North Carolina was sent to Terre Haute on Selection Day. What should we expect?
With the NCAA Tournament set, the Diamond Heels were selected as a 3-seed in Terre Haute. This regional includes 1-seed Indiana State, 2-seed Iowa and 4-seed Wright State. Many believed North Carolina would be the 2-seed wherever they landed.
How does North Carolina match up?
The Diamond Heels have the best offense but worst pitching of the four teams.
Indiana State: Champions of the Missouri Valley Conference, the Sycamores have the best pitching in this region. Their 3.80 runs given up per game has allowed them to beat most of the teams they have faced. With a record of 42-15, Indiana State is more than deserving to be hosting a regional. For the Heels to defeat them, the bats will have to come out ready to go.
Iowa: The Hawkeyes have played 14 games against teams in the tournament, going 6-8. They give up just over 4 runs per game but have a .298 batting average as a team, which is very strong. This is the team the Diamond Heels will open with, and the pitching has to be ready. The first game of the regional is always important.
Wright State: The Raiders are the weakest team in this regional. They give up close to 5 runs per game, which is great for North Carolina. They cannot be overlooked however, as they won their third straight conference tournament. That is an impressive feat, no matter who you face.
Good News
North Carolina has had the toughest strength of schedule of the four teams by a large margin. They also have played far more games against the Top 50 teams than the others. The Heels have played 31 games against the Top 50, the other three schools combined have played only 32. Therefore, the Heels are far more tested and have to be ready for any team they face.
Cause for Concern
Center Fielder and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Vance Honeycutt will miss the entirety of this regional. Listed with a lower back injury, there is currently no timeframe for a return. Honeycutt is a threat on the base paths and is a player that North Carolina depends on. In his absence, someone will have to step-up and make big plays.
The Tar Heels first game against Iowa will be June 2nd at 7 P.M.
