The No. 12 North Carolina men’s basketball team, 17-6 overall and 7-3 in the ACC, will look to put an end its two-game losing slide Saturday afternoon in Chestnut Hill when it takes on the struggling Boston College Eagles, sporting a 9-12 mark on the season with only one win in conference action.

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UNC head coach Roy Williams has been asking for more practice time for the Tar Heels. Well, he’s had it this week.

And there’s been a lot to go over. For starters, Coach Williams says the big guys inside have to man up.

Marcus Paige takes a jumper with a hand in his face (Todd Melet)

Marcus Paige takes a jumper with a hand in his face (Todd Melet)

“We gave in a couple times. You can’t just let guys go in, lay the ball up, and have a big guy standing there looking at it. You got to get involved,” Coach Williams says.

What has caught the ire more than anything for Coach Williams this season has been the lack of success in the defensive rebounding department. As good as UNC has been at times on the offensive boards, it’s been just as bad when the other team has the ball.

Coach Williams says he’s ticked off.

“They had two offensive rebounds for baskets. I am getting so sick of that. 27 years as a head coach I’ve talked about rebounding more than anything. Maybe that’s because I wasn’t a great rebounder, but we got to do a better job of boxing out,” Coach Williams says.

Carolina’s opponent Saturday has found it hard to get its offense rolling in the tough ACC slate. But a decent defense has allowed the Eagles to hang around in a few games.

The Tar Heels will keep their eyes on capable junior guard Olivier Hanlan, who’s averaging 17 points per game for BC and can knock down shots from anywhere on the floor.

On the other side, the Eagles will be concentrating their efforts on junior guard Marcus Paige, who will be hoping the last few days free from competition will do wonders for his nagging foot injury.

Paige says the ‘sense of urgency’ phrase Coach Williams continually harps on is completely on point. After all, his Tar Heels still haven’t made playing with it, a habit.

“I’m sure he’s tired of having to talk to us about it. It wouldn’t be a problem if we had it and implemented it into what we do every day, every possession and every practice. Habits get built over time. You can’t just wake up one day and say, ‘I’m going to go hard every possession and go crazy.’ You have to develop that mentality and that attitude,” Paige says.

Roy Williams reacts to a play (Todd Melet)

Roy Williams reacts to a play (Todd Melet)

‘Losing yourself in the moment’ is another popular tag around the UNC locker room. Paige knows well what that’s supposed to look like.

“All the external stuff goes out the window. You’re focused on the here and now – diving on the floor. It’s something he’s [Coach Williams] has preached. You go in our locker room, it’s written on the board and up on posters,” Paige says.

When the UNC offense isn’t flowing, the heavy burden is normally heaped on Paige’s shoulders. But Coach Williams says UNC’s opponents aren’t dummies – they know that too and guard Paige appropriately.

With that in mind, the Carolina skipper says Paige’s teammates need to do a better job of helping their scoring leader out.

“You guys know a little about basketball yourself. If you were playing us, who would you guard? It’s pretty easy to figure out. We don’t do a very good job of helping him by getting better spacing, getting a score inside or setting screens for him. We’ve got to do a better job,” Coach Williams says.

UNC leads the all-time series with BC, 11-5, and won the last meeting between the two schools, 82-71, last year in Chapel Hill.

Just how much the extra time on the practice court has helped a Carolina squad that has been running out of steam in the second halves of late, remains a mystery, but Saturday’s road contest could provide some preliminary answers.