7, 1-3): Injuries have hampered the Tar Heels as leading scorer Cole Anthony (19.1 points) was lost indefinitely early on with a knee injury and fellow freshman Anthony Harris tore his ACL late in December. Junior forward Garrison Brooks has become the top option offensively (14.4) and leads the way in the boards as well (8.8) while connecting on 54.7 percent from the field. The Tar Heels expected more from two senior transfers, but Justin Pierce (6.1 points; 14.9 at William & Mary last season) and Christian Keeling (4.9; 18.7 at Charleston Southern in 2018-19) are both shooting 37.9 percent from the floor.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Clemson senior G Curran Scott, a transfer from Tulsa, scored 14 points against NC State - his most in an ACC game.

2. Robinson is averaging 14.3 points over his last four games to push his season mark to 10.7 with 3.2 assists.

3. The Tigers are 11th in the ACC in field-goal percentage (42.3) and the Tar Heels are last (40.4).

PREDICTION: North Carolina 74, Clemson 66