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College Basketball: 5 best games for Week 15

By Nathaniel Reeves

Jan 21, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self calls a play during the first half of the game against the Texas Longhorns at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 79-67. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self calls a play during the first half of the game against the Texas Longhorns at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 79-67. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 9, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) drives the ball against Duke Blue Devils guard Matt Jones (13) in the first half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) drives the ball against Duke Blue Devils guard Matt Jones (13) in the first half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Virginia at North Carolina, Saturday 8:15 p.m. ET 

College GameDay will be headed to Chapel Hill this week for a matchup that could determine first place in the brutal ACC.

After losing to lowly Pittsburgh early in conference play, the Cavaliers have meshed quickly and look like a threat to reach the Final Four. Virginia unsurprisingly leads the nation in scoring defense at 54 points per game but is also ultra-efficient at the other end of the floor with the nation’s No. 13 adjusted offense per KenPom.

The Tar Heels are just off the one seed line with a record of 21-5 and 9-3 mark in the ACC, good enough for first place in the conference entering the week. While North Carolina is a terrific offense, particularly on the boards, we’re about to find out how good the Tar Heels really are with four upcoming games against top 15 teams.

Thursday’s loss at Duke was understandable with Isaiah Hicks out and Theo Pinson still working his way back from an ankle problem, but North Carolina has shown some weaknesses on the defensive end against better competition. That could be a problem against the Cavaliers, who are getting good production out of Isaiah Wilkins and Ty Jerome recently as well as the steady Perrantes.

The most interesting matchup to watch will be North Carolina’s dominant offensive rebounding against a Virginia team that ranks seventh in the nation in defensive rebounding percentage. While a healthy Hicks could make a difference, this could be a difficult matchup for the Tar Heels.