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Texas Basketball vs. UNC: 5 bold predictions for Las Vegas Invitational

By Andrew Miller

AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 12: Kerwin Roach Jr. #12 of the Texas Longhorns plays defense against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Frank Erwin Center on December 12, 2015 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 12: Kerwin Roach Jr. #12 of the Texas Longhorns plays defense against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Frank Erwin Center on December 12, 2015 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 19: Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels hangs on the rim after dunking against against the St. Francis Red Flash during the first half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 19, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 19: Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels hangs on the rim after dunking against against the St. Francis Red Flash during the first half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 19, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

2. Nassir Little has his true breakout game

In the first five games of the season, UNC’s highly touted freshman forward Nassir Little hasn’t started. Little gets significant minutes off the bench, but hasn’t got his first career start yet. The same five players started every game for the Tar Heels. More experienced Tar Heels like senior forward Luke Maye and the former Pitt Panthers transfer guard Cameron Johnson earned their playing time ahead of the freshmen.

Little leads the Tar Heels in minutes among players without a start. He fits a similar role to junior point guard Seventh Woods. Little and Woods both average more than 15.0 minutes per game. They each have growing roles with the Tar Heels this season. Little might not be in Chapel Hill, NC, for more than one season, though.

However, Little was a much higher rated recruit than Woods. For that reason, he could see a bigger spike in playing time soon. He’s averaging 13.0 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.8 steals. The averages per 40 minutes are much more impressive for Little at 26.3 points and more than 10 rebounds.

If UNC head coach Roy Williams gives Little more time to make things happen against Texas basketball, Smart better be ready. Little doesn’t get more than 20 minutes on the floor most games. If he has any similarity to Mitrou-Long with at least 25 minutes in these bold predictions, Little could eclipse the 25-point mark for the first time in his career.

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