UNC lost to UNLV this year by 10 points. UNLV lost to Wyoming, who lost to the Air Force Academy, who lost to Wagner, who lost to Central Connecticut State, who lost to Niagara, who lost to a Buffalo team that we beat 3 times this year. As such, this game is in the bag.
Further, UNC was 14 points better than Creighton. Creighton matched up very evenly against UNI this year, going 1-1, once winning by 3 and once losing by 3. Ohio beat UNI by 17. As such, this game is in the bag.
In all seriousness though, there's just not that much separating these teams right now. We can play with this team. Our defensive intensity can throw anybody off their game; if we shoot well tonight, we can most certainly win this game.
You know, there never is a whole lot separating the "power conference" teams from the "mid-majors." Unlike in football, it's usually a matter of one or two guys. In this case, Marshall (the UNC player, not the Terd) is one of the guys. With him out of the lineup, we're a whole lot closer to them. The big guys do make a difference, but as a co-worker mentioned to me today SOMEBODY HAS TO GET THEM THE BALL. That's where guard play comes in. Pressure their guards, and the big guys aren't nearly as effective.