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.”
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
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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.
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HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Fire crews are responding to a brush fire near Howard Gap Road in Hendersonville on Friday evening.
The fire is across the street from the Ebenezer Baptist Church and near the Highlands Square Shopping Center.
Henderson County Fire Marshal Glen Gillette said crews are fighting “blowdown from Helene.”
NEW WILDFIRES IGNITE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FOREST AMID WORSENING DROUGHT
Around 11 p.m., the fire appears larger than it did an hour ago because crews are backburning, which refers to using fire to help control the wildfire.
Dana Fire Department Chief Jimmy Womack said that what was a 3-acre fire an hour ago will be an 8-acre fire due to back burning. He said the fire is 80% contained.
Womack said the cause of the fire is unknown, but one of the conditions contributing to the blaze is the Helene blowdown.
“There’s a lot of blowdown in these woods behind us. That’s what creates most of the problem,” said Womack.
Womack said there has been no property damage and no injuries have been reported for this fire in the woods that 24 personnel are fighting. They got the call to arrive at 6:05 p.m.
LOCAL NEWS
Dana Fire and Rescue and Henderson County Fire Department are supporting the U.S. Forest Service with this fire.
Glen said no structures are threatened at this time and Howard Gap Road is closed.
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This story will be updated as new information is discovered.
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