North Carolina @ Syracuse preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 26, 2019 ) Syracuse 85, North Carolina 93

North Carolina took a break from enduring one of the worst seasons in school history its last time out, and now the team seeks another step in the right direction Saturday when it visits Syracuse. The Tar Heels snapped a seven-game losing streak by defeating North Carolina State and now look for their first road win since defeating the Wolfpack in Raleigh in late January.

Due to injuries and inconsistency, North Carolina has virtually no chance to reach the postseason, but things weren't so bad Tuesday as Garrison Brooks scored 30 points and pulled down nine rebounds in the six-point win. "I just shot 'em with confidence, didn't think about 'em, and they went in," said Brooks, who shot 14-of-16 from the foul line. Syracuse is coming off a resounding 72-49 triumph against Pittsburgh as Elijah Hughes registered 25 points. “He’s as good as anybody. He’s had a great year. He’s played great basketball," said coach Jim Boeheim of Hughes, who averages 18.8 points and has scored 20 points or more in six of his last eight games.

TIME: 4 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (11-17, 4-13 ACC): The Tar Heels outrebounded NC State 38-30 and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds, including four apiece by Brooks and Justin Pierce. Cole Anthony supported Brooks' big game with 19 points, five assists and five rebounds, while Christian Keeling was 7-of-9 off the bench for 16 points. Armando Bacot, a scoring force at times earlier in the season, has totaled 20 points in the last four games, connecting on just 8-of-24 shots from the floor, including 1-of-5 against the Wolfpack.

ABOUT SYRACUSE (16-12, 9-8): Not only did Hughes shine against Pitt, but Joe Girard III contributed 16 points on 4-of-7 3-point shooting and Bourama Sidibe notched 13 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and four blocks. Sidibe has back-to-back double-digit rebounding games after doing so only three times all season leading up to this stretch, and he has eight steals over his last two contests. Girard has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight affairs and has made multiple 3-pointers in four straight games, although nine turnovers in the last two outings is far from ideal.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. This is the final home game for Syracuse, which closes the regular season at Boston College and Miami.

2. In the last nine games, Hughes is 11-of-53 from 3-point range.

3. Over the last three games, Brooks is averaging 24 points and seven rebounds.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 71, Syracuse 64