Tag: Carolina

Special moments as Carolina’s women earn Sweet 16 berth

Players live for the sort of moments Carolina’s women’s team experienced Monday night. For the talented sophomore class that battled through a 13–11 freshman season that ended with a first-round NCAA tournament loss to Alabama, the road to a Sweet 16 berth was long but the realization of that accomplishment was thrilling. When third-year UNC coach Courtney Banghart took Deja Kelly out late in the game, there was one of those moments. The player and the coach she trusted so much that the Texas high school star committed to be a Tar Heel exchanged some emotional words.

Tar Heels in pros: Bullock returns to score 18, hit key 3; Sharpe, Jackson have big G League games

Reggie Bullock returned after missing four games because of personal reasons but showed no rust from the break. Bullock scored 18 points and six 3-pointers, including a clutch 3 late in the game, as the Dallas Mavericks earned a 110–108 home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bullock also had seven rebounds as the Mavs avoided their first three-game losing streak since December.

UNC women roll into first Sweet 16 in 7 years with relentless defense

Carolina’s relentless defense has been frustrated many opponents all season. Add Arizona to that list, and put the Tar Heels down for their first Sweet 16 in seven years.

UNC held the Wildcats scoreless for nearly 11½ first-half minutes to take control on their way to a 63–45 true road victory Monday night in Tucson, Ariz., in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Will Manek ejection affect Sweet 16 availability?

From the time that Brady Manek got ejected after questionably being called for a flagrant-two foul, some wondered if that would lead to a suspension. There was even speculation about it Monday on ACC Network. But, since the ejection doesn’t involve fighting, there will be no suspension and Manek will play on Friday night at 9:40 p.m. in the East Regional semifinals against UCLA in Philadelphia (TBS).

Kelly hits 28 as UNC women storm by SFA with huge fourth quarter

North Carolina showed again what it has done many times when facing adversity this season: Handle it, show poise, take control and leave the opponent reeling. A sensational 28-point game from Deja Kelly, an animated halftime speech from third-year UNC coach Courtney Banghart and a decisive 14–3 fourth-quarter run ensured the first NCAA tournament win for her and all of her players.

Heels play like title contenders in ousting reigning champion Baylor

FORT WORTH, Texas — When Hubert Davis said early in the season that the goal for his first North Carolina team was a national championship, it seemed a little far-fetched to many observers. After holding off reigning national champion and No. 1 seed Baylor in overtime 93–86 in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday at Dickies Arena, his Tar Heels are making believers of the college basketball world.

Improved Manek’s memories of Baylor are painful, and not just because of losses

FORT WORTH, Texas — Baylor coach Scott Drew is familiar with Brady Manek from the Bears’ battles with Oklahoma the previous four seasons. A lot has changed since his Big 12 days, though. Manek has gone from the clean-shaven Larry Bird look as a Sooner to a full beard and long, flowing hair. But there are plenty of much-more important differences this year at Carolina (25–9).

UNC women have been poised against the kind of relentless pressure defense Stephen F. Austin likely to apply

Many opponents thought they could apply pressure defense on Carolina’s women, force turnovers and dictate the play. That hasn’t worked out well most of the season. No. 12-seed Stephen F. Austin (28–4) is the latest team that will likely give that strategy a shot when it faces the No. 5-seed and 17th-ranked Tar Heels (23–6) at 7:30 Saturday night in Tucson, Ariz., (ESPN News) in the first round of the NCAA Greensboro Region.

Banghart had to get creative with 15-day break between ACC and NCAA tournament games

While most men’s teams play their NCAA tournament openers a few days after their conference tournaments, most women’s teams don’t even know their tournament draw for a week afterward. It’s an odd dynamic that women’s coaches have to deal with on an annual basis and this is the 10th time for North Carolina’s third-year coach Courtney Banghart and the second time for most of her players.