NC State @ North Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 27, 2020 ) North Carolina 75, NC State 65

North Carolina State got one big boost to its NCAA Tournament resume last week and then saw the chance for another fall by the wayside. The Wolfpack can ill afford another slip-up at last-place North Carolina when the two old rivals meet in an ACC tilt Tuesday night in Chapel Hill.

After knocking off seventh-ranked Duke by an impressive 22 points Wednesday, NC State built a five-point halftime lead against No. 6 Florida State before fading in the second half in a 67-61 setback that left coach Kevin Keatts frustrated with the officiating. "That's tough," Keatts told reporters of a 29-13 disparity in free-throw attempts. "It's tough because when you're playing against another team that will pick you up fullcourt, typically like we do, and you play the entire time and there's a disparity in free throws, I didn't like it. I wasn't happy with that part of it." The Tar Heels' last win was a 75-65 triumph at NC State on Jan. 27, and their miserable slump continued with Saturday's 72-55 loss at No. 10 Louisville. It was a program-record 13th conference loss for North Carolina, which sits in last place - a game behind Wake Forest - with four to play.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (17-10, 8-8 ACC): Senior guard C.J. Bryce, who leads the Wolfpack in scoring at 13.3 points per game, was limited to seven points in the win over Duke and then had five on 2-of-12 shooting versus Florida State. Backcourt mate Markell Johnson, the team's second-leading scorer (13.0), followed up a career-high 28-point effort against the Blue Devils with just seven on 3-of-10 from the floor Saturday. Junior guard Devon Daniels scored a team-high 18 points in the loss and he has at least 12 in eight straight games.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (10-17, 3-13): Saturday's loss came without second-leading scorer and top rebounder Garrison Brooks, who was ruled out due to an illness as the Tar Heels' frustrating season on the injury front continued. "I'm tired of it happening to us because it's at least four or five games that we don't know we won't have one of our most important (players) until right before game time," coach Roy Williams told reporters. Freshman guard Cole Anthony was the only player on the team to score in double figures in the loss as he finished with 18 points, leaving his team-leading average at 19.4.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Brooks had 25 points and 11 rebounds in the victory at NC State earlier this season.

2. Daniels averages 5.3 rebounds, but has 28 over his last three games.

3. The Tar Heels have won 31 of the last 35 meetings.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 68, North Carolina State 66