ES 
NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Prediction 
Odds 
Last Recap 
Game Picks 
Top Handicapper 
North Carolina Battles Ole Miss After Rout in First Four
MILWAUKEE — The sixth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels will face a red-hot North Carolina squad in the first round of the NCAA Tournament’s South Region on Friday, following the Tar Heels’ emphatic First Four victory over San Diego State.
Tar Heels Carry Momentum Into First Round
North Carolina (23-13) silenced doubters with a dominant 95-68 win over San Diego State on Tuesday, led by RJ Davis’ 26-point performance. The victory marked the Tar Heels’ ninth win in their last 11 games, a stretch that has seen them peak at the right time.
Your One-Stop For All Things Gambling—Explore Gambling News Today.
“We’re getting better. And over the last month and a half, two months, we’ve just gotten better and better. And it’s coming at the right time.” — Hubert Davis
North Carolina’s offense was firing on all cylinders against San Diego State, knocking down a program-record 14 three-pointers in an NCAA Tournament game. Davis, who leads the team with 17.3 points per game and 84 three-pointers, will be a key factor against Ole Miss. Ian Jackson (12.3 ppg) and Seth Trimble (11.7 ppg) add additional scoring depth.
The Tar Heels average 81.2 points per game and are 15-3 when scoring 80 or more. However, head coach Hubert Davis remains focused on three key aspects of their game.
“It would be great if we hit 14 threes on Friday. I’ll take that. But the reason that I consistently tell the team the three boxes we have to check is defense, rebounding, and taking care of the basketball. Those are the things that travel and those are the things you can take care of.” — Hubert Davis
Ole Miss Looks to Regain Consistency
Ole Miss (22-11) earned the No. 6 seed after an up-and-down season that included impressive wins over Alabama and Tennessee—both No. 2 seeds in this tournament. The Rebels fell to Auburn 62-57 in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals and will look to bounce back against a surging North Carolina team.
“An interesting thing about our resume; you know we didn’t lose a game this year to a team that’s not in the NCAA Tournament.” — Chris Beard
The Rebels are led by Sean Pedulla, who averages 14.9 points per game and has knocked down a team-high 78 three-pointers. Ole Miss features a balanced attack, with five other players averaging at least 10.0 points per game. Malik Dia leads the team in rebounding with 5.7 per game, but Ole Miss has struggled on the boards, getting outrebounded by 4.7 per game.
Head coach Chris Beard, in his first season with Ole Miss, has taken four different programs to the NCAA Tournament and has never lost a first-round game. He believes his team’s experience and preparation will be crucial.
Want to dominate your March Madness bets?
Get expert predictions and make informed picks!
“Every member of our staff has been a part of NCAA Tournament wins and runs. So just trying to share our knowledge and our experiences with our players.” — Chris Beard
Key Matchup Factors
North Carolina thrives on high-scoring games, while Ole Miss is 10-2 when reaching 80 points. Both teams will look to dictate tempo, with the Tar Heels aiming to exploit Ole Miss’ rebounding struggles.
For those tracking college basketball expert picks, this matchup offers an intriguing battle between a surging North Carolina squad and an Ole Miss team with a history of tough wins against top competition.
