Carolina would get veteran backcourt reserve if it can lure Buffalo transfer Brizzi

Coach Michael Malone is still looking for another reserve guard to fill out the roster of his first Carolina team, and one possibility is Buffalo transfer Angelo Brizzi, who began his college career at Villanova. Brizzi, 6–3, 193, who visited UNC this week according to multiple reports, would be a valued addition as an older guard who has seen multiple systems, can handle the ball, can make perimeter shots and would not need the ball or the spotlight.

Wilson follows Jordan’s path to Chicago, wants to ‘be better than Mike’

Caleb Wilson is headed from Chapel Hill to Chicago, joining one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises and following the path of the most famous Tar Heel in Michael Jordan. The moment Tuesday night in Brooklyn, when the Chicago Bulls made Wilson the No. 4 overall pick in the NBA draft, carried added meaning because former Carolina coach Hubert Davis was at the Barclays Center to share it with him.

UNC’s pain was about more than final score

OMAHA, Neb. — As Oklahoma celebrated on the field, North Carolina players lingered in the third-base dugout, still processing how their amazing run to Omaha ended with such frustration. The Tar Heels weren’t belaboring the 13–2 loss to Oklahoma in Game 3 of the CWS Finals as much as remembering the togetherness and love shared on a team that will never play together again as an entire group.

Mistakes, pitching issues end UNC’s title dreams early

OMAHA, Neb. — The national title dreams of North Carolina vanished early Monday as the frustrations piled up. After an early baserunning mistake cost the Tar Heels a run, the pitching plan went awry, creating the biggest deficit of the season against the hottest team in the country.

Freshman lefty Rose starts deciding Game 3 against Oklahoma

OMAHA, Neb. — Scott Forbes is giving the ball to freshman left-hander Jackson Rose in Monday night’s battle with Oklahoma for the national championship. The Tar Heels will head into Monday’s 7:09 p.m. (ESPN) winner-take-all Game 3 of the College World Series Finals with what Forbes called an “all hands on deck” approach on the mound after Rose, one shaped by trust in a pitching staff that has carried a heavy load through Omaha and a roster that has responded all season when the stakes have risen.

A son’s strength, a dad’s legacy: Emotional Paulsen lifts UNC on Father’s Day

OMAHA, Neb. — It was a special and emotional Father’s Day victory for Carolina first baseman Erik Paulsen. When Scott Forbes, the coach who convinced him to leave his home area in New York, away from his family, and play at UNC, talked about it afterward, he had to pause because he got so emotional.

Pitching, power put Heels win away from national championship

OMAHA, Neb. — For the first time in 20 years, North Carolina is a win away from the program’s first national championship. Dominant pitching and timely hitting powered the No. 4 Tar Heels to a 6–2 victory Sunday at Charles Schwab Field Omaha over Oklahoma in Game 2 of the College World Series Finals to force a deciding game for the national championship.

UNC faces elimination game after Sooners roll to Game 1 victory

OMAHA, Neb. — The pitching and defense that have carried No. 4 North Carolina all season failed the Tar Heels during key moments on the biggest stage, and the offense faded after the first inning. That last pitch to get out of an inning couldn’t come enough, as Oklahoma plated five two-out runs in a 9–3 victory Saturday at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Game 1 of the College World Series Finals.

DeCaro no stranger to big stage, makes final college start with huge stakes

OMAHA, Neb. — It couldn’t be a more fitting stage for Jason DeCaro to make his final college start. The junior ace of No. 4 North Carolina’s staff will get the ball in Game 1 of the College World Series Finals against Oklahoma with the Tar Heels two wins away from the program’s first national championship.

UNC confident it can meet the latest challenge in red-hot Sooners

OMAHA, Neb. — No. 4 North Carolina has met every challenge in its road to the College World Series Finals, but the Tar Heels haven’t faced one quite like what red-hot Oklahoma will present. In Game 1 at 8:07 p.m. Saturday (ESPN), UNC ace Jason DeCaro (11–2, 2.31 ERA) will make his final college start against a Sooners team that has hit eight home runs, including five on Wednesday against No. 3 Georgia.