Three bold Indiana basketball predictions vs. No. 18 North Carolina

No. 10 Indiana basketball clashes with No. 18 North Carolina in Assembly Hall on Wednesday and it’s going to take a lot to beat the Tar Heels.

Over their last three games, North Carolina is giving up an average of 84.7 points per game on 43.9 percent shooting. In that span, the Tar Heels are 1-2 with losses to unranked Iowa State and No. 18 Alabama.

Over the Hoosiers’ last three games, Indiana basketball is giving up an average of 58.3 points per game on 33.7 percent shooting and 16.0 turnovers per game. IU is 3-0 in those three games.

Something has got to give for Wednesday’s showdown between two blue bloods.

Here are my three bold predictions for No. 10 Indiana battling against No. 18 North Carolina on Wednesday in Assembly Hall:

Three predictions for No. 10 Indiana basketball vs. No. 18 North Carolina:

#3. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Malik Reneau team up to hold Armando Bacot under 15 points and 10 rebounds

In his two games this season against major conference teams, Armando Bacot is averaging 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. Bacot has posted a double-double in eight of his last nine games against major conference teams. In his lone road game against a Big Ten team in his career, Bacot registered just four points and 11 rebounds in 22 minutes in a loss to then-ranked No. 3 Iowa.

Earlier this season, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Malik Reneau were responsible for guarding Jack Nunge, the big man for Xavier, and held him to 14 points on 35.7 percent shooting and eight rebounds. In Nunge’s six other games, he’s averaging 16.7 points on 54.5 percent shooting and 6.5 rebounds.

It’s time for both big men to step up defensively and not allow Bacot to control this game on the glass. This will be a huge difference-maker for the Hoosiers.