North Carolina
ESPN College GameDay discusses North Carolina's ceiling
North Carolina has taken its game to another level in recent weeks. The Tar Heels have won five consecutive games — all by double digits — and look like true contenders to reach the Final 4.
The ESPN College GameDay crew spoke Saturday morning about the ceiling for this North Carolina team and how it has gotten higher and higher in recent weeks.
“I think Final 4 is the ceiling for North Carolina. Now do I think Purdue, Arizona, UConn are better teams than North Carolina? I do. I don’t think they’re there yet,” Jay Bilas said. “But they do defend at a high level. It’s four games in a row they’ve held their opponent to 60 or less. They’re getting out and guarding people.”
North Carolina pounded Clemson and NC State in back-to-back games last week and is taking care of Syracuse on Saturday.
The Tar Heels aren’t only playing well on defense but also on offense. Rece Davis said on GameDay that UNC is ranked in the top 15 in both offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency.
“Their transition has gotten better. RJ Davis is having a spectacular year, one of the five best guards in the country. So I like North Carolina’s chances,” Bilas said. “They don’t score as easily as they have in some past years, and they’re not as good of an offensive rebounding team as they have been in past years. But I think North Carolina is legit and they’re getting better. I think it’s North Carolina and Duke in the ACC, without question.”
RJ Davis entered Saturday’s game against Syracuse averaging 20.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Fellow ESPN analyst Andraya Carter echoed the comments by Bilas. She also believes that North Carolina can reach the Final 4.
“Well, when I watch this team play, I 100 percent believe they can be a Final 4 team. And coach Hubert Davis said, after their NC State win, he said, ‘We’ve identified what allows us to be good in defense and rebounding,’” Carter explained. “When they played at Clemson, Clemson was 1 of 18 from beyond the arc, on their home floor. Clemson averages nine made 3s a game.
“The defensive energy that this team is bringing and that they’re playing with, they’re together on that end, Armando Bacot anchors them on that side. And I think they’ve got some creativity on the offensive side that’s only going to go up as some of these young guys get more confidence.”
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
Follow
-
Indiana2 minutes agoProjecting the Indiana Fever’s 2026 Starting Lineup
-
Iowa8 minutes ago5 people wounded in shooting near University of Iowa campus, including 3 students
-
Kansas14 minutes agoKansas Governor signs Caleb’s Law, targeting online sextortion of minors
-
Kentucky20 minutes agoMissing on this PF in the transfer portal could be a good thing for Kentucky
-
Louisiana26 minutes agoAt least 8 children killed in shooting in Louisiana, US
-
Maine32 minutes agoWet, cooler today; rain & snow impacts across Maine
-
Maryland38 minutes agoSpeeding motorcycle rider dies in t-bone crash along Marriottsville Road
-
Michigan44 minutes agoFlood warnings continue around Cheboygan as river level stays high