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CHAPEL HILL — With most bracket projections still leaving North Carolina out of the field a week away from Selection Sunday, the Tar Heels likely still have a lot of work to do at the ACC tournament to make the NCAA tournament. The Tar Heels (20–12) are in a perilous position on the bubble and could be left out when the field is announced next Sunday without a big week in Charlotte.
CHAPEL HILL — Carolina put up a fight few expected against No. 2 Duke and RJ Davis produced some senior day magic that made for a memorable first half. The crowd was loud and crazy, and the anticipation was building. While that didn’t last, UNC showed with its competitiveness that the six-game win streak was no fluke and that the Tar Heels are a different team than before that streak, despite falling 82–69 on senior night Saturday at the Smith Center.
BLACKSBURG, Va. — North Carolina continues to do what it can control to improve its NCAA tournament resume, and the only way to improve it in a Quad 3 game is to win decisively.
BLACKSBURG, Va. — North Carolina played like a team intent on breaking out of the bubble and making plans for March. A season-high six-game win streak is generating visions of the Tar Heels’ 2022 run with spirited play and precision perimeter shooting that has been fun to watch. UNC rebounded from some uneven play in the first 12 minutes and rolled to a 91–59 victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday at Cassell Coliseum.
With Carolina’s small margin for error, winning all six games heading into Saturday’s senior day clash in the Smith Center against No. 2 Duke was always going to be crucial to making the NCAA men’s tournament field. Heading into Tuesday’s 7 p.m. game (ESPNU) at Virginia Tech, most projections suggest that the season-high five-game win streak for UNC (19–11, 12–6 ACC) against weak ACC competition hasn’t been convincing enough.
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina continues to beat the teams it has to beat to make the NCAA tournament field, easily knocking off Miami 92–73 for its season-high fifth consecutive victory. The victory margin boosted the Tar Heels’ NET ranking three spots to 42nd, even though it was only a Quad 4 victory. However, they had a Quad 2 win downgraded to Quad 3.
CHAPEL HILL — The best version of this North Carolina team is when the Tar Heels play inside out on offense, creating good shots all over the court. Carolina did that impressively in Saturday’s 93–73 victory over Miami in the Smith Center, firing in 10 3-pointers and scoring 46 points in the paint to earn a season-high fifth consecutive victory.
CHAPEL HILL — Whenever a North Carolina pitcher hears the call for the next pitch through the PitchCom devices, it’s the voice of a dadgum legend.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Many have questioned where North Carolina’s passion and fight is during many games this season, and Coach Hubert Davis has done all he can to bring it out. Before Monday’s 96–85 victory, he had another game-day tactic to ensure his team came out fighting.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — North Carolina’s NCAA tournament chances, which were remote two weeks earlier, continue to improve after Monday’s 96–85 Quad 2 victory at Florida State for the Tar Heels’ fourth consecutive victory.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Suddenly, North Carolina is playing confidently, finding the right combinations and looking nothing like the Tar Heels who hit rock bottom two weeks ago at Clemson. With balanced scoring, consistent rebounding and a verve the Tar Heels could only dream of most of the season, the Tar Heels rolled into the Tucker Center — where many better UNC teams have stumbled — looking dramatically different.
CHAPEL HILL — There may be many surprised that Jae’Lyn Withers is North Carolina’s most accurate 3-point shooter this season, but the 6–9 graduate forward isn’t one of them.
CHAPEL HILL — While the bubble battle for the ACC’s possible fourth NCAA tournament berth took a lousy turn Saturday for Wake Forest and Pittsburgh, it couldn’t have gone better for North Carolina three weeks from Selection Sunday. With an 81–66 Saturday home Quad 3 victory over Virginia, the Tar Heels (17–11, 10–6 ACC) also gave themselves an outside shot at a double-bye in the ACC tournament while continuing on a possible path to a spot in the NCAA tournament.
CHAPEL HILL — Fighting through the NCAA tournament bubble, North Carolina continues to play well during a stretch where any loss would likely end the Tar Heels’ chances. The Tar Heels jumped to an early 19-point lead and fought some lulls on both ends to come away with an 81–66 victory Saturday at the Smith Center over Virginia for their third consecutive victory, never trailing in any of those games.
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina coach Hubert Davis addressed the media on Friday at the Smith Center ahead of Saturday’s 4 p.m. home game against Virginia. Here’s a full transcript of the press conference and video:
tarheeltribune.com 