00:00The earlier games in this window that is starting to flip is Syracuse, North Carolina.
00:07We have talked about teams who need games.
00:10We have talked about teams who have suffered season-long injuries.
00:15We don't really know exactly where North Carolina fits into any of this.
00:20They are missing their best player in Caleb Wilson.
00:22Caleb Wilson says he will be back.
00:25I don't know if that is entirely in Caleb's control, right?
00:31It's tough to know, JY.
00:33We know how important he is, and we are seeing that start to really take shape in the market this
00:42morning
00:42as Syracuse is sitting at a one-and-a-half-point favorite in some of the markets right now here.
00:51And that is a line flip, right, from dog to favorite for the Syracuse Orange at home.
00:58It is important to mention, and I'll look again to see if we have any added clarity,
01:03but also Henry Vassar, who could argue to be the second-best player, certainly a starter
01:08and a big-time contributor for North Carolina, has been injured as well, Coach,
01:12and he could miss this game possibly here today.
01:15What do you make of North Carolina going to Syracuse?
01:20This is a big spot because we saw at NC State, Kevin, it didn't look too good.
01:26So to me, this is one of these games where you have to see them live.
01:31Sometimes when you get into situations where you lose a big-time player,
01:37it takes a couple of days or games, I would say, to kind of get everything up and running
01:44and kind of playing at a way that you would expect them to be, right?
01:49So I'm looking at this Carolina team coming off of this loss at NC State,
01:53going against a Syracuse team that really needs just – they need just momentum.
01:57You know, you look at, obviously, you know, even the talk about Adrian,
02:00you know, and the guy is questionable, and Kevin will get more into that.
02:06But to me, this is a live play game.
02:10As a coach, I need to see a North Carolina team that looks more engaged
02:15and more focused and not relying on the fact that they're missing maybe their two best players.
02:20Play the game live.
02:21Because it's live, unless one team runs away with it, it should be pretty close.
02:27Play the game live.
02:28I think UNC steals in the end, but it really can go either way.
02:32Yeah, it's a really tough spot, right?
02:34We know how important Wilson is.
02:37Vassar is questionable right now.
02:39This game is about an hour and a half away, so we'll certainly get some clarity.
02:44I think one of the most jarring numbers of the season, JY,
02:48was earlier this week when UNC went to NC State,
02:52a six-and-a-half number that got bet all the way up to eight-and-a-half in some
02:57spots there.
02:58And the end result was an NC State 24-point victory.
03:03So we look at this number here today.
03:06Are people overreacting?
03:07Are people appropriately adjusting?
03:09I think it's very, very difficult to tell right now.
03:13Allow me to stick in the ACC for a moment, Coach.
03:15I'm not sure if this is a game that's going to be on your card,
03:17but Virginia-Miami is an important one.
03:20This is a UVA team who's really gone under the radar this season,
03:24and understandably so.
03:25But the metrics suggest this is one of the 20 best teams in college basketball,
03:32and Miami at 21-5 has really done a nice job for themselves,
03:36looking like a very, very likely tournament team, I think we expect,
03:41when it's all said and done.
03:43A win like this for the Canes, though, would certainly go a long, long way
03:48if they could snag it.
03:50Anything jump off the page to you with Miami and UVA?
03:54Yeah, honestly, it's the level of defense of both teams.
03:59Virginia's defense is number two in the ACC in defensive efficiency,
04:02and it's a different defense, right?
04:06It's not the Tony Benning, like, pack line.
04:09It's a little bit more aggressive.
04:10And John Lucas has done a fantastic job.
04:13And, folks, if you think about what he did at Duke
04:16as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator,
04:19he's brought a lot of that defense and that toughness to his team.
04:24But it's a little bit interesting here because when you really peel it back,
04:30their defensive efficiency is fourth in league,
04:33but their effective field goal percentage defense is 14.
04:37So that's where it gets interesting because maybe they're not lining up.
04:41Here's how it's going to shake down.
04:44Virginia is not a very good three-point shooting team.
04:47Okay?
04:48I'm sorry, Miami's not a very good three-point shooting team.
04:50Neither is Virginia.
04:52Whoever wins a three-point line is going to win this game.
04:56You have two of the worst teams that's shooting it.
04:57So, to me, that is where this game is going to be won.
05:01Virginia should get the win.
05:02I think the number's a little bit big.
05:03And the way that Coach Lucas has been playing,
05:06I wouldn't be, ready folks, completely stunned
05:11if Miami stole this game because of the style of play that they are,
05:14especially on the defensive side of the ball.
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