North Carolina, currently ranked No. 14 with a record of 14-3 and 2-2 in the ACC, is set to face California, who sits at 13-5 and 1-4 in the conference, on Saturday, January 17, at 4 p.m. PT at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, California. This matchup will be broadcast on the ACC Network, featuring commentators Wes Durham and Dennis Scott.
After a disappointing loss to Stanford, where North Carolina struggled defensively, the Tar Heels are eager to bounce back. Throughout that game, Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar combined for an impressive 52 points, yet UNC allowed their opponent to score 57.1 percent from the field, highlighting the team’s ongoing defensive issues. Following that defeat, North Carolina dropped to 30th in the NET rankings, currently registering a 3-3 record in Quad 1 games this season.
California, on the other hand, began its season with a promising 12-1 record but has faced significant challenges in conference play, with a 1-4 record against formidable opponents, including losses to ranked teams such as No. 16 Louisville and No. 6 Duke. This performance has affected their placement in the NET rankings, currently sitting at 69. Under head coach Mark Madsen, a former NBA champion, the Golden Bears are aiming to break their decade-long NCAA tournament drought.
While both teams have encountered midseason obstacles, California’s recent offensive struggles may provide North Carolina the opportunity to improve their defensive play. The Golden Bears’ offense has averaged just 66.6 points per game in their last five outings, shooting 38.2 percent from the field. Meanwhile, UNC’s defense has allowed an average of 92 points per game over its last three contests, which could set the stage for a turnaround.
Notably, Cal’s Dai Dai Ames leads the team, averaging 17.3 points per game and boasting a strong 43.4 percent shooting accuracy from three-point range. Additionally, Justin Pippen, the son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, contributes significantly with 14.4 points per game along with solid defensive efforts.
Historically, North Carolina has a strong track record against California, with a 5-1 all-time record, including a victory in their last matchup, where they won 79-53. This upcoming game marks the Tar Heels’ longest travel distance for an ACC match-up at 2,805 miles from their home base in Chapel Hill.
As both teams look to regain their footing, fans can expect a competitive clash as North Carolina seeks to tighten up defensively while California aims to reignite their offensive spark.