UNC at Long Beach State

Matchup Simulation Stats

• This game has been simulated 7 times.
• Long Beach State (2013) has won 2 times (28.6% of the time), won by > 20 pts 0 times (0.0% of the time)
• NC (2013) has won 5 times (71.4% of the time), won by > 20 pts 1 times (14.3% of the time)
• The average score is Long Beach State (2013): 65.4 - NC (2013): 73.7, decided by < 5 pts 2 times (28.6% of the time)
• The game has gone into overtime 0 times (0.0% of the time)

CHAPEL HILL -- The first words came easily to North Carolina coach Roy Williams who, when asked recently what he hoped to learn about his team during the next week, said matter-of-factly, “I hope to learn we’re good.”

Williams was talking about another long trip west, the kind the Tar Heels embarked on early in their past two national championship seasons. He continued on with his answer, and spent about a minute talking about how he wanted to see more mental toughness, better ball movement, more players taking charges.

More from NewsObserver.com

The North Carolina Tar Heels face Long Beach State tonight for the first of five road games in 11 days.  Tonight’s game will act as UNCs warmup game prior to heading to Maui for the Maui Invitations Tournament.  Carolina has underwent a ton of changes from last season and is relying on the contributions of four freshman and a roster made up of players adjusting to larger roles than they have ever played at this level.

After an up and down season opener against Garner Webb, head coach Roy Williams stated that he believed the team improved after a rout against Florida Atlantic.

More from KeepingItHeel.com

North Carolina and Long Beach State are similar in men's basketball in that both teams lost four starters to graduation. Not that there isn't a significant difference - the Tar Heels' foursome were among the top 17 picks in the 2012 NBA draft.

What it does mean is the respective teams are still trying to figure things out and they will take another step in that direction tonight at 8:10 when they square off at Walter Pyramid (on ESPNU).

Long Beach (1-1) is 0-2 all-time against No. 11 North Carolina (2-0), with narrow losses the past two seasons at Chapel Hill. This will be the Tar Heels' first game at the Pyramid. An overflow crowd of more than 6,000 is expected.

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