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CHARLOTTE — There was no need for a fiery halftime speech to get North Carolina going this time. A heated exchange late in the first half seemed to light a fire in the Tar Heels. From there, UNC (9–4) went on a 21–6 run to storm away from Michigan (7–4) and the Tar Heels held on for an 80–76 victory Wednesday night at the Jumpman Invitational before 19,236 mostly Carolina fans to take a four-game win streak into the Christmas break.
When Carolina needs a buzzer-beating shot to send a game into overtime, it’s wise to involve Jeff Lebo, and that was also true 35 years ago.
Lebo earned a lot of praise after the Tar Heels’ 89–84 overtime victory Saturday in New York over Ohio State because he drew up the play that sent the game into overtime.
By R.L. Bynum CHARLOTTE — Carolina returned to that dangerous habit of giving up significant first-half deficits to ranked teams. … More
By R.L. Bynum Carolina, coming off the program’s 23rd 40-win season, is No. 11 in Collegiate Baseball’s preseason poll. With … More
North Carolina returned to the No. 6 spot it held three weeks earlier in the AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll and is on the highest five-week poll run in 14 seasons. The Tar Heels (9–1), after three decisive non-conference home wins, are ranked No. 8 or higher for the fifth consecutive week for the first time since the program’s remarkable late 2000s run.
North Carolina’s thrilling 89–84 overtime victory Saturday over Ohio State still wasn’t enough to return the Tar Heels to the AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll. The Tar Heels (8–4), the preseason No. 1 team, are unranked for the third consecutive week. Unlike last week, though, UNC received votes, garnering the 32nd-most poll points with 36. The Buckeyes (7–3) fell from No. 23 to unranked.
If it wasn’t clear before Saturday that North Carolina needs to run its offense through Armando Bacot, he left no doubt against No. 23 Ohio State. It also became clear that leaning on Bacot may not be enough if the Tar Heels can’t shake their perimeter shooting slump. That finally happened in the latter part of regulation — thanks to Caleb Love, RJ Davis and Leaky Black — and Pete Nance hit a huge shot at the regulation buzzer as they earned a thrilling 89–84 overtime victory over the Buckeyes in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York.
CHAPEL HILL — After a challenging 22 days between home games with three ranked opponents, No. 7 North Carolina returned to Carmichael Arena and dominated three overmatched non-conference opponents. The Tar Heels (9–1) trailed for 18 seconds and forced 58 turnovers in the three games as they tuned up before the schedule gets significantly more challenging. With the sort of dynamic guard play they got from Deja Kelly and Eva Hodgson on Friday, they’ll be more than up for the task.
CHAPEL HILL — If you ask Armando Bacot or most Carolina fans which Tar Heel is the most confident shooter, the consistent answer would be Caleb Love. Love, however, would beg to differ. He gives that honor to freshman Tyler Nickel. “He’s got the most confidence on the team,” Love said after the 100–67 win Tuesday over The Citadel. “He thinks every shot is going in.”
Hubert Davis remembers riding the team bus to Madison Square Garden early in his freshman season before Carolina played in the Preseason NIT. Coach Dean Smith called him up to the front of the bus.
The 8–1 start for Carolina’s No. 7-ranked women’s basketball team while facing three ranked teams is even more impressive considering the many injury issues the Tar Heels have had to overcome. So many players were dealing with physical issues that the team’s scrimmage on Oct. 7 at Live Action With Carolina Basketball became four-on-four. Its scheduled closed home scrimmage against No. 1 and reigning national champion South Carolina was deferred until next season.
CHAPEL HILL — As Michael Jordan says in the pregame video, “This is Carolina basketball.” For the first time this season, North Carolina dominated an opponent thoroughly, thanks to season-high totals of 15 3-pointers and 24 assists, and it looked like what fans traditionally expect. A Hall of Fame coach likes to say it looks better when the ball goes in the basket. It does, and it did against The Citadel.
By R.L. Bynum CHAPEL HILL — For years, you’ve expected North Carolina to control the boards, take good shots and … More
CHAPEL HILL — There has been a lot missing in recent games on the defensive end for North Carolina, as opponents scored with ease too often.
Coach Hubert Davis said trust is the key element his team is missing on defense. Once that develops, he expects his Tar Heels will be able to make it tougher on opposing offenses.
The last 10 minutes of the Virginia Tech loss could be a snapshot of a more aggressive defensive approach — and player usage — in upcoming games as North Carolina tries to shake itself out of a funk that has led to four consecutive losses. When Carolina (5–4, 0–1 ACC) rallied from an 18-point deficit to make a game of it, the Tar Heels did it by creating steals with full-court and half-court traps.
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