The Long Island Blackbirds take a big step up in competition this evening as they face ACC Champion North Carolina at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tip off in tonight's East Region battle is scheduled for 7:15pm ET on CBS. The latest College Basketball Lines have the Tar Heels listed as a -17.5 against the spread college basketball picks favorite and the game total set at 159.5.
Northeast Conference champion Long Island comes into this evening's contest riding a 13 game win streak. The Blackbirds,
which posted a 16-2 conference record, qualified for the NCAA's with an 85-82 overtime victory against the Robert Morris Colonials in the conference tournament.
Long Island, which averages 82.6 points per game, had four players score in double figures in the finale. Sophomore forward Jamal Olasewere, who leads the team in scoring, tallied 31 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals to give the Blackbirds their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002.
No. 2 North Carolina won nine straight games prior to its ACC Tournament meeting with Duke, which helped the Tar Heels secure the regular season conference title. Roy Williams' squad lost its rubber match with the Blue Devils, though, falling 58-75 to Coach K's squad in the conference tournament championship.
UNC shot a miserable 33.9 percent from the field (21-of-62) and 66.7 from the free throw line (14-of-21) in that game. Freshman Harrison Barnes, who scored 40 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the Tar Heels' semifinals win over Clemson, recorded 16 points against the Blue Devils. Forward John Henson, one of UNC's three double digit scorers, dropped in 10 points and snagged 18 boards in the loss.
North Carolina, which missed last year's tournament, has reached the regional final four times in the past six years.
Long Island vs North Carolina 2011 NCAA Bracket Predictions:
Long Island Blackbirds +17.5 (-110), Over 159.5 (-110)
North Carolina Tar Heels -17.5 (-110), Under 159.5 (-110)
