After two impressive ACC victories and five teams at the top of last week’s men’s basketball poll losing, North Carolina jumped three spots to a season-high No. 4 in the latest AP Top 25 and got one first-place vote.
UNC falls in AP Top 25 women’s poll
After splitting a pair of ACC games last week, North Carolina fell three spots to No. 23 in the AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll.
It was an emotional return to Carmichael for Hatchell
CHAPEL HILL — For the first time in five years, Sylvia Hatchell returned to Carmichael Arena on a special Alumni Day. Instead of intensely coaching the Carolina from the sidelines as she did over her 32-year Hall of Fame career at UNC, she was on the front row behind one of the baselines watching the action — or trying to.
UNC finally fends off pesky Cavs on emotional Alumni Day welcoming Hatchell, ’94 title team
CHAPEL HILL — On a day that Carolina celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 1994 national championship team, the Tar Heels showed they are stacking the talent and moving the program closer to adding another championship banner to the Carmichael Arena rafters soon. But this season’s team couldn’t deliver the knockout punch until a late 8–0 run against a feisty bunch from Virginia.
Love scores 28, misses potential game-tying 3 in loss; Adams scores career-high 33
The good news for Caleb Love is that he scored 28 points and five 3-pointers. The bad news was that he needed 25 shots to get them, missed a potential game-tying 3-point attempt with six seconds left, and his No. 10 Arizona team lost 73–70 at unranked Washington State.
UNC moves to season-high in NET rankings, projected No. 2 seed
It’s always a challenge to predict what a Carolina win will do to the Tar Heels’ NET ranking, and the 103–67 Saturday home victory over Syracuse was no exception. The win knocked the Orange down five spots to 80 in the NET rankings, moving the victory from barely a Quad 2 to a Quad 3.
No. 7 Heels roll by Syracuse with inside scoring punch, defense, depth
CHAPEL HILL — No. 7 North Carolina’s offense shifted into overdrive by turning up the pressure inside against smaller Syracuse and administering a beatdown. With a top-five ranking likely coming, the Tar Heels showed they are one of the country’s best teams and the deepest they’ve been in a few seasons.
Charlotte Smith’s legendary title-winning buzzer-beater came after anxious moments, uncertainty
With one legendary shot, Charlotte Smith cemented her spot in Carolina women’s basketball history, but not without some anxious moments and confusion coming out of the huddle.
UNC rallies from 21-point deficit but falls short at FSU
No. 20 North Carolina took many of No. 21 Florida State’s best punches over the first 2½ quarters but the Seminoles had trouble delivering the knockout punch. Deja Kelly wouldn’t let that happen as she ensured the Tar Heels fought back … until she fouled out on a questionable call with 5:05 left.
Episode 4: “Bleav in Heels Hoops,” presented by Tar Heel Tribune and Tobacco Road Sports Radio
Co-hosts Desmond Johnson and R.L. Bynum recap No. 7 Carolina’s victory at N.C. State, where the Tar Heels are after starting ACC play 4–0 and talk about the rivalry.
Elite defense and dominating rebounding help No. 7 UNC overcome its inconsistent offense
RALEIGH — In starting ACC play 4–0, No. 7 North Carolina has shown it is one of the best teams in the country with the productive combination of relentless play on defense and under the boards.
Nickel’s career-best game helps Hokies upset Clemson; Walton hits 16 in Texas Tech win
Tyler Nickel showed off the potential UNC fans all knew he had in helping Virginia Tech pull off an upset of No. 21 Clemson on Wednesday night.
Little change for UNC in NET rankings after third straight Quad 1 win
You would expect that after No. 7 North Carolina earned its fourth Quad 1 win in five games, the Tar Heels would again move up in the NET rankings, but predicting the metric is difficult.
Tar Heels in pros: White scores 30 in another OT win for streaking Bulls; Nance has G League triple-double
Coby White just keeps stacking outstanding performances and has done so now in back-to-back overtime Chicago victories, while Pete Nance put up a triple-double in the G League. White scored 30 points and five 3-pointers with eight assists and four rebounds as the Bulls beat the Houston Rockets 124–119 in overtime two nights after winning 119–112 at Philadelphia in another overtime game, with White scoring 27.
No. 7 Heels roll by State with relentless defense, aggressiveness inside
RALEIGH — After a less-than-artistic offensive showing in the first half, Carolina coach Hubert Davis told his team at halftime to attack the basket, and N.C. State was helpless to stop the Tar Heels.
tarheeltribune.com 