North Carolina
North Carolina basketball makes NCAA Tournament field as last team in: Social media reacts
College basketball coaches: Who is overpaid and underpaid?
USA Today’s Paul Myerberg breaks down NCAA basketball coaches who deserve more money, and others that may not be up to their salary standards.
Sports Pulse
After days and weeks of wondering whether it would end up on the right side of the men’s NCAA Tournament bubble, one of the most historically decorated teams in men’s college basketball heard its name called on Selection Sunday.
The fact it did, though, has generated some controversy.
North Carolina was among the most debated teams heading into the NCAA Tournament selection show, with 22 wins and the pedigree of being one of the sport’s blue bloods.
Coach Hubert Davis’ team ultimately didn’t have to wait long to learn its fate, with the Tar Heels’ name showing up on the 68-team bracket in the first region that was revealed on CBS’ selection show. North Carolina will head to Dayton, Ohio to take on fellow No. 11 seed San Diego State in the First Four, with the winner advancing to face No. 6 seed Ole Miss in the tournament’s first round.
It’s a silver lining for a North Carolina program that has suffered through a disappointing 2024-25 season. After coming into the season No. 10 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll after earning a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels limped to a 14-11 start, but caught fire to end the season, winning eight of their final 10 games, with the only two losses coming to No. 1 Duke.
Like many bubble teams, though, there were plenty of holes to find on their resume.
North Carolina went just 1-12 in Quadrant One games. While it stacked up some wins late in the final month of the season, none of its eight victories since Feb. 15 have come against a team ranked in the top 65 of the NCAA’s NET rankings.
Adding to whatever anger, frustration and shock there was over North Carolina’s making the field is that the chair of the NCAA Tournament selection committee was Tar Heels athletic director Bubba Cunningham. While it could understandably be viewed as a conflict of interest, Cunningham was unable to be in the room while North Carolina was being discussed.
This year marks the 19th time the Tar Heels have made the NCAA Tournament the past 21 times the event was held.
UNC basketball makes NCAA Tournament: Social media reactions
Prior to this season, the Tar Heels had never received lower than a No. 8 seed to the NCAA Tournament.
The USC Trojans baseball team received an extended stay in Chapel Hill.
But for the wrong reason, as they took the Game 2 loss to North Carolina 4-0, which now forces a third game to decide who moves on to Omaha.
Head coach Andy Stankiewicz raved about the grit of USC during Game 1 between the two teams, especially after erasing the 5-1 deficit to defeat the Tar Heels. But he dropped a much different tone following this loss to UNC.
Andy Stankiewicz Vows USC Will Be Ready for Game 3
Stankiewicz revealed a good thing about the loss, saying “we have tomorrow” and stating how Sundays are “always important.”
All which led to this big statement from Stankiewicz after taking the disappointing loss:
“We’ll be ready. We will bounce back, and we’ll be ready to go tomorrow,” Stankiewicz told reporters after the loss.
This four-run defeat becomes only the second loss for Stankiewicz and USC during these NCAA Baseball Playoffs.
Andy Stankiewicz Praised USC Grit Despite Loss
The coach watched Colin Hynek set the tone for North Carolina in ripping a solo home run against his No. 2 ace pitcher, Grant Govel. Then, later watched Erik Paulsen blast a three-run homer to help swing the game in favor of North Carolina.
Yet Stankiewicz acknowledged this USC versus UNC contest could’ve gotten out of hand quick.
“I thought we did a really good job of minimizing what could have been some big innings,” Stankiewicz said. “I think that’s what we talk about a lot. The fact that we had some traffic (runners on base), but we made some good pitches. We made a good ground ball double play to Kevin [Takeuchi] at third base to first. We pitched well enough to keep ourselves close.”
Still, Stankiewicz saw two of his own mound options surrender a home run. Reliever Sax Matson allowed the three-run Paulsen blast during the sixth inning. He acknowledged the better pitcher was UNC’s Jason DeCaro.
“Again, at the end of the day, it was just al about DeCaro,” Stankiewicz said. “Just couldn’t get to him.”
USC Provides Update on Game 3 Mound Option
Stankiewicz already turned to No. 1 pitcher Mason Edwards to start the Chapel Hill Regional. His No. 2 ace Govel accepted the loss on the hill after allowing five hits, one run and the early homer. Andrew Johnson also saw extensive action, but in Game 1, which USC won.
The latter could rise as the potential starter in the winner-take-all matchup. Stankiewicz addressed that possibility.
“We’re not sure,” the coach began. “But it’ll be everybody. We can’t go too long with too many. But tomorrow is going to be one of those where we get everybody ready to roll.”
That could mean Diego Valzaquez could see time on the hill too, as he’s yet to throw against the Tar Heels. Stankiewicz rolled with six different pitchers in the Game 2 loss, including Sax Matson, Rohan Kasanagottu and Henry Chabot. But sounds like Stankiewicz needs all of his bullpen ready to save USC’s season.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, and X for the latest news.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
The North Carolina Tar Heels have had no downtime this offseason, with developments and updates constantly revolving through the doors in Chapel Hill.
Last week, we learned of the Tar Heels’ home and away ACC schedule, and earlier in the offseason, a portion of their non-conference schedule was released. Late Thursday, North Carolina was informed of another non-conference game, and it’s safe to say this will be another test for the program that resides in Chapel Hill.
Opponent Reveal
North Carolina will host Arkansas at the Dean E. Smith Center on Dec. 1 as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Razorbacks are one of two SEC teams the Tar Heels will face this season, as they will take on Kentucky on Dec. 19 at Madison Square Garden in the CBS Sports Classic.
Significance of Matchup
Stacking up as many formidable opponents during the non-conference slate is monumental for the Tar Heels, who need to solidify their rotation and chemistry before ACC play begins. Arkansas has reached the Sweet 16 in each of John Calipari’s first two seasons as head coach, and it could orchestrate a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament next season, with one of the best rosters in college basketball.
With Michael Malone entering his first year as North Carolina’s head coach, it is crucial that the team develops cohesion on both ends of the floor. While the Razorbacks have been a Sweet 16 program in each of the last two campaigns, the Tar Heels have failed to advance past the first weekend.
This is an obvious test for North Carolina, as Arkansas’ roster and Calipari’s coaching pedigree should be a matchup Malone and this team should be excited for. The Tar Heels could prove a lot with an impressive outing against one of the elite teams in the SEC.
Polarizing Storyline
In addition to this matchup featuring two of the most prominent programs in college basketball, it will also be a reunion between Calipari and North Carolina’s associate head coach Chuck Martin, who served as an assistant on Calipari’s staff in Arkansas.
Martin’s familiarity with Calipari’s scheme could become a factor in the matchup and provide the Tar Heels with important intel on the Razorbacks. Since Calipari took over as head coach, Arkansas has tended to take time to gel, which could be another pivotal factor in how the game unfolds.
Overall, this is an opportunity for Malone and his players to prove that North Carolina should be taken seriously as a potential contender heading into conference play.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Firefighters with the Vanceboro Fire Department along with the NC Forest Service responded to a woods fire near the end of Brown Farm Road on Friday evening.
The fire was reported around 5:00 p.m. and crews were able to establish containment lines and stop its spread.
Fire officials said they received assistance from air support that conducted water drops on the fire. Fire crews are out in the woods conducting measurements.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
-
News11 minutes agoMultiple people shot near street festival in Toledo, Ohio, authorities say
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoProtests mark 1-year anniversary of federal agents storming L.A.’s Fashion District
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoHundreds gather for rally against gun violence on Detroit’s east side
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSan Francisco unveils iconic Pink Triangle to kick off Pride Month
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoMiami Dolphins Discussion: Could He Be The One
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoDallas Hoops Journal Podcast: James Barlowe Details Mavs’ NBA Draft Options
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoNBA insider believes Giannis Antetokounmpo’s intrigue in Celtics ‘is real’
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDenver weather: More hot weather Sunday
