UNC Basketball: Biggest X-Factors for the Rest of Tar Heels' Season

With four games remaining in the regular season, the North Carolina Tar Heels have a chance to jump as high as second in the ACC standings if everything falls in their favor. 

Matchups against NC State, Miami (FL), Georgia Tech and Duke are left on the docket for the team that sits beneath the four other ranked teams in the conference standings. 

For the Tar Heels' performance to peak at the best time possible, they will need to develop a few key X-factors. 

Below is a look at the biggest X-factors for the rest of the Tar Heels' season.

Marcus Paige's Success Against NC State

The biggest reason why North Carolina fans should not be worried about a potential NC State upset bid Tuesday at the Smith Center is Marcus Paige's career performance against the Wolfpack. 

In five career games against NC State, the junior guard has averaged 18.8 points and 6.2 assists per game. He is also a 44.2 percent shooter from the field, and he has committed only five turnovers, per Joe Giglio of the Raleigh News and Observer: 

The matchup against the Wolfpack comes at the perfect time for Paige, who has scored just 26 points in his last three games. 

While he did reach double digits against Georgia Tech, Paige struggled against Pittsburgh and Duke. If he can build on his 13-point performance from Saturday's win over the Yellow Jackets, he could be set for a career night Tuesday. 

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

If he is able to extend his tremendous form against NC State into the game at the Smith Center, Paige should be able to set the tone for the rest of the season. 

Win the Battle off the Bench Against Duke 

In five ACC games against ranked opposition this season, the Tar Heels have received three double-digit-point performances off the bench. 

Two of the three strong showings off the pine came in the 92-90 overtime defeat at the hands of Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. 

In the February 18 loss, Isaiah Hicks and Nate Britt scored 23 of the Tar Heels' 32 bench points. Duke only scored seven off the pine last Wednesday. 

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Thanks to the contributions of Hicks and Britt, the Tar Heels were able to stay in the game despite Paige's difficulty from the field. 

If the North Carolina bench players can have the same impact on March 7 when Duke visits the Smith Center, it should be able to breeze past the Blue Devils, especially if Paige scores more than five points. 

J.P. Tokoto's Contributions as an Extra Scorer 

Over his last two games, J.P. Tokoto has brought an extra punch to the scoring department by contributing 27 points against Duke and Georgia Tech. 

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Tokoto is currently the fifth-best scorer on the Tar Heels roster at 8.9 points per game, but he has delivered in a few of the team's biggest games. 

In four of North Carolina's five ranked matchups in conference action, he has scored in double figures.

With every game meaning more as the regular season starts to wind down, Tokoto should attack the showdowns with NC State, Miami (FL) and Georgia Tech with the same motivation he had heading into the clashes with Louisville, Notre Dame and Duke. 

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If Tokoto can further his progress in the scoring department, some of the extra defensive attention laid on Paige may dissipate. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

All statistics obtained from ESPN.com.