The Tigers Will Face the 6th Ranked Tar Heels at the Dean Dome Tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN

Jan. 17, 2001

The Tigers will have all they can handle as they face a Tar Heel team that has looked extremely impressive since Ronald Curry has taken lead at the point gaurd spot and football teammate Julius Peppers has added even more size to the biggest frontcourt in the league. The Tigers will enter the game with Adam Allenspach questionable (back), which could leave Ray Henderson (6’8″) and Chris Hobbs (6’7″) with the responsibility of stopping two seven footers. Henderson and Hobbs combined for 18 points and 21 boards in Saturday’s win over N.C. State, while holding Damon Thorton and Kenny Inge to 22 points. The two big men will need equally impressive performances tonight and should need no extra motivation. Chris Hobbs will be playing in front of his hometown and Ray Henderson is a native of Charlotte.

North Carolina enters this contest riding a 10-game winning streak, including huge conference victories over Wake Forest and Maryland. The Tar Heels are coming off an 84-54 rout of Marquette.

The Tigers (10-6, 1-2) dropped their first two league games to Maryland and Duke, but got back on track by edging North Carolina State, 72-69, on Saturday behind Will Solomon’s 29 points.