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Carrie Stroup here with Ohio vs. North Carolina spread, which was coming in at Tar Heels -10.5. You can find all the latest NCAA Tournament odds at Sportsbook.com here and be sure to claim up to $250 in FREE CASH (restrictions apply).
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: North Carolina -10.5 & 143
Opening Line & Total: Tar Heels -10.5 & 142.4
An injured North Carolina squad will look to end the run of one of this tournament’s great stories in 13th-seeded Ohio when the schools meet Friday night in St. Louis.
It seems that UNC cannot become whole. After getting ACC defensive player of the year John Henson back in the Round of 32, PG Kendall Marshall suffered a broken wrist against Saint Louis, and underwent surgery Monday. His status is uncertain for Friday, and if he can’t go, the Tar Heels will greatly miss their floor leader, who in addition to his 10.1 APG, has become an important scorer with 14.8 PPG since the beginning of March. Marshall also plays nearly every minute (33.0 MPG) and the Heels lack an adequate backup who can push the ball and run the offense the way he can. Although they are still far more talented than the Bobcats, it will take them time to find their offensive rhythm. Look for D.J. Cooper, Ohio’s point guard and leading scorer, to take advantage of inferior defenders such as Carolina backup point guard, freshman Stilman White, and keep his team competitive in this one.
Cooper (14.9 PPG, 5.7 APG) paces Ohio in scoring and passing and has had a strong tournament, averaging 20.0 PPG and 6.0 APG in the big dance so far. The junior guard is also a nasty defender (2.3 SPG) who can convert those turnovers by pulling up from long range (2.1 threes per game). Joining him in the backcourt is fellow junior G Walter Offutt (11.7 PPG) who led his team to the Sweet 16 with a 21-point showing against South Florida, making all four of his three-point attempts and swiping four steals. If that duo can continue to shoot well against a backcourt that will probably be sans Marshall, this should be a tight game.
The good news for the Heels is they got by most of the season with minimal scoring outputs from Marshall because of their wealth of talent. Six-foot-8 forward Harrison Barnes (17.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG) will be a tough body for the Bobcats to defend with his athleticism and inside-outside game. Henson (13.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG) returned Sunday and looked strong with a 13-rebound, 10-point, four-block performance. He and ACC player of the year Tyler Zeller (16.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG) should have a big size advantage in the post against Ohio’s 6-foot-8 forwards. To win this game, that pair of bigs will have to dominate the Bobcats on the interior.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
