- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 370,631
- Reaction score
- 43
CHARLOTTE — UNC basketball will have to sweat out a stressful Selection Sunday as the Tar Heels wait to learn their NCAA Tournament fate.
Following UNC’s 74-71 loss to No. 1 Duke in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament, several Tar Heels were asked if they believed their resume will get them into the March Madness bracket.
“We battled through adversity. That’s what March is all about, that’s what winning basketball is all about,” fifth-year guard RJ Davis said Friday outside of the Tar Heels’ locker room at Spectrum Center.
“We’ve consistently shown improvement in that throughout this whole (ACC) tournament and this whole weekend. We are an NCAA Tournament team. When we get in there, we’re gonna make some noise.”
Shortly after the initial question about his confidence in UNC being among the 68 teams to compete for a national championship, Davis reiterated his initial thoughts.
“I still think this team is an NCAA Tournament team,” he said. “We’ve proven that (against Duke in the ACC Tournament), we’ve proven that the past couple weeks. I stand by my statement.”
Sophomore point guard Elliot Cadeau was asked if he felt UNC has done enough to warrant an at-large bid.
“Yes, I definitely do,” Cadeau said. “For sure.”
Entering Friday night’s game, UNC (22-13) was included in 72 of 104 bracket projections on Bracket Matrix. USA TODAY and ESPN had the Tar Heels among the last four teams in the field and CBS had them among the first four teams out.
Following the loss to the top-ranked Blue Devils (30-3), the Tar Heels were included in 73 of 112 bracket projections on Bracket Matrix. ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi updated his bracketology predictions at 10:20 p.m. Friday and UNC remained among his last four teams in the field.
“It’s really just hope. We definitely have belief in making the tournament,” said Ven-Allen Lubin, who had three straight double-double performances in the ACC Tournament.
“I believe that we’ve shown it in the past couple months and we’re just waiting to see.”
UNC has a 1-12 record in Quadrant 1 games, but is 21-1 in Quadrants 2-4. Following their ACC Tournament exit, the Tar Heels have a resume that includes wins against a UCLA team projected to earn an at-large bid and an American squad that won the Patriot League’s automatic bid.
The Tar Heels finished with a 6-5 record in 11 one-possession games, which is the program’s most one-possession games in a season since the creation of the 3-point line in the 1986-87 season. Three of those losses were to Duke, Michigan State and Kansas — a trio of teams safely in the NCAA Tournament.
“They're good questions in regards to the NCAA Tournament, and those are questions that have been asked over a month,” UNC head coach Hubert Davis said.
“. … And for a month and a half, we basically played must-win games. In that situation, our team played the best. That's pretty cool from a bunch of kids.”
As the Tar Heels head back to Chapel Hill, hoping to avoid missing March Madness for the second time in three seasons, UNC guard Seth Trimble said “anticipation” is the word that comes to his mind ahead of Selection Sunday.
“I’m really excited for our team. I fully believe that we’re a tournament team and I fully believe that we’re clicking at the right time,” Trimble said.
“So, wherever we end up, whoever we play, whatever seed we get, I’m ready for it. I’m ready for it, so I guess it’s an anticipation.”
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What UNC basketball said about NCAA Tournament, March Madness odds
Continue reading...
Following UNC’s 74-71 loss to No. 1 Duke in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament, several Tar Heels were asked if they believed their resume will get them into the March Madness bracket.
“We battled through adversity. That’s what March is all about, that’s what winning basketball is all about,” fifth-year guard RJ Davis said Friday outside of the Tar Heels’ locker room at Spectrum Center.
“We’ve consistently shown improvement in that throughout this whole (ACC) tournament and this whole weekend. We are an NCAA Tournament team. When we get in there, we’re gonna make some noise.”
Shortly after the initial question about his confidence in UNC being among the 68 teams to compete for a national championship, Davis reiterated his initial thoughts.
“I still think this team is an NCAA Tournament team,” he said. “We’ve proven that (against Duke in the ACC Tournament), we’ve proven that the past couple weeks. I stand by my statement.”
Sophomore point guard Elliot Cadeau was asked if he felt UNC has done enough to warrant an at-large bid.
“Yes, I definitely do,” Cadeau said. “For sure.”
Entering Friday night’s game, UNC (22-13) was included in 72 of 104 bracket projections on Bracket Matrix. USA TODAY and ESPN had the Tar Heels among the last four teams in the field and CBS had them among the first four teams out.
Following the loss to the top-ranked Blue Devils (30-3), the Tar Heels were included in 73 of 112 bracket projections on Bracket Matrix. ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi updated his bracketology predictions at 10:20 p.m. Friday and UNC remained among his last four teams in the field.
“It’s really just hope. We definitely have belief in making the tournament,” said Ven-Allen Lubin, who had three straight double-double performances in the ACC Tournament.
“I believe that we’ve shown it in the past couple months and we’re just waiting to see.”
UNC has a 1-12 record in Quadrant 1 games, but is 21-1 in Quadrants 2-4. Following their ACC Tournament exit, the Tar Heels have a resume that includes wins against a UCLA team projected to earn an at-large bid and an American squad that won the Patriot League’s automatic bid.
The Tar Heels finished with a 6-5 record in 11 one-possession games, which is the program’s most one-possession games in a season since the creation of the 3-point line in the 1986-87 season. Three of those losses were to Duke, Michigan State and Kansas — a trio of teams safely in the NCAA Tournament.
“They're good questions in regards to the NCAA Tournament, and those are questions that have been asked over a month,” UNC head coach Hubert Davis said.
“. … And for a month and a half, we basically played must-win games. In that situation, our team played the best. That's pretty cool from a bunch of kids.”
As the Tar Heels head back to Chapel Hill, hoping to avoid missing March Madness for the second time in three seasons, UNC guard Seth Trimble said “anticipation” is the word that comes to his mind ahead of Selection Sunday.
“I’m really excited for our team. I fully believe that we’re a tournament team and I fully believe that we’re clicking at the right time,” Trimble said.
“So, wherever we end up, whoever we play, whatever seed we get, I’m ready for it. I’m ready for it, so I guess it’s an anticipation.”
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What UNC basketball said about NCAA Tournament, March Madness odds
Continue reading...
