North Carolina @ Wake Forest preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 30, 2017 ) Wake Forest 69, North Carolina 73

Eighth-ranked North Carolina hopes to make its last game just a minor speed bump as the Tar Heels go after their eighth win in nine contests Saturday afternoon at struggling Wake Forest in an ACC matchup. North Carolina had won nine of its first 10 league games to put itself in the middle of the race for the regular-season title before suffering a 69-61 setback against fourth-ranked Virginia at home on Monday.

“Against good teams like this, great teams like this, you can’t sag, you can’t play off,” Tar Heels senior guard Kenny Williams told reporters after the loss. “We’ve got to be tougher in the late-game situations. … I wouldn’t hesitate to say that we’re a championship team. I think we are. They out-toughed us (Monday).” North Carolina leads the league in scoring (87.2), but has some injury concerns going into their matchup with the Demon Deacons after freshman forward Nassir Little (9.8 points per game) suffered an ankle injury in Monday’s game, adding to an already growing list with Sterling Manley (knee) and Leaky Black (ankle) out. Wake Forest looks to surprise the Tar Heels after losing six of its last seven games, including an 88-66 defeat at Florida State on Wednesday in which the Demon Deacons allowed 56.5 percent shooting. Junior guard Brandon Childress leads Wake Forest in scoring (15.1), assists (4.1) and steals (1.6), but scored just eight in a 73-69 loss at North Carolina last season.

TV: Noon ET, Raycom Sports, ACC Network

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (19-5, 9-2 ACC): Freshman guard Coby White tops the team in scoring (16.0), averaging 23.7 the last three games, and assists (4.2), but managed just two helpers with three turnovers against Virginia. Senior guard Cameron Johnson (15.8 points), who also turned his ankle Monday but was able to return, is second in the ACC in 3-point shooting percentage (46.2) despite going 4-of-14 the past two games. Senior forward Luke Maye (14.7 points, team-high 9.8 rebounds) must recover from a 2-of-10 shooting performance for just four points versus Virginia.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (9-14, 2-9): The Demon Deacons, who are third during conference play in rebounds per game (North Carolina is first), were pounded on the boards 43-27 at Florida State - giving up 12 on the offensive glass. Freshman forward Jaylen Hoard (13.7 points, team-best 8.3 rebounds) was held to 3-of-11 from the field at Florida State while sophomore guard Chaundee Brown (11.3 points) scored 20 - his second-best output of the season. Freshman guard Sharone Wright Jr. scored 11 - four above his season average - in the team’s last win against Pittsburgh.

TIP-INS

1. Wake Forest’s 7-0 sophomore C Olivier Sarr is second on the team in rebounds (5.6) and leads the way with 21 blocks.

2. North Carolina sophomore F Garrison Brooks (8.4 points, 6.1 rebounds) is 18-of-27 from the field the last four contests.

3. The Tar Heels have won the last five meetings, including a 73-69 triumph at home last season.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 88, Wake Forest 64