Bacot says he’s returning for a fifth season at Carolina

Armando Bacot is coming back to Carolina for a fifth season. “The primary reason I am coming back is because I don’t want to leave North Carolina this way. But I also know I need to improve and feel like this is the best place to do that,” Bacot told Goodman after the Tar Heels finished 20–13 and missed the NCAA tournament. “I’m using my last year of eligibility.” Bacot said. “I felt it was the right decision for my future.”

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 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.”

Styles, still debating future, wanted to play in NIT, says Coach Davis made decision

Dontrez Styles, who still is deciding whether he’ll return to Carolina next season, said Tuesday that Coach Hubert Davis told the team after the NCAA selection show that the Tar Heels wouldn’t accept an NIT invitation. “It was the coach’s decision,” Styles said during his weekly “Tuesdays with Trez” segment on “The Bryan Hanks Show” on WRNS 960 AM in Kinston.

Left out of NCAA tournament, the season is done for UNC men, Hubert Davis says

After not earning the chance to make another run at the Final Four, North Carolina’s men’s team has declined an opportunity to play in the National Invitation Tournament. “Many factors go into postseason play and we believe now is the time to focus on moving head, preparing for next season and the opportunity to again compete for ACC and NCAA championships,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said in a statement released Sunday.

Garcia helps Minnesota win game in Big Ten Tournament; Francis’ team falls in first round of DII tournament

Dawson Garcia had a few big games in a challenging first season at Minnesota and enjoyed one last one at the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago. In the first round Wednesday, Garcia put up his third double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds in addition to six assists as the No. 14-seed Gophers beat No. 11-seed Nebraska 78–75.

UNC has no shot at NCAA tournament berth, wouldn’t even be No. 1 NIT seed, Lunardi says

North Carolina figured to need at least three wins in Greensboro to secure an NCAA tournament berth and, after getting only one, the Tar Heels are firmly on the bubble that is likely about to burst. Two prominent bracket projections — from Joe Lunardi on ESPN and Jerry Palm on CBS — list the Tar Heels as the fifth team out of the field. Both list Clemson as one of the teams ahead of them but still not in the field.