Nicholls State vs North Carolina: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

The Nicholls State Colonels (4-7) go on the road for a game they'll never forget as they face off with the No. 6 North Carolina Tar Heels (9-2). It's nothing more than another warmup for the Tar Heels as they continue to gear up for ACC play.

Where: Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.

When: Monday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPNU and ESPN3

Listen: WCHL 1360 AM (North Carolina)

Betting Line: North Carolina -38

Who Might Not Play for Nicholls State: G Dantrell Thomas

Thomas missed the team's game on Friday night with a lingering calf injury and is listed as questionable for tonight's game by USA Today. He's averaged eight points in 17 minutes for the Colonels and will be a key piece of the rotation when healthy.

Who Might Not Play for North Carolina: No injuries to report.

Guard Leslie McDonald had offseason knee surgery and won't play. Otherwise, the Tar Heels are healthy heading into tonight's game.

Top 25 Implications

North Carolina sits inside the top six of both major polls and should remain around that mark for most of the year. There was talk heading into the season about a possible unbeaten campaign, but those dreams died off after a loss to an underrated UNLV squad, which could benefit the Tar Heels in the long run.

What They're Saying

While the Tar Heels continue to rack up victories, the talk within the team is about continuing to improve. Tyler Zeller stressed the importance of putting together complete performances, which will become a lot more crucial come conference play and eventually tournament time (via Yahoo! Sports).

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“As a team, we’ve got to get better. We’ve got to be a little more crisp,” forward Tyler Zeller said. “At times, we were very, very good. Other times, we played very poorly. It’s something that we’ve just got to be able to get in the rhythm and keep it up for 40 minutes.”

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Nicholls State Player to Watch: G Trevon Lewis

Lewis has been able to step right in to make an immediate impact for the Colonels. He's averaging 14 points and five rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field, including 47 percent from beyond the arc. Look for him to be the focal point on defense for North Carolina.

North Carolina Player to Watch: F Harrison Barnes

Even though Barnes could have jumped to the NBA after last season, he made the right call to return to UNC. He's one of the best players in the nation, but could still benefit from add some extra strength and more moves. So far, he's averaging 17 points and four boards.

Key Matchup: Tar Heels size vs. Colonels frontcourt

As is so often the case when a national superpower like North Carolina takes on a smaller school, size is an issue. The Tar Heels' three biggest contributors are all at least 6'8''. The Colonels simply don't have anybody who will be able to defend that type of length, which will lead to a lot of easy buckets.

Prediction

North Carolina 92, Nicholls State 60