North Carolina
How Stanford Can Mimic Last Years’ Huge Win Over North Carolina
Last season, Stanford basketball entered the Kyle Smith era, looking to take Stanford to the next level as a basketball program. The Cardinal had a successful first season under Smith, but it seemed like they couldn’t get their season-defining win. Then came their matchup with North Carolina.
In their first season in the ACC, Stanford hadn’t won a game on the East Coast. Having to go into an immensely tough environment against a blue blood program, it looked like they would lose another one.
Instead, Stanford’s stars rose to the occasion. Maxime Raynaud had a massive 25 points and 13 rebound performance, adding a poster dunk in the process. Duke transfer Jaylen Blakes hung 20 points on his former rivals, including the game-winning shot.
Going into Wednesday’s contest, the Cardinal have an opportunity to do it once again. After a solid start to the year, Stanford has gotten wins over No. 16 Louisville, Virginia Tech, St. Louis, Colorado, and Minnesota. Their losses have come to No. 23 Virginia, Notre Dame, Seattle, and UNLV. The Cardinal sit at 2-2 in ACC play, and have been hot in recent games.
North Carolina has had their own great start to the year. With wins over No. 19 Kansas, No. 18 Kentucky, Ohio State, Georgetown, Florida State, and Wake Forest, the Tar Heels look like a top team in the nation. However, losses against No. 11 Michigan State and SMU prove that they can be toppled.
An interesting point to make is about recent play. The last time Stanford was at home, the Cardinal took down Louisville in one of the best wins of the Kyle Smith era. The last time North Carolina had to go on the road, they got run out of the gym by SMU.
North Carolina still has a 64.8% chance to win, but it’s not as high as many would have expected, given UNC’s history. That’s because Stanford has a legit chance of taking down the Tar Heels, especially at home.
Last year, Stanford won due to a couple of things. First, their stars played at their best. They got a combined 45 points out of their two biggest stars, which helped to guide the Cardinal to victory. Second, their ability to make free throws.
Stanford went 13-of-14 from the line, which is key in a close game. Stanford dominated the blocking battle, winning it 7-2, and letting their defense come up with some big stops. They also got a lot out of Donavin Young, who stepped up in the big moment. Finally, they stopped North Carolina’s bigs, which was a big key to victory.
Stanford has to mimic those specific things to get a win on Wednesday. Stanford needs Ebuka Okorie to score the ball well, and have an overall good game. They need to make free throws, just like they did against Louisville.
Stanford needs Oskar Giltay to give good minutes, and block as many shots as possible. They are going to need a lot out of Donavin Young, just like last year. And finally, they will need Chisom Okpara to slow down Caleb Wilson from dominating the game for his own team.
If Stanford can achieve all these things, Stanford could be in position to come away with yet another huge win over UNC.
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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.
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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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