UNC Basketball: Games That Will Make or Break Tar Heels' ACC Title Hopes

Despite some early-season stumbles, North Carolina remains the favorite to take home a regular-season ACC title. However, running through the conference schedule will be anything but easy.

As is usually the case in the ACC, the conference is loaded at the top with teams likely headed to the NCAA tournament, with many expecting to make deep runs when they get there. Although a few of these squads have had some bad losses coming in, they remain threats capable of challenging for a conference title.

The Tar Heels have already learned in their early wins that there are going to be a lot of tough matchups along the way.

If this team wants to win its first regular-season championship since 2012, it will need to come through in the toughest games still on its schedule. Here is a look at the games that will decide North Carolina's ACC fate.

Feb. 1 Louisville

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Although Louisville is less proven than some other ACC teams and did just recently lose to Clemson, this team still seems like a bigger threat in the conference than Notre Dame or North Carolina State thanks to its defense.

The Cardinals allow just 58.8 points per game, and according to KenPom.com, they rank sixth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency. Chinanu Onuaku is one of the best post defenders in the country and is the type of player who can really give Brice Johnson trouble inside. The entire team also does a great job of defending the perimeter.

Add this to an elite outside scorer in Damion Lee, and Louisville has a chance to beat just about anyone in the country.

Even if Rick Pitino's team struggles in the early going, it will remain a top contender in the ACC and a key game for North Carolina during the season.

Feb. 14 vs. Pittsburgh

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It's been hard for people to come around on trusting Pittsburgh, but the squad continues to win games. The Panthers are now 14-1 on the year, and while most of the wins have been against inferior competition, the recent road win at Notre Dame proved this team is legit.

Michael Young and Jamel Artis have been offensive forces at the forward spots, forming an inside-outside tandem that is difficult for anyone to defend. Add them to a roster that can shoot from almost anywhere on the floor, including almost 80 percent from the free-throw line, and the Panthers will win a lot more games as the year progresses.

While North Carolina will have the advantage of only facing Pittsburgh at home, the game will kick off a difficult stretch for the Tar Heels that also includes games against Duke and Miami. If they are looking ahead, the Panthers will pull off the upset.

In a competitive conference race, any misstep could be the difference between winning and losing a championship.

Feb. 20 vs. Miami

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A loss to Virginia represented Miami's first loss since a disappointing effort against Northeastern earlier in the year, but this is still an elite team with few weaknesses.

Veteran guards Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan make up one of the steadiest backcourts in the country, while Tonye Jekiri anchors a consistent defense. The team scores inside and out while having the size and athleticism to defend anything an opponent throws at it.

The Hurricanes already have wins over Florida, Utah and Butler, and they can be a serious threat in the ACC with home games against Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia and Louisville still on the schedule.

North Carolina has the benefit of facing Miami in Chapel Hill, but the game will still feature some serious challenges. The Tar Heels need to perform at a high level in order to survive this potential trap game and remain a top contender in the conference.

Feb. 27 at Virginia

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A pair of terrible losses to unranked teams certainly cooled the hype on Virginia, but a bounce-back win over Miami showed this is still one of the best squads in the country.

The Cavaliers remain one of the most efficient teams in college basketball, with Malcolm Brogdon and Anthony Gill making big plays offensively and defensively. London Perrantes doesn't always put up huge numbers, but he is a reliable point guard who makes few mistakes on the court.

Considering this is mostly the same team that won the ACC in each of the past two seasons, no one should count Virginia out just yet.

North Carolina will have to try to win on the road against a team that is 8-0 in its own building this year, a difficult challenge late in the season.

March 5 at Duke

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Duke might have seen a drop-off in performance from last season, but there is more than enough talent on this roster to remain competitive in the race for an ACC title. The Blue Devils will give North Carolina a tough challenge in Chapel Hill on Feb. 17 and likely an even bigger test in Durham on the regular-season finale on March 5.

Grayson Allen is arguably the most improved player in college basketball this season, raising his points per game average from 4.4 to 20.5. Brandon Ingram is also a matchup nightmare who could have a good game against the team he almost joined.

Assuming Amile Jefferson also returns healthy by this point, the Blue Devils have the size and strength to battle down low and give North Carolina's elite frontcourt some trouble on both ends of the court.

Of course, arguably the best rivalry in sports will likely create plenty of drama regardless of which players are wearing the uniforms.

North Carolina is a favorite to bring home the ACC regular-season title, but it wouldn't be surprising if it all came down to the final game of the year at Cameron Indoor Stadium. 

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