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• Showdown in NYC pits Tar Heels against Buckeyes

  
  

  New York, NY (Sports Network) - Top-25 foes collide in Madison Square Garden this evening, as the sixth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels and the 15th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes take part in semifinal action of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer.

  North Carolina has lost a great deal from last year's national championship team, but Roy Williams has done a remarkable job reloading the arsenal in Chapel Hill, and early returns are positive, as the new-look Tar Heels are already 3-0 on the young season with double-digit wins over the likes of FIU, NC Central and Valparaiso already.

  The Buckeyes are a little different in that Thad Matta has a veteran group in place to make a run at the Big Ten title and beyond. Ohio State has looked unbeatable in its first two games, posting lopsided wins over Alcorn State (100-60) and most recently, James Madison (74-44).

  The Tar Heels have won nine of the 11 all-time meetings with the Buckeyes and haven't lost to a Big Ten school since 2005. These two programs recently completed a home-and-home series as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, with the Tar Heels taking both decisions in 2006 and 2007.

  North Carolina lacked a little intensity last time out against Valparaiso and allowed the Crusaders to hang around in a game that ultimately went in favor of the Tar Heels, 88-77. UNC shot the ball extremely well at a 56.1 percent clip, but was sloppy at times, committing 14 turnovers. Deon Thompson led three players in double figures, finishing the game with 20 points and eight rebounds. Point guard Larry Drew II added 13 points and six assists to the cause, while Tyler Zeller came off the bench with 12 points in 15 minutes of action. UNC has shown its offensive prowess in the early going this year and after three games, is shooting .571 from the field, en route to 88.3 ppg. Thompson is one of four players averaging double figures, pacing the team with 17.7 ppg. Zeller is next at 12.0 ppg, followed by Ed Davis (11.7 ppg) and Marcus Ginyard (11.3 ppg). Thompson and Davis are a formidable duo on the boards, both averaging just over eight caroms per outing (8.3).

  The Buckeyes had no trouble in their opening two games of the season, as they destroyed the tournament field in Columbus, averaging 86.0 ppg on nearly 50 percent shooting (.496). No player in the country has gotten off to a better start than 6-7 junior Evan Turner. Following a triple-double in the season- opener against Alcorn State, Turner followed up with a 24-point, 17-rebound performance against James Madison. David Lighty and William Buford provided strong efforts against the Dukes as well, finishing with 14 and 12 points, respectively. In addition to a productive outing at the offensive end, OSU also turned up the heat defensively against James Madison, forcing 16 turnovers (including 11 steals), holding a 43-34 edge on the boards and allowing the Dukes to shoot just .308 from the field. After two games, Turner's stats are just ridiculous, averaging 19.0 points and 17.0 rebounds per game. Four others are averaging double digits in Buford (15.5 ppg), Jon Diebler (14.5 ppg), Lighty (11.0 ppg) and Jeremie Simmons (10.0 ppg).

  11/19 10:47:30 ET