Feeding ball to healthy Bacot frequently has UNC on impressive run

North Carolina learned a lot from a four-game losing streak that ramped up the frustrations and turned the Tar Heels from the No. 1 team to an unranked group looking for answers. All along, a couple of the big answers were there. Get Armando Bacot healthy and gear the offense around getting the preseason ACC Player of the Year and AP All-American the ball down low frequently.

Tar Heels in NFL: Trubisky is efficient, turnover-free in Steelers win; Hollins has TD reception in wacky Raiders win

Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky knew after throwing three interceptions a week earlier in a loss that he had to play a clean game if the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to rebound. Mission accomplished. In his first start since Week 4, he led three long, time-consuming drives and was efficient in a turnover-free game to lead the Steelers to a 24–16 road victory Sunday over the Carolina Panthers.

Tar Heels in NBA: Barnes hits 17; consistency helps Kings to best start in 18 years

Harrison Barnes’ first four seasons in Sacramento were full of frustration as the Kings never were able to have sustained success. But, with his help, that’s changing this season. Barnes scored 17 points and three 3-pointers with six rebounds Sunday night as the Kings beat the Chicago Bulls 110–101 for their best 22-game start since the 2004–05 season when he was 12 years old.

Bacot gamely battles through injuries in third straight UNC loss

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Without a fully healthy Armando Bacot and continued backcourt shooting struggles, Carolina has played itself into unfamiliar territory. Already with a right-ankle issue, Bacot tweaked his right shoulder and collarbone in the first three minutes, then got in foul trouble. Even with those challenges, Bacot gamely put up another double-double, but it wasn’t enough on a night Indiana outscored Carolina inside by 26 points.

No. 12 UNC gets more efficiency from Ustby, many other good efforts in rout of TCU

CHAPEL HILL — The model of efficiency through two games is Carolina’s do-everything wing Alyssa Ustby. The talented junior, who showed in the offseason that her talents include kicking field goals at Kenan Stadium, said she was “a little banged up” after her September participation on the United States three-on-three team in Romania and summer workouts. That limited her in the preseason and led to minutes restrictions. She’s making the most of every minute. Ustby scored 14 points in 18 minutes Saturday as No. 12 Carolina (2–0) took control in the second quarter and cruised to a 75–48 victory over TCU (1–1).

No. 2 UNC advances in classic, making ACC final by beating Duke on PKs

CARY — North Carolina loosened its stranglehold on ACC women’s soccer last season and with a couple of league losses earlier this season. The No. 2-ranked Tar Heels are one win away from regaining their traditional dominant spot. But Duke didn’t make it easy in the ACC tournament semifinals Thursday evening in a match full of tension, physical play and frustration on both sides.