Ohio vs. UNC: Banged Up Tar Heels Lucky to Draw Bobcats in Sweet 16

The No. 1 seed North Carolina Tar Heels are extremely lucky that they get to play the No. 13 seed Ohio Bobcats in the Sweet 16.

No other team in the tournament has had an easier path to the Elite Eight and this easy matchup comes at a perfect time for UNC.

Kendall Marshall, the star point guard for North Carolina, just underwent surgery on Monday on his non-shooting wrist to repair a fracture. Stillman White and Justin Watts are in line to replace the starter if he is unable to go.

Haven’t heard of White or Watts? They played a combined 11.1 minutes per game this year with many of those coming towards the end of blowouts. 

Neither is going to be able to carry this team deep into the tournament, but they can manage to squeak out a victory against a mid-major on the backs of their teammates.

The Tar Heels are set to do battle on Friday night against the Bobcats and should they advance, they would have until Sunday night to recuperate in time for their Elite Eight match against either NC State or Kansas.

They won’t be able to get past a big program without Marshall and they have to hope he is either healthy by tomorrow or at the very latest, Sunday.

It won’t be easy for them to get past the Bobcats without their point man who averages 9.7 assists per game, but it’s doable if John Henson, Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes rise to the occasion and will the team to victory.

They simply have too much athleticism and talent to lose, even without Marshall. The same cannot be said against their next slate of opponents and they will need him back.