In a surprising turn of events that few could have predicted, North Carolina, the top seed, was defeated by the 10th-seeded NC State with a score of 84-76 in the ACC Tournament Championship. This victory marked NC State’s first ACC title since 1987. The Tar Heels experienced an unexpected setback, with NC State achieving a historic feat by becoming the first team in the conference to secure five wins in as many days. The performance of the Wolfpack from the start was a clear indication that they were there to outshine Carolina.
The mood in Carolina’s locker room after the game spoke volumes. The players acknowledged that their rivals had a stronger desire to win, which was evident in the energy they brought to the game. With about nine minutes left and trailing by eight, Carolina stopped executing their offensive strategy. Instead, they relied on RJ Davis to take on his defender one-on-one, hoping he could turn the tide. Apart from Davis and Armando Bacot, the other starters from Carolina were noticeably absent. Their performance was similar to the semifinal game against Pitt, but NC State’s ability to capitalize on every opportunity proved too much for Carolina to handle.
Defensively, it was Carolina’s weakest game of the season, happening at the most inopportune time. They struggled to maintain their defensive assignments, allowing State to shoot an impressive 54.9% from the field. The Tar Heels’ defense was unable to stop the onslaught, particularly struggling against NC State’s duo, DJ Horne and DJ Burns, who together accounted for nearly 60% of the Wolfpack’s points. Burns, in particular, was unstoppable, dominating whether he faced double coverage or was left in single coverage.
For Carolina, matching the intensity of their opponents proved to be a challenge. As March Madness approaches, this team has shown it could either exit early in the Round of 32 or, with the right level of effort and teamwork, emerge as a strong contender for the Final Four. With the tournament structured as a series of win-or-go-home games, one might expect this to ignite a sense of urgency in the Tar Heels. However, expecting this level of urgency at this stage of the season is the least that should be anticipated, as every team will be bringing their best game.