Heels dominant on both ends, roll by San Diego State

DAYTON, Ohio — It’s hard to stop this North Carolina team when it’s locked in, even against a highly touted defense. The Tar Heels rolled in and out of the First Four with a dominating effort, dispatching San Diego State 95–68 in a battle of No. 11 seeds Tuesday at the UD Arena, with peak-level RJ Davis and another impressive game from point guard Elliot Cadeau.

Challenges of Ramadan fasting during tournaments no big deal to Ian Jackson

DAYTON, Ohio — Ian Jackson’s Muslim faith means a lot to him, which has meant some challenges that would be daunting for most players in March. Fasting during Ramadan, first during the ACC tournament and now the NCAA tournament, is routine for the freshman guard.

Video, transcript of Dayton press conferences for UNC, San Diego State

DAYTON, Ohio — North Carolina coach Hubert Davis and guards RJ Davis and Seth Trimble met with the media on Monday at the University of Dayton Arena ahead of the Tar Heels’ First Four game at 9:10 Tuesday night against San Diego State. Here are a video and a transcript of the press conference, in addition to the video and press conference for the Aztecs, with Brian Dutcher, Nick Boyd, Miles Byrd, Jared Coleman-Jones.

How did UNC emerge on right side of the bubble?

The NCAA tournament field was announced Sunday afternoon, and the North Carolina Tar Heels snuck in the back door, as UNC was the last team included. The content gods delivered, and, as The OG Podcast host Joe Ovies noted, the discussion regarding Carolina’s selection was immediately lively.

UNC’s 54th NCAA tournament appearance will start in First Four

North Carolina’s non-conference strength of schedule ultimately was enough to get the Tar Heels into the NCAA tournament field. In the program’s 54th appearance they’ll play in the First Four. UNC (22–13) will meet San Diego State on Wednesday at 9 p.m. (truTV) for the right to advance to Milwaukee on Friday to meet No. 6-seed Ole Miss (22–11). If UNC wins that round of 64 game, it would play on Sunday against the winner of the game between No. 3-seed Iowa State (24–9) and No. 14-seed Lipscomb (25–9).

NCAA projections suggest UNC won’t make field; would team accept NIT bid?

The projections for North Carolina have only become less favorable since Friday’s ACC tournament semifinal loss to No. 1 Duke. If the NCAA tournament selection committee agrees, winning eight of their last 10 games — with the only losses against the Blue Devils (31–3; 1st in NET) — won’t be enough for the Tar Heels (22–13) to make the field. It could be a rare year where a team 36th in the NET, which is where UNC stands, misses the field.

UNC awaits NCAA fate after slipping in NET, wary of potential ‘bid stealers’ in key games today

CHARLOTTE — After a narrow loss to a sure No. 1 seed, North Carolina can only wait until the NCAA tournament selection show at 6 p.m. Sunday (CBS) to see if the Tar Heels have done enough to make the field. In the meantime, the Tar Heels will anxiously watch four league tournaments, hoping that the favorites Memphis, VCU and UC San Diego prevail. If they make the field, it’s clear that a trip to the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, where there are games on Tuesday and Wednesday, is ahead.

UNC storms back with fight but falls short against Duke

CHARLOTTE — North Carolina showed the fight of an NCAA tournament team in rallying from a 24-point deficit to nearly upset No. 1 Duke. Now comes the wait to see if the Tar Heels have done enough after a heartbreaking 74–71 loss to the Blue Devils in the ACC tournament semifinals at Spectrum Center on Friday.

Video, transcript of UNC’s postgame press conference after Duke game

Here is video and a full transcript of North Carolina’s postgame press conference, with Coach Hubert Davis, RJ Davis and Ven-Allen Lubin, after the Tar Heels’ 74–71 loss to Duke in Friday’s ACC tournament semifinals.

UNC on most bracket projections in more than month; one has Heels bypassing First Four

For the first time since Feb. 2, the consensus on Bracket Matrix is that North Carolina has done enough to make the NCAA tournament, and Bart Torvik projects that the Tar Heels won’t have to play in the First Four.

With grit at end, UNC survives elimination game against Deacs

CHARLOTTE — North Carolina did just enough to keep its NCAA hopes alive in an ugly, physical elimination game. With the season hanging in the balance, the Tar Heels survived going more than half of the second half without a field goal and battled foul trouble to pull out a 68–59 ACC tournament quarterfinal victory Thursday over Wake Forest at the Spectrum Center.

Transcript, video: UNC postgame press conference

Here is video and the complete transcript of UNC’s postgame press conference with Coach Hubert Davis and Ven-Allen Lubin after the Tar Heels’ 68-59 victory over Wake Forest in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament on Thursday. A second video includes interviews with Seth Trimble, Jae’Lyn Withers, Lubin and RJ Davis from outside the Tar Heels’ dressing room.

Withers leads perimeter barrage as Heels roll into quarterfinals

CHARLOTTE — With a chef’s kiss — several, actually — No. 5-seed North Carolina easily moved into the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament. Graduate forward Jae’Lyn Withers’ signature celebration after 3-pointers spelled doom for No. 12-seed Notre Dame as he scored 21 points and seven 3-pointers, both career-highs, and the Tar Heels rolled to a 76–56 second-round victory Wednesday at the Spectrum Center.

Video, transcript of UNC’s postgame press conference

CHARLOTTE — Here is the video and the transcript of the postgame press conference for North Carolina coach Hubert Davis and players Ven-Allen Lubin and RJ Davis after the Tar Heels’ 76-56 victory over Notre Dame on Wednesday in the second round of the ACC tournament at the Spectrum Center.