Auburn Tigers vs North Carolina Tar Heels: Predictions, Odds & Roster Notes

What: Auburn Tigers vs North Carolina Tar Heels

Where: Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO

When: Friday, March 29th at 7:29 PM EST

How (TV): TBS

Auburn Tigers

Head Coach: Bruce Pearl {Record: 28-9 | Conference: 11-7, 4th in SEC}

Expected Starting Five: (G) Jared Harper – (G) Malik Dunbar – (G) Bryce Brown – (F) Anfernee McLemore – (F) Chuma Okeke

The Auburn Tigers enter this matchup after a comfortable win over No. 17 Kansas and a one-point first round victory over New Mexico State. The Tigers have a high powered offence that runs through their talented guards and capable big man Chuma Okeke.

They are in for quite a challenge when they take on the Tar Heels and their own dynamic scoring back court. Head coach Bruce Pearl admitted that his Tigers team are not afraid to get on the break and run with the North Carolina Tar Heels. A bold strategy, let’s see if it pays off for them.

Bryce Brown was fantastic in Auburn’s win over the Kansas Jayhawks. He posted 25 points on 9-13 shooting while also contributing 7-11 shooting from deep. Those looks will be available to him against the Tar Heels. While their guards are fast, Brown should be able to take advantage of the same looks in transition.

North Carolina Tar Heels (Home)

Head Coach: Roy Williams {Record: 29-6 | Conference: 16-2, 1st in ACC}

Expected Starting Five: (G) Kenny Williams – (G) Cameron Johnson – (G) Coby White – (F) Garrison Brooks – (F) Luke Maye

The North Carolina Tar Heels have been expectedly dominant in their first two matches of the NCAA Tournament. Iona and Washington couldn’t compete with the Tar Heels’ diverse attack and they look to do the same against Auburn.

The Tigers are also a high-powered offensive team, that the Tar Heels will have to slow down. Auburn makes 38% of their three-point attempts, which accounts for 43% of their overall offensive production. They lead the nation with 421 made three’s out of 1113 attempted.

North Carolina has length at the wing positions but they also lack a shot blocking at the rim. They must be careful running the Tigers off of the three point line as it will only serve Auburn to attack the rim. Roy Williams will need to trust his lineup to not put star big man Luke Maye in compromising positions, for the sake of stopping the three.

Auburn Tigers Roster Notes

The Auburn Tigers have no roster changes of note.

North Carolina Tar Heels Roster Notes

F Garrison Brooks – 24 Mar 2019 – Probable (Tooth) – Brooks lost and broke a tooth in their previous match. He is expected to play against Auburn.

F Nassir Little – 28 Mar 2019 – Questionable (Sickness) – Little is battling illness and it is unknown if he will be in the lineup on Friday.

G Kenny Williams – 24 Mar 2019 – Questionable (Hamstring) – Williams left the last game with a hamstring injury and it is currently unknown if he is fit to return.

Head-to-Head: Bryce Brown (AUB) vs Coby White (UNC)

Look to the point guard position for the key matchup between the Auburn Tigers and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Bryce Brown was lights out in his last game and brings a seniors experience to the tournament. On the other side, Coby White is a capable yet inexperienced freshman guard that Roy Williams has put a lot of faith into.

Bryce Brown

Guard | 6-3, 198lb (190cm, 89kg) | Tucker HS | Stone Mountain, GA | Senior

15.9 PPG | 1.9 APG | 2.0 RPG | 1.1 SPG | 0.1 BPG | 1.7 TOV | .433 FG% | .408 3P%

Bryce Brown is expected to lead the Tigers when they take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. He is not a shy offensive player for good reason. He is averaging nine three-point attempts per game and converts on 40% of those three’s. The Tigers are looking to run in transition, so expect Brown to either push the break or fade to corners to get easy buckets.

Coby White

Guard| 6-5, 185lb (196cm, 83kg) | Greenfield School | Goldsboro, NC | Freshman

16.1 PPG | 4.1 APG | 3.6 RPG | 1.1 SPG | 0.3 BPG | 2.7 TOV | .429 FG% | .363 3P%

Coby White is one of the most fun players to watch in college basketball. He looks to be the first freshman guard to lead the Tar Heels to the Final Four. Contrary to Brown, White has been rather cold from distance. Despite shooting 4-7 from range against Washington, he was 3-21 in his previous games against Louisville, Duke, and Iona. It is a toss-up when considering whether or not White’s shot will fall, so expect the heady point guard to start the race in what is expected to be a high-octane, offensive game.

Auburn Tigers at North Carolina Tar Heels Predictions and Odds

The odds makers have the North Carolina Tar Heels favoured over the Auburn Tigers by 5.5, with Auburn at a -115 and North Carolina at a -112.

Bet on this NCAA match if you are in New Jersey with 888Sport and get a welcome bonus up to $500!