Boston College Eagles vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Pick & Prediction JANUARY 20th 2024

No. 4 North Carolina will attempt to match its longest winning streak in five years when it faces Boston College on Saturday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Tar Heels (14-3, 6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) have been on a roll, winning seven straight games for the first time since rattling off eight consecutive victories near the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

Five of the wins during the current streak came against ACC foes, as North Carolina is off to its best start in conference play since the 2015-16 season.

North Carolina most recently beat Louisville 86-70 on Wednesday, getting 21 points, six rebounds and six assists from RJ Davis and 19 points, seven boards, five assists and three blocks from Armando Bacot.

However, it was Jae’Lyn Withers who stood out the most.

Withers came off the bench to record season highs of 15 points and 10 rebounds against his former team as he continues to find his footing with the Tar Heels.

After averaging just 3.6 points on 42.5 percent shooting from the field over his first 15 games, Withers has combined to knock down 9 of 11 shots (81.8 percent) in his past two games while netting 12.5 points per contest.

“He was able to score around the basket, get to the free-throw line and make free throws,” North Carolina coach Hubert Davis said of Withers following the game against the Cardinals. “We don’t win this game without J-Wit. He was fantastic.

“We needed him to have his best game of the season, and I’m just really happy and really proud of him.”

Meanwhile, the Eagles (11-6, 2-4) just got back on track with a 63-59 home win over Notre Dame on Monday.

Boston College had dropped back-to-back games before Jaeden Zackery went for 20 points and Quinten Post added 17 against the Fighting Irish.

The Eagles trailed by seven at the break, but they scored the first eight points of the second half. Post later delivered a personal 8-0 run that he capped by sinking a 3-pointer for a 57-55 lead with 3:39 left, and Boston College never trailed again.

It was a bounce-back game for Post, who was held scoreless in 26 minutes of action during a loss to Syracuse on Jan. 10. He then missed the Eagles’ Jan. 13 setback against then-No. 21 Clemson due to a stomach ailment.

“Obviously the last two games were rough for us as a team and me individually,” Post said. “Coming off an illness, and I started the game (against Notre Dame) off terrible. But credit to … (Zackery) here and coach (Earl Grant), they told me to keep shooting.

“They just told me that they needed me out there. … I just needed to see one go in, and I felt great after that.”

Post averages team highs in points (16.9) and rebounds (7.4) per game. RJ Davis leads North Carolina at 20.4 points per game and is one of four Tar Heels with a scoring average in double figures.

Bacot is averaging a double-double (14.8 points, 10.5 rebounds per game).

North Carolina has won 16 of its past 17 meetings with Boston College.

–Field Level Media