The Tar Heels, holding the fourth rank, are set to kick off March Madness in Charlotte.
In a stunning turnaround, North Carolina has clinched the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament’s West Region. This achievement comes just a year after they missed the tournament entirely.
This year, their journey in March Madness begins close to home in Charlotte. On Thursday, they face the winner of the initial matchup between Howard and Wagner.
The competition in the West Region is fierce, featuring teams like Arizona, Alabama, Baylor, and Michigan State.
Last season, under Coach Hubert Davis’ guidance in his second year, North Carolina experienced an unexpected downturn. They went from being the preseason No. 1 to missing the NCAA Tournament.
This season saw a remarkable turnaround. With stars like RJ Davis and Armando Bacot leading the way, the Tar Heels started at No. 19 in the AP Top 25. They quickly ascended the rankings, even securing the No. 3 spot for three weeks.
Their performance this season was impressive, with a 27-7 overall record and a 17-3 record in conference play. This led them to their first outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title in seven years. However, their run was halted when they lost to North Carolina State in the ACC tournament championship game, with a score of 84-76.
RJ Davis shone brightly in his senior year, leading the ACC with an average of 21.4 points per game. Bacot was a force in the paint, averaging 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds. Both had played in the 2022 national championship game, bringing invaluable experience to the team.
The team also benefited greatly from the addition of Stanford transfer Harrison Ingram and sharpshooter Cormac Ryan. Their contributions were pivotal in sweeping their rival, Duke.
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