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GREENSBORO — North Carolina will challenge some of the best women’s teams in the country when the 3-point shots fall and roll against many others. In desperate need of a good shooting night to stay with No. 2 UConn, it didn’t happen until it was too late for the No. 14 Tar Heels, who couldn’t stop sensational redshirt senior Paige Bueckers, and had rough performances from some veterans.
GREENSBORO — After a slow start, veteran Alyssa Ustby jump-started No. 14 North Carolina and redshirt freshman Laila Hull closed the deal.
By R.L. Bynum Armando Bacot’s double-double machine works just as well in the G League as it did at Carolina, … More
After rallying at No. 1 Kansas and narrowly losing 92–89 on Friday, North Carolina slipped one spot to No. 10 in the first regular-season AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll of the season. UNC swapped spots with Caleb Love’s Arizona team (2–0), which moved up to No. 9.
After opening the season with a pair of home victories, North Carolina moved up one spot to No. 15 in the first regular-season AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll of the season heading into two games this week in Greensboro. It’s the Tar Heels’ highest ranking since it was No. 14 on Feb. 6, 2023.
Deja Kelly led Oregon to one of the biggest upsets, and Destiny Adams produced two of the most impressive individual efforts during the season’s first week.
After delivering a fiery speech to New England’s offense last week, Drake Maye led the Patriots to their second win in three games, while a pair of wide receivers — Mack Hollins and Josh Downs — matched each others’ big games in Buffalo’s win at Indianapolis.
CHAPEL HILL — Lexi Donarski’s addition to the North Carolina roster before last season came with the plug that she would provide a perimeter-scoring threat. Evidence of that was clear Thursday night when she connected on five 3-point shots to supply some of the highlights in the No. 15 Tar Heels’ 77–50 victory against UNC Wilmington at Carmichael Arena.
After a tough shooting night in her Oregon debut, Deja Kelly had everything going on Wednesday when Dawson Garcia had a monster game in Minnesota’s opener.
CHAPEL HILL — RJ Davis remembers well the last time he faced Ryan Griffen. It didn’t go well. With the long 6–6 guard aggressively defending him all game, Davis missed all nine 3-point attempts and was 4 of 20 shooting in Carolina’s 89–87 Sweet 16 loss in Los Angeles to Alabama.
CHAPEL HILL — From the first game of Alyssa Ustby’s fifth and final college season, it’s apparent that she’s done what will give the women’s basketball coaches more headaches — get more versatile.
Five former Tar Heels started in their debuts for new college programs on Monday, highlighted by a career-best game for Kentucky redshirt junior forward Teonni Key, while Oregon graduate guard Deja Kelly pulled off a unique doubleheader and Caleb Love had a big game in his final college season.
CHAPEL HILL — Cold shooting and ugly, sloppy, choppy play made No. 9 North Carolina’s opener hard to watch at times. But the Tar Heels woke up in the final 6½ minutes after trailing by two to pull out a 90–76 victory Monday at the Smith Center against an Elon program that went 13–19 last season.
CHAPEL HILL — With seven newcomers and a deep roster, No. 15 North Carolina showed off plenty of talent as the team builds chemistry.
In an amazing bit of sorcery, Carolina broke its losing string with a 41–14 win in Charlottesville against Virginia and followed that up on Saturday with a 35–11 victory that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.
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