UNC beats best reliever in the country, win on Stokely’s game-ending HR

CHAPEL HILL — No. 13 North Carolina did what few teams in the country can do — overcome fireballing Miami closer Andrew Walters. Walters, rated by D1 Baseball as the top closer in the country, was one strike away from finishing off the Tar Heels in the bottom of the 10th inning. But UNC outfielder Casey Cook hit a 3–2 pitch 359 feet and just over the right field wall for his second home run of the season and the second homer off Walters in 20⅓ innings this season. Hunter Stokely took care of the rest with his first career game-ending hit, a solo shot to right-center field with two outs in the 11th inning, to give the Tar Heels a much-need 9–8 victory Saturday over Miami in the resumption of Friday night’s suspended game.

Miami squeezes out win in 9th; Stokely hits early 3-run HR but UNC can’t beat best closer in country

CHAPEL HILL — Against Miami, the goal is always to keep the Hurricanes from giving the ball to fireballing right-handed closer Andrew Walters with the game on the line. No. 13 Carolina couldn’t avoid that in Thursday night’s series opener, and the inevitable frustration followed in a 5–4 Miami victory.

Tar Heels in NBA: White perfect from floor, has nine points, five assists as Bulls advance; four other UNC alums open playoffs Saturday

Coby White scored all nine of his points in the second quarter as the Chicago Bulls became the first No. 10 seed to win a play-in tournament, rallying from a 19-point second-half deficit to win 109–105 Wednesday night in Toronto. The other four UNC alums in the postseason play their playoff openers on Saturday.

Member of UNC’s 3-man ‘Top 10 plays club,’ Alvarez continues best offensive season with HR, 4 RBI in win

CHAPEL HILL — Patrick Alvarez is one of three Carolina outfielders who have caught ESPN’s attention for “SportsCenter” Top 10 plays with home-run stealing defensive gems. That’s a bonus for the redshirt junior having the best offensive season of his career.

Larger, higher-resolution videoboard debuts at The Bosh

CHAPEL HILL — The fan experience at Boshamer Stadium just got better. Carolina’s much-anticipated new videoboard debuted Tuesday at The Bosh, providing a clearer and larger display.

Louisville forward Withers transferring to UNC

Veteran forward Jae’Lyn Withers is transferring from Louisville to North Carolina. On Tuesday morning, Withers announced his decision on social media with the words, “New beginnings.” Withers, who redshirted in his first season at Louisville in 2019–20, played three seasons for the Cardinals and has two years remaining eligibility.

Styles will go from his dream school in UNC to Georgetown

Dontrez Styles, who decided to leave Carolina after playing sparingly as a sophomore, is transferring to Georgetown, hoping to get more chances to show what he can do. Styles, who also was considering N.C. State, East Carolina and South Carolina, will play for Ed Cooley, who takes over as head coach at Georgetown after Patrick Ewing, who was 75–109 in six seasons as head coach, left the program. Cooley was 242–153 in 12 seasons as the coach at Providence.

Tar Heels in NBA: Pinson’s triple-double highlights final day of regular season: five UNC alums begin postseason play this week

Theo Pinson’s career-best triple-double performance was the highlight as the NBA finished its regular season, and only five UNC alums will play in the postseason. Heading to the Eastern Conference play-in tournament are Coby White’s Chicago Bulls. Harrison Barnes’ Sacramento Kings, Cameron Johnson, Day’Ron Sharpe and the Brooklyn Nets, and Danny Green’s Cleveland Cavaliers all secured spots in first-round playoff series.

Pinson puts up first NBA triple-double by a Tar Heel in six seasons with career-highs in points, rebounds and assists

With the Dallas Mavericks resting all their regulars in their last game of the season, Theo Pinson got his first career start and took full advantage of the opportunity. Pinson produced his first career triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in 40 minutes, all career-highs, in the Mavericks’ 138–117 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Pinson, who also had a steal, is the only active Tar Heel with an NBA triple-double and the first to achieve one since Ty Lawson did it for Sacramento on April 11, 2017.

Tar Heels in NBA: White collects 24 points, 11 assists as Bulls eliminate Mavs after Pinson nearly ties it at end; Johnson hits 18 as Nets clinch playoff berth

The final games of the NBA regular season can lead to some interesting decisions by teams that produce strange lineups for various reasons. However, it’s also a chance for some players to flourish. Starting for only the second time this season, Coby White had one of his best nights of the season and Theo Pinson missed a shot in the final minute that would have tied it in one of the oddest games on the final weekend.