UNC vs VT Game Thread

The wait is nearly over as North Carolina (15-3, 2-1 ACC) will look to bounce back from the beatdown at Florida State when it visits Virginia Tech (11-6, 0-3 ACC) on Thursday night at 9 p.m. in the Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va. ESPN will televise the game nationally. John Saunders and Jay Bilas will have the call.

We will finally see how the Heels react after such a humiliating defeat. 

"I didn't say anything to the team," Williams said. "We just got together quickly and I got out because I'd rather wait until I look at the tape ... I don't want to say some things that are stupid." (Unlike some of the posters on the various UNC threads)

North Carolina has won six of the last seven meetings with Virginia Tech, with the Hokies' only victory coming 74-70 on Feb. 4, 2010, in the last matchup at Cassell Coliseum.

Virginia Tech (11-6, 0-3) will need a vastly improved effort if it is to accomplish the feat again.  The Hokies are on the verge of losing their first four ACC games since dropping their first six of the 2005-06 season after Saturday's 61-59 defeat to Boston College.  Virginia Tech committed a season-high 17 turnovers and shot 36.2 percent, marking the third straight game it shot less than 40.0. It hasn't been held below that mark for four consecutive games since Jan. 17-28, 2004.

To me, this is a must win for the Heels, and it would help if it was decisive.  VT has been playing poorly, and they need a win to turn their season around, so they will be playing desperate.   

I see the Heels coming out with a major chip on their shoulder and getting a convincing win.

GO HEELS!!   

  
    

Can you say "U P S E T"?

10-6 in ACC, yep you saw it here first.

Ready to wash the taste of that FSU game out of my mouth. VT isnt a bad team but I think they are in a bad position after the obvious and will feel the onslaught. I dont think they'll be able to keep up with the break.

Perimeter D and ball security paramount. VT is likely gonna try to get the fast start since that seems to be our kryptonite. I dont need a blowout...I just need to see our guys improve individually and as a unit. Someone needs to step up and be the go to guy, not just everyone going through the motions. 

I'm curious to see how this veteran team plays tonight.  It would be nice to see a crisp game and of course a win.  I loss would definitely hurt us in keeping up with dook.  Good luck team!!

The Heels need to come out and Punch VT in the mouth. Hard and Fast.

What are the additional 5 losses realblue?

Tonight will provide real insight to what this roster is all about. I'm going to leave it at that for now... real interested to see how they respond.

I think the media can excuse the fsu game but it will be panic mode if UNC losses to vatech. I don't think we lose this game but if we do big final four questions n post season run will up for debate. I say we win by 8 man if we lose ouch the heat will be on....

FSU, VT, Dook (twice) @Virginia, @either Maryland or Miami

duke twice huh???? yea go ahead and chage ur avitar....poser

I'm hoping to see Harrison Barnes step up tonight and be the talent we all know he can be.  I would like to see him and the rest of the lads show some emotion tonight.  Expectially Barnes.  He has the capabilities to lead this team, not just with his play, but his attitude.  Just Do It!!!

I would like to add.  The FSU loss is in my opinion, was the best thing that could have happened to this group of players.  Marshall had an unusually off night with tons of turnovers, Henson couldn't hit a free throw to save his life and Dookies had his season high in the first half!  Our players have watched the film, and while doing so, were probably sick to there stomaches.  Olde Roy probably didn't have to say a word.  

I expect an energetic Tarheel team to run up the score against a young, unconfident team in Blacksburg, Va.   

Go Heels! 

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Go Heels lets get back on track a little more defense and less turovers we should be fine!

Well this is the most excited I have been for a UNC game since Kentucky. Tonight should answere a lot of questions about what kind of team we have at Chapel Hill this year. I pray we come out a play hard and we see guys busting their butts all over the court. I think this will be a close game and the crowd will be going crazy so this should be a good test for our guys.  We need Barnes to step up his game tonight and take over if we need him too. He has been terrible the last two games so I really expect him to play some good basketball tonight.

It would also be nice to see Bullock and Hairston break out of their shooting slumps tonight. They both have really struggled as of late and haven't gave us that lift off the bench we got earlier in the year from them. I think the game stays pretty close all the way through and we end up winning by 9 and get back on track. There is a lot of basketball left to be played and getting a win tonight would go a long way in helping us move on from the embarrassment at FSU. Go Heels !!!!!

My anxiety over this game is nearly as bad as a Duke contest! VT plays hard against us, and they've got more riding on this game than we do. If we play well and lose a close contest, I'll be disappointed but could accept it and remain optimistic for the seaon.  
However, if we don't play with intensity and lose badly, it'll be time for some serious recalibration of what we can expect this season.  If we defend the three, play strong in the lane, and value the ball we will win by double digits!

8:41 FIRST HALF 22-21 TECH.
CAROLINA continues to struggle with defending the 3 point play. WHY?
After the FSUgame I thought this would improve.

Defending the three and getting beat down the floor are both very troubling ... but if we can weather this storm and that crowd it'll be a good win.
We need to put a run together to dampen their confidence and quiet the crowd. 

This team lost its swag and for the the love of everything baby blue DEFEND THE DAMN THREE

Not liking what I've seen so far. Come on Heels.

I did love that, go Henson