CHAPEL HILL – Former North Carolina basketball standout and current Tar Heel Sports Network analyst Eric Montross says UNC has to bring its A game Friday night, just as it did down the stretch in ACC play and in the conference tournament.

“For sure, it needs to be the team that really played for the latter half of the ACC, and that would obviously include the lineup with Hairston,” Montross says. “Since that time, they really have started to play much better. We’ve seen so much growth out of Marcus Paige.”

In 14 meetings with Villanova, North Carolina has dominated the series 10-4. This Wildcat team was 10-8 in the Big East and saw three big wins against Syracuse, Georgetown, and the tournament’s overall No. 1 seed, Louisville.

Montross says it’s important for UNC not to look ahead to the Kansas game, but to keep with the Tar Heel mentality of one game at a time.

“Villanova has two sophomores and a freshman in their starting lineup,” Montross says. “That’s going to make a big impact for them. They are consistent, but they also have the ability to be inconsistent in a positive way.”

For the full interview, tune in to WCHL’s Countdown to Tipoff presented by Harrington Bank Friday at 5:00 p.m. Ron Stutts will take you up to 6:00 p.m. when Learfield Sports will get you ready for the contest between North Carolina and Villanova.

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