UNC basketball vs SMU: Score prediction, scouting report for Tar Heels

Posted by Admin January 6, 2025 Basketball

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UNC basketball and SMU will play Tuesday (9 p.m., ESPN) for the first time in 37 years.

The Tar Heels (9-6, 2-1 ACC) and Mustangs (11-3, 2-1) haven’t played since Dean Smith was the head coach in Chapel Hill. UNC has won two of the three games in the series, including a 90-74 win at the Smith Center in 1987.

Coming off a one-point win at Notre Dame, the Tar Heels will try to hand the Mustangs their second straight loss to a squad from Tobacco Road.

Here are some other things to know and a score prediction for UNC’s return to the Smith Center to play SMU.

Jalen Washington, UNC rebounding against SMU

UNC has been outrebounded by six opponents this season, losing four of those games. SMU is one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, inside the top 25 of rebounds per game and 22nd in offensive rebounds. In their loss to Duke, the Mustangs pulled down 21 offensive rebounds. UNC will have to be ready for a battle on the glass and 6-foot-10 Jalen Washington is coming off one of his best games of the season. Despite a career-worst four turnovers in the win at Notre Dame, Washington had eight points, six rebounds and a career-high five blocks. The Tar Heels need more of that type of production in the paint from their junior big man.

Ian Jackson and Boopie Miller are key offensive players in UNC vs SMU

Wake Forest transfer Boopie Miller has averaged 21 points and 6.3 assists over the last three games for the Mustangs. Miller had five points and two turnovers last season in the Demon Deacons’ blowout loss to UNC in Chapel Hill. UNC guard Ian Jackson is tracking toward being a lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after becoming the first Tar Heel freshman to score at least 23 points in four straight games. Jackson had a career-high 27 points at Notre Dame and UNC is 3-1 in the last four games.

Will RJ Davis snap out of 3-point shooting slump?

Fifth-year guard RJ Davis matched a season-high with seven assists at Notre Dame, but he didn’t make a 3-pointer for the first time this season. Through three ACC games, Davis is shooting 15% from beyond the arc. His facilitating is a boost with the gravity he commands from defenders, but Davis has to get going from long distance if the Tar Heels are going to reach their potential.

UNC vs SMU score prediction

UNC 82, SMU 76: The Mustangs put up 100 points in their last away game, but that was at Boston College. In what should be a high-scoring game at the Smith Center, the Tar Heels will get a bounce-back game from RJ Davis in a home win.

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.