Covering Carolina sports beyond just men's basketball and football — with the most complete women's basketball coverage
Carolina’s football season will end right where it started, at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. The Tar Heels (8–4) will play in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, (ESPN) against West Virginia (8–4), after opening the season with a 31–17 victory over South Carolina in Charlotte.
North Carolina’s bowl destination isn’t nearly as clear as before the conference championship games. Days after seven of 11 media projections ticketed the Tar Heels for the Gator Bowl, the most common prediction (three of 11) has them playing Charlotte on Dec. 27 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Caleb Love continues to be the leading scorer on a balanced Arizona attack, and the unbeaten No. 2 Wildcats will likely be No. 1 when the new AP Top 25 poll comes out on Monday.
CHAPEL HILL — Carolina flipped the switch with its pressure defense midway through the second half, and Florida State was helpless to do anything about it. No. 17 North Carolina turned a 12-point deficit into a 14-point edge with a 30–4 run as the Heels rebounded from a sluggish first half to earn a 78–70 victory over the Seminoles, thanks to 12 points off turnovers after halftime.
CHAPEL HILL — Newcomers have injected some important intangibles missing last season into North Carolina’s roster. During the Tar Heels’ 2022 run to the national championship game, Brady Manek was fiery, didn’t hesitate to call out teammates or throw things in disgust. After nobody filled that role last season, transfers Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan are bringing an intensity level and physical play to the team that’s making a big difference.
CHAPEL HILL — Anybody who thought that top-ranked South Carolina would roll into Chapel Hill and coast to victory didn’t know the character and resolve of No. 24 North Carolina. UNC has a history of giving the national power some of its toughest games, and that was the case again Thursday when the Tar Heels led by as many as 11 points in the first half. They battled admirably before losing 65–58 in the inaugural ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge before a loud and sold-out Carmichael Arena.
CHAPEL HILL — Fans who screamed, smiled and enjoyed the show, particularly before halftime, were left to wonder what the ceiling is for Coach Hubert Davis’ fourth Carolina team. It could be much higher than the roof if the Tar Heels can avoid rough stretches like the one they endured late in the second half.
CHAPEL HILL — UNC coach Hubert Davis and Harrison Ingram talked at a Tuesday press conference about the Tar Heels’ performance in winning two of three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis and looked ahead to Wednesday’s home game against Tennessee.
Dontrez Styles had another big game for Georgetown in Saturday night’s 88–81 home victory over Jackson State in the Hoyas’ third straight win.
RALEIGH — There was lots of blame to go around for North Carolina’s latest November shortcoming. Coach Mack Brown wanted to accept all of it.
tarheeltribune.com 