North Carolina Tar Heels vs California Golden Bears Picks and Predictions January 15th 2025

Ian Jackson Leads Resurgent North Carolina Against Cal

As North Carolina prepares to host California on Wednesday, freshman Ian Jackson continues to dazzle, drawing high praise from head coach Hubert Davis. The Tar Heels (11-6, 4-1 ACC) have ridden Jackson’s scoring surge to win five of their past six games, climbing to within 1.5 games of first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.

Jackson’s Scoring Explosion

Jackson has been a revelation for UNC, averaging 23.2 points over the past six games while shooting nearly 43 percent from beyond the arc. His offensive versatility, including his ability to attack the rim and hit from long range, has provided a much-needed spark for the Tar Heels.

“His ability out there just to be able to make plays and score … has been a huge benefit for us over the last month,” Davis said.

Jackson’s emergence has lightened the load on RJ Davis, North Carolina’s leading scorer at 17.8 points per game. Together, they’ve powered an offense that averages 83.2 points per game, second in the ACC behind SMU.

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Cal’s Challenge

California (8-8, 1-4 ACC) enters the game looking to turn around a season marked by close losses. Six of the Golden Bears’ eight defeats have come by 12 points or fewer. Cal head coach Mark Madsen knows his team will need to execute at a higher level to compete with the Tar Heels.

“This is ACC basketball. This is the best basketball conference in the country. We embrace that, we embrace the challenge,” Madsen said. “North Carolina is talented. Cal men’s basketball is talented. We’re a scrappy bunch ourselves.”

Cal’s hopes rest largely on the shoulders of Andrej Stojakovic, son of former NBA champion Peja Stojakovic. The freshman leads the team with 20.3 points per game. Guard Jeremiah Wilkinson has also been productive, averaging 15.8 points over his past 12 games.

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What to Watch

North Carolina’s high-scoring offense will test Cal’s ability to keep pace. The Golden Bears must find a way to contain Jackson and Davis while capitalizing on their own offensive opportunities. Stojakovic’s scoring touch and Wilkinson’s recent form could be pivotal if Cal hopes to pull off an upset.

The Tar Heels, meanwhile, aim to maintain their momentum and continue climbing the ACC standings, with Jackson poised to play a starring role once again.