After battling injuries during most of his three seasons at Carolina, Puff Johnson is entering the transfer portal, according to On3.com. He is the fourth UNC player to enter the portal, joining Justin McKoy, Tyler Nickel and Dontrez Styles.
Tar Heels in NBA: Sharpe scores more than a point a minute, ties career-high with 20, is +27; Anthony, Barnes, Kessler putting up consistent numbers
The Brooklyn Nets haven’t given Day’Ron Sharpe many chances to show what he can bring to the team in recent weeks. He took advantage of a chance Tuesday night. After playing only two of the previous nine games, Sharpe came off the bench to lead the Nets in scoring and was a game-high +27 in their 115–109 home loss Tuesday to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn’s fourth consecutive loss.
UNC’s talented junior class will be the core of national contender next season
COLUMBUS, Ohio — When Courtney Banghart got the North Carolina job, her first recruiting calls were to the members of the talented junior class that have put the Tar Heels program back in the national spotlight. The core of that group — guard Deja Kelly, wing Kennedy Todd-Williams, forward Alyssa Ustby and center Anya Poole — fell short of its lofty goals with a heartbreaking 71–69 loss to Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Monday afternoon.
UNC overcomes injuries, just like all season, to nearly pull upset before dropping heartbreaker
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Injuries were a big reason North Carolina wasn’t at full strength most of the season, and they were a huge factor Monday as the Tar Heels’ season ended emotionally. But No. 20-ranked and No. 6 Carolina nearly overcame it all before dropping a heartbreaker 71–69 to No. 12-ranked and No. 3-seed Ohio State at the Schottenstein Center in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
UNC-Ohio State battle of two torrid defensive teams that battle inconsistency
COLUMBUS, Ohio —With two of the toughest defensive teams in the country who also have had consistency issues in a few stretches, it’s difficult to know what to expect when No. 20-ranked North Carolina and No. 12-ranked Ohio State battle for a Sweet 16 berth on Monday. The No. 3-seed Buckeyes (26–7) lost three in a row and went 7–7 their first 19 games. The No. 6-seed Tar Heels (22–10) dropped four straight in late December and early January, and lost three of four in February. The latter stretch, though, was without starters Alyssa Ustby and Eva Hodgson.
Passionate Hodgson pins hopes on her shooting, defense continuing to put off the end of her college career
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Eva Hodgson donned her signature bucket hat on Sunday as she talked about the relief of North Carolina’s first-round escape. She knows that her college career is one Tar Heels loss from ending, and you could see the emotion of that reality when she was on the sidelines on Saturday.
Carolina’s battle with Ohio State for Sweet 16 berth draws early start time
No. 20-ranked North Carolina plays on Ohio State’s home court for a berth in the Sweet 16 at 4 p.m. Monday in a game that will air on ESPN. The No. 6-seed Tar Heels’ game against the No. 12-ranked and No. 6-seed Buckeyes (26–7) at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, is the initial second-round NCAA tournament game of the day.
Call it a win and move on: For UNC’s women, dramatics work out in final seconds
The easy explanation for how North Carolina’s women’s basketball team extended its season Saturday: Deja Kelly drove down the left side of the lane and banked in a shot with 2.3 seconds left as Mimi Reid of St. John’s fouled her to break a tie. She finished the three-point play.
Carolina, St. John’s star Everett familiar with each other, but former Pitt star 0–2 against Tar Heels
In many NCAA tournament matchups, neither team is familiar with the other. On Saturday, former Pittsburgh star Jayla Everett will know No. 20 Carolina and the No. 6-seed Tar Heels will know the talented forward, who led No. 11 seed St. John’s to its first NCAA tournament berth in seven years.
UNC women shrug after NCAA slight, determined to meet challenges ahead
While the loyal Carolina women’s basketball fans were outraged and surprised that the NCAA didn’t make the Tar Heels a host school in the NCAA tournament, the players and the coaching staff shrugged and looked ahead. Juniors Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby admitted at a press conference Friday in Columbus, Ohio, that they were bummed because projections suggested that the No. 20-ranked Tar Heels would be able to play the first two rounds at Carmichael Arena.
UNC sophomore Styles reportedly entering transfer portal
After playing sparingly in his sophomore season at North Carolina, wing Dontrez Styles is entering the transfer portal to find a new basketball home, according to On3. It was always going to be a tough decision for the 6–6, 210-pound former Kinston High School star, who grew up as a UNC fan and with his room decorated with Carolina items. When he committed to the Tar Heels, he said it was something that he had been “dreaming of since I was a little kid.”
Tar Heels in pros: Jackson gets 32 points, 8 3-pointers, career-high 15 rebounds in OT G League win; Barnes, Kings clinch winning season
Justin Jackson has put up a lot of big numbers in the G League since joining the struggling Texas Legends on Feb. 24 and did that again on Thursday night, finally in a victory. He had that sweet jump shot going that Carolina fans know so well, and put together an outstanding overall game.
UNC women to face St. John’s, familiar star in Pitt transfer Jayla Everett
If the St. John’s 66–64 First Four victory Thursday night over Purdue is any indication, Carolina will have to play excellent perimeter defense to beat the Red Storm, which features a familiar star. St. John’s (23–8) earned the right to face the No. 20 Tar Heels (21-10) in a 4 p.m. first-round game Saturday at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, with a victory in the same arena by scoring an NCAA tournament school record 11 3-pointers.
Tar Heels in NBA: Mavs win without two stars, thanks to Bullock’s 20 points, 6 3-pointers, first career double-double week after missing game
Without Kyrie Irving and Luca Dončić, the Dallas Mavericks needed some big performances to win at San Antonio, and Reggie Bullock came through with his best game of the season. Bullock, a 10-year veteran who turned 32 Thursday, produced his first career double-double with 20 points, six 3-pointers and a career-high 13 rebounds.
UNC hits three HRs, on school-record homer pace, scores 16 runs for 2nd game in row
CHAPEL HILL — The first month of the season has been a power trip for No. 18 North Carolina, which is hitting home runs at a school-record pace and piling up runs. That continued Wednesday with three home runs, as the Tar Heels scored double-digit runs for the ninth time and at least 14 for the sixth time. UNC collected 17 hits in a 16–2 rout of High Point on a chilly evening at Boshamer Stadium for its third win in a row.
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