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From the time that Brady Manek got ejected after questionably being called for a flagrant-two foul, some wondered if that would lead to a suspension. There was even speculation about it Monday on ACC Network. But, since the ejection doesn’t involve fighting, there will be no suspension and Manek will play on Friday night at 9:40 p.m. in the East Regional semifinals against UCLA in Philadelphia (TBS).
FORT WORTH, Texas — When Hubert Davis said early in the season that the goal for his first North Carolina team was a national championship, it seemed a little far-fetched to many observers. After holding off reigning national champion and No. 1 seed Baylor in overtime 93–86 in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday at Dickies Arena, his Tar Heels are making believers of the college basketball world.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Baylor coach Scott Drew is familiar with Brady Manek from the Bears’ battles with Oklahoma the previous four seasons. A lot has changed since his Big 12 days, though. Manek has gone from the clean-shaven Larry Bird look as a Sooner to a full beard and long, flowing hair. But there are plenty of much-more important differences this year at Carolina (25–9).
By R.L. Bynum FORT WORTH, Texas — Carolina can beat anybody in the country when Caleb Love and Brady Manek … More
Playing time with Brooklyn has been hard to come by lately for Day’Ron Sharpe, but he has made his mark in G League appearances with the Long Island Nets. On Wednesday afternoon, who collected 30 points and 20 rebounds in 36 minutes of Long Island’s 118–114 road loss to the Westchester Knicks.
Don’t let Coach Hubert Davis’ calm sideline demeanor. There is a lot of passion, and the first-year Carolina coach has a way of transferring that onto his team during pregame speeches. His players say that they are ready to run through a wall after those speeches. “You know you see him scowling before the games?” senior Leaky Black said. “Just imagine a pregame speech. It makes you want to run through a brick wall. That’s the message I get. I just try to go out there and play as hard as I can every time for him.”
Hubert Davis knows the pressure of an NCAA tournament game, specifically when facing a No. 1-seed, which is a situation he hopes his Carolina team faces Saturday. As a sophomore for a No. 8-seeded UNC team against a No. 1 seed in 1990, he wanted no part of taking a big shot in the final seconds.
Going to the NCAA men’s tournament is routine for North Carolina but the Tar Heels haven’t had to navigate the dreaded No. 8-seed vs. No. 9-seed matchup very often. For the second consecutive season, though, the No. 25-ranked Tar Heels (24–9) will have to deal with that assignment. This time, UNC is the No. 8 seed in the East Region, facing No. 9-seed Marquette (19–12) on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas. Should UNC win, it would likely face No. 1-seed Baylor (26–6), which plays No. 16-seed Norfolk State. If Coach Hubert Davis’ team makes it to the second weekend, it would play in Philadelphia.
Back in the starting lineup for the first time since mid-February, Coby White wasn’t far away from a triple-double in Chicago’s 101–91 home victory Saturday over Cleveland. White collected nine points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals as a starter after seven consecutive games coming off the bench. He was in the lineup because Zach LaVine missed the game with left knee soreness.
Walker Miller helped Coach King Rice’s Monmouth team make an impressive run to the MAAC Tournament final but the Hawks were one win short of the title and an NCAA tournament berth. Miller is the only former Tar Heel to make his league tournament’s final. Walker Kessler and Brandon Huffman are the only former UNC players who will get NCAA tournament berths.
NEW YORK — There’s no doubt that this Carolina basketball season has gone better than the previous one, but the Tar Heels seem likely to be stuck in a dreaded No. 8-seed vs. No. 9-seed first-round matchup in the NCAA tournament for a second consecutive season. That winner, of course, has a No. 1 seed lurking in the second round. As a No. 8 seed in the South Region last season, an 18–11 UNC team lost to No. 9 Wisconsin in West Lafayette, Ind., in what turned out to be Coach Roy Williams’ final game. This season’s Tar Heels enter NCAA play at 24–9 and with a lot of optimism that, despite its inconsistencies, it might have enough momentum to do some damage, even if it is probably stuck in the same sort of game.
NEW YORK — Making up big deficits has never been easy for this North Carolina team and that didn’t change Friday night in an ACC Tournament semifinal. The No. 3-seed Tar Heels fell behind No. 7-seed Virginia Tech by 20 points 7½ minutes into the second half, its biggest hole since trailing by 21 in the Pittsburgh loss, and couldn’t fight back.
NEW YORK — There is lots to dislike about the expanded ACC, and including Brooklyn in the rotation for the league’s tradition-rich tournament is near the top of the list. The Barclays Center does an excellent job of staging the tournament and that would be fine if was located in a city that knew the history of the ACC’s crown jewel event, cared more about college basketball and was passionate about the results.
NEW YORK — You’d have trouble finding a coach with more love and reverence for the tradition of the ACC Tournament than Hubert Davis.
Tar Heels great Walter “Sweet D” Davis, his uncle, played in it for Carolina and won titles in 1975 and 1977. The first-year UNC head coach was part of the March tradition as a player and got plenty of experience as a UNC assistant coach at the event for nine seasons.
NEW YORK — For much of the night, it looked like Carolina’s Brady Manek could single-handedly beat Virginia. He nearly did for one half. With his teammates also playing well, it was an easy evening for the Tar Heels, who steamrolled the Cavaliers 63–43 in the last ACC Tournament quarterfinal Thursday night at the Barclays Center.
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