Author: R.L. Bynum

Saint Peter’s magic runs out as UNC rolls into Final Four

PHILADELPHIA — Through all of the struggles during an up-and-down season, Carolina’s players believed they could win a national title and now a college basketball world that was full of doubters has been proven wrong. The Tar Heels’ dreams live on after delivering a knockout blow in the first half to end the magical run of No. 15-seed St. Peter’s with a 69–49 victory Sunday night at Wells Fargo Center in the East Regional final.

Tar Heels in pros: Barnes hits huge OT 3 as Kings top Anthony’s Magic; Sharpe, Jackson put up G League double-doubles

In a battle of Tar Heels who have endured tough seasons with their teams, Harrison Barnes and Cole Anthony both played well. But while Barnes had a huge late play, Anthony made a costly mistake. Barnes’ corner 3-pointer with 12 seconds left in overtime lifted the Sacramento Kings to a 114–110 road victory over the Orlando Magic in his best game in the last 10.

Bacot talks about back issues, how Heels never wavered from Final Four goal

PHILADELPHIA — At the start of the season, a photo of the Superdome was put on the locker of each Carolina player to remind them of the end goal — a trip to the Final Four. After two difficult seasons and a lot of frustrations, most college basketball observers saw that as an unrealistic, lofty goal at the time. Throughout the ups and downs when many fans and the media gave up on the Tar Heels, junior center Armando Bacot said that the team stayed focused and believed it was possible.

UNC rides Love train into Elite Eight

PHILADELPHIA — Carolina rode the full Caleb Love Experience into the Elite Eight. Love scored 12 consecutive UNC points in one second-half stretch and his back-to-back 3-pointers in the last 1:40 propelled the No. 8-seed Tar Heels to a 73–66 victory over No. 4-seed and 11th-ranked UCLA on Friday night in an East Regionals semifinal at the Wells Fargo Center.

Banghart has deftly built a budding national power at UNC

After the Carolina women’s basketball program’s steady ascension under Coach Courtney Banghart in her first two seasons, the Tar Heels have rocketed toward the national spotlight this season. Banghart knew she had all of the elements for a special team before the season, even if most observers saw last season’s 13–11 finish and weren’t convinced. Only predicted to finish seventh in the ACC, the Tar Heels finished tied for third.

Roy Williams, who says games are more stressful now, making sure to give Davis his space

Roy Williams thought his first Carolina basketball season as a fan after retirement would just be fun because he wouldn’t have to worry about coaching and could just enjoy the games. He soon found out otherwise and said that his biggest concern all season was to give first-year head coach Hubert Davis his space and to make sure not to “get in the way.” During an interview on the WCMC (99.9 the Fan) show “The OG” Wednesday with hosts Joe Ovies and Joe Giglio, he said that he quickly found out what fans have known for years: it’s stressful to watch a game when you can’t do anything to change the outcome.

Want to send UNC teams off to the Sweet 16? Here’s how

Carolina is one of three schools with both its men’s and women’s teams in the Sweet 16 and fans will get the chance to gather twice Wednesday to send each team off for their Friday regional semifinal games. UNC, which has both teams in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015, joins Iowa State and Michigan as the only schools with its men’s and women’s team still playing in the NCAA tournament.