North Carolina basketball vs. Virginia: Score prediction for ACC Tournament game

North Carolina basketball can move one step closer to an NCAA Tournament bid with another win at the ACC Tournament.

UNC (20-12), the No. 7 seed in Greensboro, will play second-seeded Virginia (23-6), the 13th-ranked team in the AP Top 25 poll, on Thursday (7 p.m., ESPN) in the quarterfinals. The winner will play No. 3 Clemson (22-9) or No. 6 NC State (23-9) on Friday.

The Tar Heels earned an 85-61 win against Boston College on Wednesday in their opening game at Greensboro Coliseum.

Here’s a look at some things to know and a score prediction ahead of Carolina’s latest matchup against Virginia.

Armando Bacot’s ankle injury

The status of Armando Bacot, UNC’s second-leading scorer (16.3 points per game) and top rebounder (10.7 rebounds per game), will be spotlighted Thursday after the big man’s injury scare in the first half against Boston College.

After rolling his right ankle in the 2022 Final Four against Duke, Bacot has dealt with left-ankle issues this season. He rolled his left ankle in the first meeting with Virginia in January and again on Wednesday in Greensboro.

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Despite the setback, Bacot and UNC coach Hubert Davis felt optimistic about Thursday and the potential to not be hindered by the ankle. The last time the Tar Heels played Virginia in the ACC Tournament, Bacot had 10 points and 11 rebounds in a 63-43 win last season in Brooklyn.

UNC’s 3-point shooting

Carolina made 8 of 24 shots from 3-point range in a 65-58 loss at Virginia in January. A few weeks ago, the Tar Heels flipped the script with 10 three-pointers in a 71-63 victory against the Cavaliers. After making 10 three-pointers Wednesday against Boston College, including seven from guards Caleb Love and RJ Davis, UNC will need a similar effort Thursday to keep the Hoos from packing the paint. The Tar Heels are 7-0 when they make 10 or more treys this season.

Postseason Caleb Love

With a trio of 3-pointers against Boston College, Caleb Love passed Hubert Davis for eighth in UNC history with 198 three-point baskets. Love, the Tar Heels’ leading scorer at 16.8 points per game, opened the ACC Tournament with a team-high 22 points against Boston College. Love is averaging 21.4 points in his last five postseason games, but 11 points on 23% shooting in his last three games against Virginia.

UNC vs. Virginia score prediction

UNC 71, Virginia 67: The Tar Heels have won three of the last four ACC Tournament games against the Hoos, including a 2015 victory the last time the teams played in Greensboro. It seems Armando Bacot’s injury isn’t as bad as it appeared and UNC gained some confidence from an offensive onslaught in the opener. The home crowd should lift the Heels to a second win in Greensboro.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball score prediction vs. Virginia at ACC Tournament