UNC basketball isn’t making things easy on itself.
Following a four-game winning streak, the Tar Heels (12-8, 5-3 ACC) have dropped consecutive games by a single point for the first time in 57 years. UNC will try to get back in the win column against Boston College (9-10, 1-7) on Saturday (2:15 p.m., CW Network) at the Smith Center.
The Tar Heels have won 23 of 29 games against the Eagles, including 17 of the last 18 meetings and five in a row by an average margin of 13.8 points.
Here are some other things to know and a score prediction for the Tar Heels vs. Boston College.
UNC basketball can’t help NCAA Tournament résumé vs Boston College, but Tar Heels can hurt it
Following losses to Stanford and Wake Forest, a pair of teams that are currently on the outside looking in as far as NCAA Tournament projections, UNC is trending in the wrong direction if it wants to be included in March Madness. According to BracketMatrix, the Tar Heels are in the field in each of the 74 brackets. Still, UNC has work to do, starting this weekend against a Boston College team with a losing record. The Heels need a blowout win against the Eagles, who have lost five in a row.
Seth Trimble resurgence key for UNC turnaround
Following a head injury that caused him to miss three games, UNC guard Seth Trimble appeared to regain his rhythm in wins against California and Stanford, averaging 10.5 points and 5 rebounds with 4 steals in those games. But Trimble took a step back in the loss at Wake Forest, finishing with four points on 2 of 8 shooting with three fouls. At the time of his injury, Trimble was the Tar Heels’ second-leading scorer at 14.8 points per game on 48% shooting, including 38.5% from 3-point range through 12 games. In order for UNC to turn things around, it needs Trimble to find his groove.
Boston College 3-point defense vs Ian Jackson, Tar Heels 3-point shooting
UNC has struggled to consistently connect from long distance, making just 25 of 83 shots (30.1%) from 3-point range in its last four games. The Tar Heels need Ian Jackson to heat up from beyond the arc. Jackson has missed 14 of 16 shots from 3-point range in the last three games. But facing Boston College’s defense could be the remedy for UNC. The Eagles are 309th in 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to knock down 36.4% of their 3-pointers The Eagles allowed Virginia to make 11 of 20 shots (55%) from long range in an 18-point loss to the Cavaliers.
UNC vs Boston College score prediction
UNC 83, Boston College 62: The Tar Heels need a stress-free Saturday before a four-game gauntlet that could determine their NCAA Tournament fate. UNC will gain some confidence and snap its losing streak with a win against the overmatched Eagles.
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.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball vs Boston College: Score prediction, scouting report
