North Carolina

Next Up – NC State

Published

2 years ago

February 27, 2023

On Saturday, Duke triumphed over Virginia Tech, which should have been very satisfying for the Blue Devils contemplating how the sport up there ended. And in addition on Saturday, NC State performed Clemson at house, dropping badly, which was something however satisfying. Now these two Tobacco Highway rivals play for the second time this season after State took Duke aside in Raleigh, and that’s going to be an attention-grabbing recreation certainly.

For those who didn’t see it, you couldn’t presumably imagine how badly Duke performed in Raleigh. NC State shot out to a 20-0 lead and it by no means received a lot better than that.

State simply crushed Duke and, it have to be mentioned, Duke performed like a scared younger staff. Kyle Filipowski was the one starter to attain in double figures as Duke completed taking pictures 39.6 % and had 21 turnovers.

Rather a lot has modified since then. NC State has emerged as arguably one of the best ACC staff of the Large 4 (State, Duke, UNC and Wake Forest, the 4 ACC colleges in North Carolina, represent the Large 4).

However Duke, which has improved quickly and which is now forward of the Wolfpack within the ACC standings, has an argument now too.

Duke protection has been good all season however recently, the offense has made large strides. Towards Virginia Tech, the offense was fluid and dominant.

In Raleigh, Dereck Full of life began however had not likely begun to indicate his true skills. Tyrese Proctor was briefly moved to the bench for a few video games together with this one. Jeremy Roach was nonetheless coping with his toe subject and shot 0-8.

To not say this suggests a Duke victory, however this isn’t that staff. Full of life has change into dominant inside and has improved his offense usually. Proctor has returned to the lineup and is now the first level guard.

Most observers would agree that Duke’s offense has improved markedly. Factor is, the protection has too.

Most individuals discover this instantly with Full of life, who has gotten higher and higher at defending across the basket. However it’s not simply him. Roach seems to be wholesome now and he can canine ballhanders once more. Filipowski’s footwork, for a man of his dimension and age, is basically good. Mark Mitchell’s D has additionally been laborious to get previous. After which there’s Proctor.

His transformation has been actually attention-grabbing to look at.

Keep in mind, he was behind at first, attending to campus solely after the Boomers completed within the FIBA Asia Cup, which they received.

To start with, he appeared considerably overwhelmed and never significantly assured. Boy has that modified.

Watch him as a lot as you’ll be able to. He’s enjoying with a swagger now. He is aware of he can take whoever is guarding him and he’s fairly certain he can shut that man down, too. His protection has been actually spectacular. He not solely strikes his ft, his palms are a whir too. He had an ideal steal in opposition to Virginia Tech, urgent Hunter Cattoor into dropping his dribble, then reaching in, taking up the dribble himself, and heading to the opposite finish of the courtroom. Cattoor, who had fallen to the bottom, might solely watch.

He’s improved as quick as anybody we will bear in mind.

Good factor too, as a result of State’s backcourt is a load and current some matchup considerations for Duke.

Terquavion Smith, Jarkel Joiner and Casey Morsell are all wonderful on each ends. Smith, a reed-thin 6-4 sophomore, can mainly shoot it from anyplace. Morsell, a 6-3 senior, has change into State’s most dependable three level shooter. And Joiner, who joined State this yr after leaving Ole Miss has had an incredible yr.

A 6-1 senior, Joiner has been on a tear recently, averaging 23 factors over his final 5 video games. He hung 29 on UNC and Wake Forest in back-to-back video games too.

These man make DJ Burns a lot, a lot more durable to cope with.

Truthfully, when Dusan Mahorcic went down in December, we figured State was screwed. However Burns has actually stepped up. He’s not an ideal athlete – his physique is just too thick for that – however he’s a supremely good athlete. He is aware of precisely easy methods to use his bulk and whereas he’s not overwhemingly fast, he’s fast sufficient. He’s precisely the form of participant who can provide Full of life bother.

State might not have Jack Clark, however they didn’t have him the primary time these groups performed both.

Duke followers are naturally going to have a look at this recreation as payback and it’s comprehensible, significantly after what occurred in Raleigh.

Right here’s the higher means to have a look at it, or methods: if Duke wins, the Blue Devils can accomplish the next:

Keep forward of NC State within the standings. With a win right here, Duke could be assured to complete forward of NC State and likewise UNC.
End Jon Scheyer’s first season undefeated in Cameron.
Enhance NCAA seeding as a lot as potential.
Proceed to use and refine latest developments.

It’s a giant alternative for Duke in some ways. Let’s see what they make of it.

We’ll submit DraftKings odds once they go stay and naturally, add hyperlinks once they change into obtainable.

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North Carolina

Thaddeus Dixon Joins in Husky Exodus to North Carolina

Published

4 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Thaddeus Dixon Joins in Husky Exodus to North Carolina

In a postseason recruitment that was raw and revealing at times, where decorated cornerback Thaddeus Dixon suggested in social media postings that University of Washington football fans wanted him to come back more than the coaches, apparently received all the assurances he needed at North Carolina.

On Saturday, the senior defensive back from Long Beach, California, told On3 he would join the Tar Heels for his final season of college football, adding to a growing list of one-time UW players and coaches headed to Chapel Hill.

So far, the departing group includes linebacker Khmori House, safety Peyton Waters, wide receiver Jason Robinson Jr., defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and defensive analyst Armond Hawkins, all moving from Montlake to the ACC.

The 6-foot-1, 187-pound Dixon would have given the Huskies three highly accredited corners, joining fellow UW starter Ephesians Prysock and Arizona transfer Tacario Davis, to fill out a secondary that could have had few equals this coming season, and still might.

BREAKING: Washington star transfer CB Thaddeus Dixon has Committed to North Carolina, he tells @on3sports
The 6’1 195 CB totaled 69 Tackles, 16 PD, 1 FF, & 2 INT in 2 seasons with the Huskies
Ranked as a Top 10 Player in the Portal (No. 2 CB) per On3https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/bePHJU7wP7
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 18, 2025

Dixon reportedly took recruiting visits to Mississippi and North Carolina, and fielded overtures from Michigan, before settling on the Tar Heels.

The disconnect for Dixon appeared to show up when the Huskies landed a portal commitment from the 6-foot-4, 190-pound Davis, a second-team All-Big 12 pick this past season, presumably to take his vacated spot.

The 6-foot-4, 193-pound Prysock and Davis teamed together at Arizona in 2023, with both earning All-Pac-12 honorable-mention accolades.

Dixon originally was supposed to run out of college eligibility when the season ended, hence the Huskies went looking for cornerback help, but the NCAA gave the veteran an extra year when it changed the rules governing players with junior-college backgrounds. He came to the UW from Long Beach Community College.

One of the Huskies’ top individual success stories this past season, Dixon went from a back-up player in 2023 to unseat returning starter Elijah Jackson, who opened all 15 games for the national runner-up team.

Thaddeus Dixon soaks up the moment after an Apple Cup interception. / Skylar Lin Visuals

Moving into the lineup, Dixon started 12 of 13 games and received All-Big Ten honorable-mention honors for Jedd Fisch’s coaching staff. He had a team-best 10 pass break-ups, an Apple Cup interception and several textbook tackles in the open field. He’s easily made himself into an NFL prospect.

With three accomplished cornerbacks, the Huskies could have picked two starters and put the odd man out at nickelback.

Dixon clearly wasn’t going to go that route at the UW, likely figuring his past performance should have provided him with more cornerback guarantees.

For the latest UW football and basketball news, go to si.com/college/washington

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North Carolina

Bill Belichick's girlfriend seemingly shuts down rumors coach will leave North Carolina for NFL

Published

11 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Bill Belichick's girlfriend seemingly shuts down rumors coach will leave North Carolina for NFL

Bill Belichick’s girlfriend on Thursday seemingly shut down any talk of her boyfriend leaving the North Carolina Tar Heels football program for a job in the NFL.

Jordon Hudson responded to rumors that suggested Belichick had one foot out the door when it came to his Tar Heels gig. Belichick had been rumored to be interest in coaching the Dallas Cowboys, but the head coaching job wasn’t open until he had already committed to North Carolina. CBS Sports reported that Belichick didn’t sign his contract with the school.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Oct. 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey: Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson enter the field before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

She posted a photo on her Instagram showing the two posing with a football and Belichick dressed in Carolina blue.

“Pictured: two people who are overtly committed to @uncfootball,” she wrote as the caption.

Michael Lombardi, who is the general manager of the North Carolina football program, also threw cold water on the rumors of Belichick jumping back to the pros.

EX-NFL COACH JON GRUDEN RIPS STATE OF COLLEGE SPORTS

Dec. 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC: Jordon Hudson, the girlfriend of Bill Belichick, in attendance at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

“Bill is recruiting in DC today, and Baltimore tomorrow. His focus is on North Carolina football, hiring staff members and developing the team. The NFL isnt a option so please stop making it one. Thank you,” he wrote on X in response to the CBS Sports report.

“The reception towards UNC and Coach Belichick has been amazing from every school we visit. We are going to fight to keep North Carolina players here and bring the best to Chapel Hill,” he added.

Belichick was hired as the Tar Heels’ coach in December. He called the job a “dream come true.”

Bill Belichick fields questions from media

The North Carolina Tar Heels’ new head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

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“I’ve always wanted to coach in college football,” Belichick said in his introductory press conference. “It just never really worked out. Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK. But this is really a dream come true.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

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North Carolina

North Carolina man arrested for pandering – The Tribune

Published

19 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

North Carolina man arrested for pandering

Published 2:19 pm Friday, January 17, 2025

: Braceon Madison

Met up with Scioto County juvenile

A North Carolina man is in the Scioto County jail after he traveled by to Scioto County to meet up with a with a minor and then allegedly took videos of them participating in sexual acts.

Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman said in a press release that his office was contacted on Jan. 13 by a female wanting to report a juvenile runaway. A deputy responded and obtained information and the preliminary investigation revealed the juvenile had been in contact with Braceon Madison, 18, of Laurinburg, North Carolina.

Two days later, deputies got information that the runaway juvenile and Madison were seen at Burger King in Wheelersburg. Deputies found them and the juvenile female was taken to the Southern Ohio Medical Center for evaluation. The initial contact with Madison revealed no probable cause for an arrest.

Deputies obtained all the needed information to continue their investigation and released Madison. The investigation was then turned over to detectives.

As this was occurring, the detectives were contacted and advised that the Madison had shown up at the hospital requesting to see the juvenile. Detectives responded to the hospital and observed Madison walking away as they were nearing the hospital and he was detained.

Detectives interviewed the juvenile and her guardians and they learned that Madison and juvenile met through Facebook on Dec. 24, 2024.

The two remained in contact and Madison traveled by bus from North Carolina to Portsmouth.

Upon his arrival, he obtained a ride to Wheelersburg and was snuck into the juvenile’s residence. The two then took off on foot and they located a building on Ohio River Road where they stayed for a few nights before being found.

Thoroughman said the detectives learned through the investigation that Madison had taken videos and pictures on his phone of a juvenile participating in sexual acts.

On Jan. 15, deputies arrested was Madison and charged him with eight counts of second-degree felony pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and is currently being held in the Scioto County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Thoroughman stated that this is still an ongoing investigation that will result in more charges being presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury on a later date.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.

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