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UNC begins play Friday, seeking consecutive ACC tournament titles for first time in 42 years
Ten games will have already been played at the ACC tournament before No. 2-ranked North Carolina plays its first game at Charlotte’s Truist Field. The No. 2-seed Tar Heels will play in a 3 p.m. Friday quarterfinal game against the winner of the 5 p.m. Wednesday second-round game.
Against tough pitcher, UNC can’t finish off sweep of Wolfpack
RALEIGH — One game after everything went right for North Carolina, little went the Tar Heels’ way in their regular-season finale.
Against a hot pitcher, No. 2 UNC went from scoring 17 runs on Friday to only having four runners in scoring position, as N.C. State salvaged a game in the three-game series with a 7–2 victory at Doak Field on Saturday.
Deja Kelly hits 31, flirts with triple-double in Upshot League debut; Gakdeng also in league
Deja Kelly built a reputation during her five college seasons as a reliable scorer, and on opening night of a new professional venture, she carried that scoring instinct with her. Kelly collected 31 points in the Charlotte Crown’s 103–95 road win against the Jacksonville Waves on opening night of the inaugural Upshot League game, giving the league an immediate showcase performance from the former North Carolina and Oregon star.
Heels’ offense explodes for 13th run-rule win, crushing Pack
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s offense has shifted into overdrive as the postseason approaches. The No. 2 Tar Heels batted around in three of the first five innings and hit multiple home runs for the fifth consecutive game in a 17–7 victory Friday over N.C. State at Doak Field, their 13th run-rule win.
Another mammoth Hull homer helps power UNC to convincing win over Pack
RALEIGH — No. 2 North Carolina hasn’t been a huge power team this season, but that may be changing with Owen Hull suddenly hitting mammoth shots. Hull crushed his second home run in as many games, one of two Tar Heels blasts on the night, as they eased by N.C. State 9–4 Thursday at Doak Field in the opener of a three-game series.
Able has second consecutive impressive game at NBA Draft Combine
One day after saying he was going “back and forth” about whether to play at UNC next season or stay in the NBA draft, Matt Able had another impressive showing at the NBA Draft Combine. Able scored 17 points in just under 22 minutes on Thursday in his Carpenter team’s 100–76 loss to Tyler Nickel’s Rivers team in a scrimmage at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena.
UNC reportedly to play West Virginia at Vitale Invitational in Charlotte
North Carolina will play West Virginia in men’s basketball next season in Charlotte, according to a report from Rocco Miller of Field of 68. The Tar Heels and Mountaineers will meet in the second annual Dick Vitale Invitational at the Spectrum Center on Friday, Nov. 27, the night before the regular-season football finale against N.C. State at Kenan Stadium.
Able has big game in NBA Draft Combine scrimmage
Matt Able looked comfortable and confident during an NBA Draft Combine scrimmage in Chicago on Wednesday. The former N.C. State guard, who has committed to play next season at Carolina, scored 15 points and hit 3 of 5 3-point attempts as his Carpenter team pulled away for a 95–83 victory over the Adams team.
Former LSU commitment, four-star wing Thomas, commits to UNC
Former LSU commitment Kevin Thomas, a four-star wing, has committed to North Carolina. The 6–7 Thomas, who visited Chapel Hill on Tuesday, was the high school teammate during the 2024–25 season at Sagemont Prep in Weston, Fla., with UNC transfer commitment Matt Able. They won the Florida Class 1A state title that season.
Who is Bryan Tibaldi, the latest addition to Michael Malone’s UNC coaching staff?
North Carolina is adding Bryan Tibaldi as an assistant coach on Michael Malone’s first Tar Heels staff, bringing to Chapel Hill a longtime video and player-development specialist whose résumé spans the NBA, the G League and multiple Division I programs.
Heels swat season-high four homers to win slugfest at UNCW
The home run derby was a draw, but No. 2 North Carolina prevailed in the game. UNC hit a season-high four home runs to knock off the Seahawks 13–7 on Tuesday at Brooks Field in Wilmington despite four UNCW home runs, the most by a Tar Heels opponent this season.
Wilson embraces Combine stage, the work that’s ahead, says season-ending injury was ‘rough’
Caleb Wilson said going through the injuries that ended his Carolina career early were rough, but added on Tuesday at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago that he’s learned from it.
UNC shows off deep pitching again in sweeping Pitt
CHAPEL HILL — In finishing off a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh, No. 2 North Carolina followed a familiar pattern, getting strong performances from multiple pitchers and more than enough offense. Folger Boaz and Caden Glauber were impressive, Walker McDuffie got a clutch bases-loaded strikeout in the eighth inning, and Jackson Rose finished it off.
Nicholson’s glove, bat accelerate UNC’s 11th run-rule win of the season
CHAPEL HILL — Cooper Nicholson’s glove and bat in the sixth inning steadied the game for No. 2 Carolina when the game could have swung Pittsburgh’s way. A terrific defensive play and a two-run home run by the junior third baseman in the sixth inning accelerated the Tar Heels’ 12–2 eight-inning victory Saturday at Boshamer Stadium, their 11th run-rule win of the season, to secure their sixth consecutive ACC series victory.
Dominant pitching and power give No. 2 UNC impressive win coming off exam break
CHAPEL HILL — No. 2 Carolina rode pitching and power to come off the exam break impressively. Other than rustiness from ace reliever Walker McDuffie, the Tar Heels were dominant on the mound, as three solo home runs were more than enough to support impressive outings from right-handers Jason DeCaro and Caden Glauber.