FACTS & STATS: Site: Dean E. Smith Center (21,750) -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: Nicholls St. 3-0, North Carolina 2-0. Away Record: Nicholls St. 1-7, North Carolina 4-0. Neutral Record: Nicholls St. 0-0, North Carolina 3-0. Conference Record: Nicholls St. 0-0, North Carolina 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The Nicholls State Colonels find themselves in unchartered territory as they face their first-ever top-ranked team this evening, making the trip to Chapel Hill to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Smith Center. Roy Williams' squad has certainly looked the part of a favorite to win this year's national title, as the Tar Heels have made light work of most of the competition to date, including a 93-71 rout of Rutgers on Sunday. The victory improved UNC to a perfect 9-0 on the young season. The Colonels have not been as fortunate in navigating the early portion of their schedule. The team suffered through a five-game slide from mid-November until the end of the month, but has since won three of its last four outings, including two straight over the likes of Louisiana-Monroe (78-65) and Lipscomb (72-60). This game represents the first-ever meeting between these two teams.

This past weekend, Nicholls State shot the ball extremely well, converting 53.1 percent from the field, including 47.1 percent from behind the arc (8-of-17), resulting in a 12-point win over Lipscomb. Five players finished in double figures for the Colonels, led by Gil Verner's 17-point effort off the bench. Dominic Friend was right behind with 15 points, followed by Michael Czepil with 13 points and Ryan Bathie and Adonis Gray, who chipped in 10 points apiece. Gray just missed a double-double with nine rebounds, but his efforts were tempered by an alarming seven turnovers. In all, the Colonels turned the ball over 22 times, a problem the team has suffered with all season long (18.5 turnovers per outing). Offensively, the Colonels have been mediocre at best, averaging just 64.7 ppg on just .424 shooting. Czepil and Bathie are the two top scoring options, at 11.6 and 11.5 ppg, respectively.

The Tar Heels have had no such problems at the offensive end of the floor. The team has already eclipsed the century mark on three occasions and is presently averaging an impressive 90.2 ppg to rank second in the nation in scoring. The scoring depth is apparent, with four players currently averaging double digits. It all starts with All-American forward Tyler Hansbrough. The junior star is averaging a near double-double on the year, leading the team in both scoring (21.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.8 rpg). Hansbrough was injured in the win over Rutgers (concussion), but is listed as probable for this contest. Hansbrough gets plenty of help from sharpshooter Wayne Ellington (16.9 ppg), super sixth-man Danny Green (13.8 ppg) and point guard extraordinaire Ty Lawson (12.9 ppg, team-high 39 assists). In the 22-point romp over the Scarlet Knights, Lawson converted 9-of-15 shots from the floor to finish with 26 points. He also added six rebounds, five assists and four steals for a impressive overall stat line. Hansbrough added a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds before exiting early. Ellington netted 13 points and Green once again came off the bench to tally 12.

The Tar Heels are back home for the first time in a month. Hansbrough missed the last six minutes of the Rutgers game, but should be ready to go in this one. He will have his way with the Colonels down low, while Ellington, Lawson and company help pour it on, in what could turn out to be the team's fourth 100-point game of the season.

Predicted Outcome

North Carolina 101, Nicholls State 58