Tar Heel Blog: All Posts by Brandon AndersonTar Heel born, bred, and working on that third thinghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49603/tarheelblog-fav.png2024-03-28T10:00:00-04:00https://www.tarheelblog.com/authors/brandon-anderson/rss2024-03-28T10:00:00-04:002024-03-28T10:00:00-04:00Why UNC will make it to the Final Four (and why they won’t)
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament West Regional-Practice" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/671_BpC99XzJt5iVLsjgNRc21lY=/0x0:8001x5334/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73238702/usa_today_22882900.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This weekend could either be a lot of fun or a lot of pain and suffering. </p> <p id="Qgfi97">Hubert Davis’ journey as UNC’s head coach has been quite a roller coaster so far, which is putting things mildly. His first season featured a team that was learning a new way to play Carolina basketball, they beat Duke in the two biggest final games of Coach K’s career, only for most of that team to return the following year and miss the NCAA Tournament. Now the Heels have returned to the second weekend of the event, and they have a shot at returning to the Final Four to finish what they started in 2022. </p>
<p id="exjId5">Right now UNC has the second-best odds (+170) of making it to the Final Four, with Arizona having the best odds <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox">according to Draftkings.com</a>. Vegas obviously has their opinion, but how good of a chance do the Heels really have to make it back to the final weekend? Let’s discuss why UNC will make it to the Final Four, and also why they will not. </p>
<h2 id="JjEnwJ">Reasons why the Heels will make the Final Four</h2>
<p id="BSKOnA">The formula for Carolina basketball to succeed in the tournament has stayed the same despite Hubert Davis taking things over from Roy Williams. The last three national championship teams had three things: extremely talented bigs, strong guard play, and depth. This year’s Carolina team features a unianimous First-Team All-American in RJ Davis, a dominant big in Armando Bacot, and a number of supporting cast members that can go off at any given moment. Harrison Ingram, Cormac Ryan, Jae’Lyn Withers, Jalen Washington, and Seth Trimble have all had impressive performances during the tournament, and Elliot Cadeau’s abilities as a point guard have kept everything connected together. </p>
<p id="shZqC8">We will likely never see all of these players having outstanding games at once, but all Hubert Davis really needs is someone to add to RJ Davis and Armando Bacot’s offensive production every night. Unless something catastrophic happens, Hubert Davis will have no issues getting that from somebody on his roster. It is also worth noting that the players named above aren’t just talented on offense, but they have been positives on defense. This team was built for a run to the Final Four, and it’s hard to imagine that they will have any issues getting there. </p>
<h2 id="ILl1dC">Why the Heels will not make it to the Final Four</h2>
<p id="aWFGX0">Here’s the situation in front of the Tar Heels: freshman point guard Elliot Cadeau has been solid as a facilitator so far in this tournament. He didn’t have the best performance against Wagner, but he bounced back a bit in the game against Michigan State. The issue, however, is that the stakes are only getting higher, and while it’s not really his passing abilities that is much of a concern, his offensive capabilities are what make me really nervous. Teams are starting to sag off of him from the perimeter, and with that much space he has taken the shot more often than not. Hubert Davis has to find a way to capitalize on teams that disrespect Cadeau, otherwise those temptations to make critical mistakes may cost them the trip to Phoenix. </p>
<p id="hzV4K3">Another reason that the Heels may not make the Final Four involves their up and down performances on defense. During the season, UNC had one of the best defenses in the country, and teams were regularly being held under 70 points. While that’s technically what has been happening during the NCAA Tournament, Alabama will be a much more difficult challenge, and Arizona won’t be any easier to deal with. It’s also worth noting that the Heels lost to Clemson earlier in the season, so familiarity isn’t guaranteed to work in their favor. UNC’s poor defense cost them the ACC Tournament championship, and their defense could very well cost them a chance to hang another banner in the Smith Center. </p>
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<p id="1vRp6y">Now that I have provided my thoughts on what the Heels need to do to move on to the Final Four, I would like to hear what all of you have to say. What do you think the Heels have to do to make it to the final weekend? Also, what do you think would be the reason they do not make it? Let us know in the comments below. </p>
https://www.tarheelblog.com/2024/3/28/24114188/unc-basketball-north-carolina-tar-heels-final-four-chances-ncaa-tournamentBrandon Anderson2024-03-28T09:00:00-04:002024-03-28T09:00:00-04:00UNC vs. Alabama: Game time, TV schedule, online streaming and more
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament West Regional-Practice" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/acfSzEqICStgRD9x954LVtd6QF8=/0x0:8640x5760/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73238528/usa_today_22883368.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Here’s how you can catch the Tar Heels in the Sweet Sixteen. </p> <p id="7DG1RZ">Later tonight, the Tar Heels will face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2FCrypto.com&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tarheelblog.com%2F2024%2F3%2F28%2F24111872%2Func-vs-alabama-sweet-16-live-stream-start-time-how-to-watch-tv-channel-odds-2024-march-madness" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Crypto.com</a> Arena in Los Angeles, CA. The winner of the game will face off against the winner of preceding game between Arizona and Clemson. When the brackets were initially announced, analysts everywhere tried to manifest the Heels playing against the Wildcats in the Elite Eight, and their wishes could become a reality if both teams take care of business tonight. </p>
<p id="RaSYSt">Here’s the thing, though: Alabama is not going to be easy to take down. While their lack of defensive abilities make this game look easier than it really is, their offense is one of the best in the country. Mark Sears is just as dangerous of a player as RJ Davis whenever he touches the ball, and his supporting cast has been able to put up big numbers when they are needed the most. UNC will have to play the defensive game of their season to slow down the Tide, and they will have to summon enough offensive firepower of their own to move on to the Elite Eight. </p>
<p id="Nmc8gb">If you were able to make it to Los Angeles, just know that I am extremely jealous and I hope you are having a fantastic time. For those of you who weren’t able to make the trip, here is how you can watch tonight’s game: </p>
<ul>
<li id="fITB6b">
<strong>Time: </strong>Approx. 9:45 PM ET depending on the conclusion of the Clemson/Arizona game.</li>
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<strong>Location: </strong><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2FCrypto.com&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tarheelblog.com%2F2024%2F3%2F28%2F24111872%2Func-vs-alabama-sweet-16-live-stream-start-time-how-to-watch-tv-channel-odds-2024-march-madness" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Crypto.com</a> Arena — Los Angeles, CA</li>
<li id="8txxw7">
<strong>TV:</strong> CBS with Brian Anderson and Jim Jackson on the call, and Allie LaForce on the sidelines</li>
<li id="C33uPa">
<strong>Radio: </strong>Tar Heel Sports Network. Here’s a <a href="https://affiliateresources.learfieldimgcollege.com/north-carolina-tar-heels/"><strong>list of affiliates</strong></a><strong> </strong>airing the THSN broadcast. You can also listen to them on <a href="https://thevarsitynetwork.com/audioapplink/source/university-of-north-carolina"><strong>The Varsity Network</strong></a>. </li>
<li id="yR2XkT">
<strong>Streaming: </strong>March Madness Live App, Paramount +</li>
<li id="FuDWlp">
<strong>Line: </strong>UNC -4.5 <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox"><strong>according to Draftkings.com</strong></a>. <em>Odds/lines are subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/</em><a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/featured"><em><strong>sportsbook</strong></em></a><em> for details.</em>
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https://www.tarheelblog.com/2024/3/28/24111872/unc-vs-alabama-sweet-16-live-stream-start-time-how-to-watch-tv-channel-odds-2024-march-madnessBrandon Anderson2024-03-27T11:00:00-04:002024-03-27T11:00:00-04:00UNC vs. Alabama: Three Keys to Victory in the Sweet Sixteen
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament Second Round - UNC vs Michigan State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wosBccAi6-y_2ZyhryOrMSALxks=/0x0:6773x4515/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73236290/usa_today_22864774.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Here are three ways the Tar Heels can take down the Crimson Tide and move one step closer to the Final Four. </p> <p id="41a0y5">The Tar Heels are on their way to Los Angeles to take on Alabama in the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Tournament. This will be an interesting game for both teams — the Heels and the Tide both have two of the better offenses in the country, but Alabama has a really bad defense. Both teams also feature star players that can light up the scoreboard on a nightly basis, so we could be in for a lot of buckets in this one. These two head coaches have never faced each other in their current professions, so that will be another fun dynamic to watch play out as well. </p>
<p id="Z4y1jE">As of right now the Heels are favored in Thursday night’s matchup by 4 points <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox">per Draftkings.com</a>, which is half a point less than it was when odds opened up. How can the Heels make sure they not only cover, but make it to the Elite Eight round? Let’s discuss three ways that UNC can come away with a victory. </p>
<h2 id="A8IGxu">RJ Davis has to keep cooking</h2>
<p id="19Z79a">It seems like an obvious key to victory, but the Heels heavily rely on RJ Davis to continue to go deeper into the NCAA Tournament. In his first two games, Davis has scored 42 points total, and has also been on fire from deep. Teams have done their best to make sure that he doesn’t get the ball, but he has found ways to get it anyway and has been making them pay. Exceptional guard play has always been part of the recipe for teams to move deep into the NCAA Tournament, and Davis has made sure that he is doing his part so far. </p>
<p id="ysyU3H">One would have to imagine that Davis should have a field day against Alabama’s defense, but these things are never a given. Hubert Davis will have to make sure he puts his star player in the best position possible to find open shots, and it will be up to RJ to capitalize when those opportunities arise. UNC doesn’t win this game without him, so hopefully he is ready to at least hit his scoring average on a night where his team will rely on him the most. </p>
<h2 id="Ea8A9d">Shut down Alabama’s supporting cast</h2>
<p id="1y38U1">I’ll be honest: I don’t think UNC will be able to stop Mark Sears. Every now and then I see a player that is a little too good of a college basketball player, and Sears is one of those guys. The 6’1 senior has been lighting it up in this tournament so far, and while we could argue whether or not he has faced quality competition, it’s clear that he will be a problem for the Tar Heels as long as he is in the game. So then what else is there to do? Make everybody else earn their points. </p>
<p id="qnxQ3G">While the name of the game is to slow Sears down as much as possible, it’s also going to be extremely important to make sure his supporting cast doesn’t get hot as well. One of the reasons that Alabama struggled to put away GCU is that their second leading scorer, Aaron Estrada, went 4-14 from the field for eight points. It’s also worth noting that Grant Nelson, their third-best scorer this season, went 0-4 from the field and finished with three points. Hubert Davis’ best move is to act like the tape between Alabama and GCU doesn’t exist, but shutting down Estrada and Nelson is a doable task that would increase UNC’s chances of winning substantially. </p>
<h2 id="9ct0xk">Win the rebounding battle</h2>
<p id="cchQQG">Another weird detail from Alabama’s win over GCU is that the Crimson Tide out-rebounded the Lopes 50 to 41. Why is it so weird? It’s because Alabama isn’t exactly known for being an elite rebounding team. The player on their team with the highest rebounding average is Estrada with 5.4 rebounds per game, which is a far cry from Armando Bacot’s 10.2. The Heels should be able to clean the boards pretty efficiently in this one, but I’d argue that there’s one little detail that would go a long way in making sure things play out how we’d hope they would. </p>
<p id="pAMDwK">One of the ways that teams set themselves up for failure in the rebounding category is taking a lot of three-pointers. Missed three-point attempts make it a lot harder to grab offensive rebounds because the ball is unpredictable coming off of the rim, which is something we saw quite a bit against Michigan State. Taking smart shots will be one important key to winning the battle of the boards, but it will also boil down to pure effort in order to get the job done. Armando Bacot will get his, but everyone else will have. to be ready to fight for the ball in order to limit Alabama’s second-chance opportunities. Do that, and the Heels will do their part in making sure the Caleb Love game happens. </p>
<p id="NADM6T">By the way, I actually don’t want that matchup to happen, but perhaps that’s a discussion for another time. </p>
https://www.tarheelblog.com/2024/3/27/24113176/unc-basketball-alabama-crimson-tide-three-keys-to-victory-march-madness-2024-draftkingsBrandon Anderson2024-03-26T11:00:00-04:002024-03-26T11:00:00-04:002024 March Madness: Opening odds for UNC vs. Alabama Sweet Sixteen matchup
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Wagner vs North Carolina" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/a9LXdoGZ7JLSoapIUFfxpC_sQbA=/0x0:5997x3998/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73233795/usa_today_22827292.5.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Let’s take a look at what Vegas has to say about the Tar Heels’ Sweet Sixteen matchup. </p> <p id="Idx0up">The North Carolina Tar Heels will face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide this Thursday in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. This will be the second time in a row that the Heels have reached the second weekend while participating in the NCAA Tournament — please do not remind me what happened last season, I chose my wording very carefully — and the same goes for the Crimson Tide. This will also be the first time that these two teams have faced off against each other in the tournament since 1992, so we will all witness a rare event once the ball is tossed in the air Thursday night. </p>
<p id="ToTyv8">For those of you that missed Alabama’s game against Grand Canyon, you didn’t miss much if your hope was to see both teams playing at their peaks. Alabama’s No. 4 offense was unimpressive to say the least, and GCU failed to capitalize on the Tide’s abysmal defense. CBS analysts attempted to argue that Nate Oats finally got a good defensive performance out of the Tide, but there’s two problems with that assumption: the first issue is that Charleston scored 96 points against them in the first round, and also GCU didn’t perform all that different than they did against Saint Mary’s. All of this is to say that if you looked at the box score and decided the Heels will have an easy path to the Elite Eight, you are either 100% correct or 100% wrong. I don’t know what I watched over the weekend, and so Hubert Davis will have to pull older film when scouting this team.</p>
<p id="D0jXOi">Here’s what I do know for sure: Vegas’ opening odds for this game favor the Tar Heels by 4.5 points <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox">per Draftkings.com</a>. UNC has one of the better offenses in the country and a top-10 defense, so it makes sense why they are favored as far as betting is concerned. Of course the big question is whether or not the Heels will be able to flex their offensive firepower against the Tide’s lackluster defense, but also what will it take to slow down their star guard, Mark Sears? This will be a tough matchup for both teams, and we will find out in a couple of days who has what it takes to advance to the regional championship game. </p>
<p id="swuzNY">What do you think of the opening odds for Thursday’s game? How is your bracket holding up? Let us know in the comments below. </p>
https://www.tarheelblog.com/2024/3/26/24112199/march-madness-unc-vs-alabama-sweet-sixteen-odds-2024-betting-lines-ncaa-basketball-draftkingsBrandon Anderson2024-03-23T09:00:00-04:002024-03-23T09:00:00-04:00UNC vs. Michigan State: How to watch Round 2 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Wagner vs North Carolina" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2ZdnqtuNPnxvILircsgPHwMudW8=/0x0:4421x2947/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73227846/usa_today_22827311.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Here’s how you can watch the Tar Heels take on the Spartans in the second round of the NCAA Tournament</p> <p id="8EDYKi">The Tar Heels will face off against Michigan State later tonight in the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. It’s been some time since these two teams faced off in the NCAA Tournament, but when it has happened UNC has found a way to come out victorious. The most notable win between the two is the 2009 NCAA Tournament when the Heels blazed past the Spartans on their way to a National Championship. The stakes won’t be quite as high this go round since it will be the Round of 32, but it is win or go home so it should be a highly competitive matchup. </p>
<p id="Cz4ny5">UNC’s game against Wagner had good and bad developments, but ultimately they were able to win rather convincingly. Jae’Lyn Withers came up big with his 16 points off of the bench, which was good because Elliot Cadeau was noticeably absent production-wise. The hope is that Cadeau will have a much better showing against the Spartans and that Withers will continue his impressive play throughout the NCAA Tournament. On the other side of the court, Michigan State will need a big-time performance from their star Tyson Walker, who averages a team-high 18.2 points per game. He has had to carry a lot of weight on his shoulders throughout the season, and he will have to carry a little bit more if the Spartans want to take down the Heels and move on to the Sweet Sixteen.</p>
<p id="JJLcfj">If you are unable to make it to Charlotte for a last-minute weekend trip, here is how you can watch tonight’s game. </p>
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<strong>Time: </strong>5:45 PM ET</li>
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<strong>Location: </strong>Spectrum Center — Charlotte, NC</li>
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<strong>TV:</strong> CBS with Brian Anderson and Jim Jackson on the call, and Allie LaForce on the sidelines</li>
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<strong>Radio: </strong>Tar Heel Sports Network. Here’s a <a href="https://affiliateresources.learfieldimgcollege.com/north-carolina-tar-heels/"><strong>list of affiliates</strong></a><strong> </strong>airing the THSN broadcast. You can also listen to them on <a href="https://thevarsitynetwork.com/audioapplink/source/university-of-north-carolina"><strong>The Varsity Network</strong></a>. </li>
<li id="yR2XkT">
<strong>Streaming: </strong>March Madness Live App, Paramount +</li>
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<strong>Line: </strong>UNC -4 <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox"><strong>according to Draftkings.com</strong></a>. <em>Odds/lines are subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/</em><a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/featured"><em><strong>sportsbook</strong></em></a><em> for details.</em>
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https://www.tarheelblog.com/2024/3/23/24108693/north-carolina-michigan-state-how-to-watch-march-madness-ncaa-tournament-game-time-tv-info-streamBrandon Anderson2024-03-22T13:00:00-04:002024-03-22T13:00:00-04:00UNC vs. Michigan State: Three Things to Watch
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Wagner vs North Carolina" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8UL-5YrXoyFZa4mEdqZvwIpSYWE=/0x0:4310x2873/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73226257/usa_today_22828435.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Can the Heels take down the Spartans to move on to the Sweet Sixteen?</p> <p id="DfQHAW">The NCAA Tournament was cruel to a number of single-digit seeded teams yesterday, but thankfully the Tar Heels were not one of them. They took down 16-seed Wagner 90-62 to move on to the second round game against Michigan State. The Spartans are coming into the game fresh off of a win over Mississippi State, which messed up quite a few people’s brackets. Some analysts were very convinced that the Bulldogs would not only win but would take down the Tar Heels. As it turns out, though, March Izzo is alive and well. This will be Hubert Davis’ first time facing Tom Izzo as a head coach, so we’ll see if he has some of that magic that Roy Williams had when it came to beating the Spartans. </p>
<p id="k9DJqr">Let’s discuss three things to watch during tomorrow’s game against Michigan State.</p>
<h2 id="kkeqpU">Will Elliot Cadeau bounce back?</h2>
<p id="3LmiLH">UNC’s freshman point guard had done a good job of elevating his game near the end of the season, but yesterday’s performance makes back-to-back games where he just wasn’t his normal self. Not only did he finish his afternoon with zero points, but he also had a -1 assist-to-turnover ratio thanks to his four turnovers. Hubert Davis ended up playing Seth Trimble a lot in his place, so I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of coaching taking place between now and tomorrow. </p>
<p id="o4I2Ye">Being a freshman in the NCAA Tournament in general is a tough situation, but it’s even tougher when you are a point guard. There’s nothing inherently alarming about Cadeau’s performance, but it does go to show that you sign up for some uneven performances in the postseason when your backcourt has someone this young. One can only hope that he figures it out during this year’s tournament, but at worst he is finding out the hard way just how difficult March Madness can be. </p>
<h2 id="0vz98O">Can Jae’Lyn Withers have an encore performance? </h2>
<p id="A78C4g">While Cadeau had a disappointing performance yesterday, Jae’Lyn Withers came off the bench and gave Carolina some big-time minutes against Wagner. He finished his afternoon scoring 16 points off 5-7 shooting, 10 rebounds, and three assists. Not only was he the leading scorer off of the bench, but he was third in scoring for the entire team. Withers has given Hubert Davis some good minutes as of late, but it hasn’t show much in box scores because he doesn’t take many shots per game. Even yesterday he only took seven shots, but his efficiency made all of the difference. </p>
<p id="lyievV">Carolina’s bench hasn’t been game-changing this season, but some of the players have had big-time games in spurts. Hubert Davis will need to keep getting something out of his bench if they want to go deeper into the tournament, and Withers contributing as much as he did is a step in the right direction. My hope is that he gets a decent amount of minutes against the Spartans, but we will see what game plan Davis has in mind. </p>
<h2 id="upfWk0">Can the Heels stop Tyson Walker?</h2>
<p id="SLR5du">Michigan State guard Tyson Walker has been the leading scorer for Michigan State, averaging 18.2 points per game. Fun fact: the only game in which he failed to score double digits was a regular season game against Penn State, where he only scored six points in an 80-72 victory for Michigan State. He’s been a consistent for a Spartans team that fell off the cliff in spectacular fashion after they were crowned the No. 4 team in the country by AP voters in the preseason. A big game from him will give them their best chance for a victory. </p>
<p id="oBYnj6">It wouldn’t surprise me to see Hubert Davis deploy Cormac Ryan to guard Walker, but I could also see RJ Davis getting a crack at guarding him. Ryan makes the most sense considering his height advantage, but I also feel like RJ could hold his own just fine. Izzo will almost certainly try to take advantage of UNC’s on-ball switching to see if Walker can draw Cadeau, which could spell disaster unless Hubert Davis has them blitzing a little to disrupt the Spartans’ action. Of course there’s always the option to go under or around ball screens, but it’s pretty safe to say that we shouldn’t expect that this deep in the season, right? </p>
<p id="TYkI9w">I digress, but the name of the game for UNC is to have a strong performance offensively, with key bench contributions, and to slow down Tyson Walker. Do those three things, and we will likely see the Tar Heels again next weekend. </p>
https://www.tarheelblog.com/2024/3/22/24108331/unc-basketball-tar-heels-michigan-state-spartans-three-things-to-watch-ncaa-tournamentBrandon Anderson2024-03-22T12:00:00-04:002024-03-22T12:00:00-04:002024 March Madness: Opening odds for UNC vs. Michigan State second round matchup
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Wagner vs North Carolina" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XggT7C_UIUrx5PAiTYTCG0fS8Gw=/0x0:3853x2569/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73226094/usa_today_22828447.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Here’s how things are shaking out in Vegas for yet another postseason game between the Heels and the Spartans.</p> <p id="dX7OPQ">We all know by now UNC and Michigan State have a very interesting history with one another, and more often than not things have worked out in the Tar Heels’ favor. Since 1999, the Heels have had a 6-3 advantage over the Spartans, though Tom Izzo’s team owns the most recent victory from the 2017-18 season. Roy Williams retiring definitely makes things a little different, but this should be a really good test for Hubert Davis. Taking down Coach K in the Final Four was impressive enough, but adding an “I beat Tom Izzo in the NCAA Tournament” is not a bad feather to add to his cap.</p>
<p id="iQlx3M">The really fun thing about this game is that I think most people had Mississippi State moving on to face off against UNC. Feel free to correct me in the comments if you had a different scenario on your bracket, but there were a non-zero amount of people that thought the Bulldogs would make sure the Heels were the first 1-seed to be eliminated in the tournament. The Spartans made sure that didn’t happen, and now we get to witness these two teams face off in the postseason for the first time since 2012. </p>
<p id="GY4OY2">With all of that said, let’s get to what we’re all here for: opening odds for the matchup between these two programs. At the time of writing UNC is the four-point favorite to take down Michigan State <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox">per Draftkings.com</a>. The line moved ever so slightly from when the matchup first hit the site — last night the opening odds had UNC as the 3.5-point favorite. The obvious detail that is in the Heels’ favor is that this game will be in Charlotte, so it will be another home game away from home. If you’re looking for a reason to place your money down on the Heels winning this game, it’s worth noting that the Spartans went 3-7 in true road games and went 3-7 in true road games and 2-3 in neutral court games this season. Do with that information what you will.</p>
<p id="767MV0">UNC and Michigan State will battle it out tomorrow evening at 5:30pm/ET on CBS. What do you think of the opening odds? Do you feel good about the Heels moving on to the second weekend? Let us know in the comments below. </p>
https://www.tarheelblog.com/2024/3/22/24108662/march-madness-unc-vs-michigan-state-round-2-odds-2024-betting-lines-ncaa-basketball-draftkingsBrandon Anderson2024-03-21T11:04:50-04:002024-03-21T11:04:50-04:00UNC vs. Wagner: Game time, TV schedule, streaming and more
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Charlotte Practice" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QDC_MuTkgRr1hp2LVuY0vid0YF8=/0x0:7115x4743/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73223219/usa_today_22818739.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Heels begin their NCAA Tournament journey today against the Seahawks. </p> <p id="6lLitS">The North Carolina Tar Heels have returned to the NCAA Tournament in hopes of making their way to Phoenix and competing for a national championship. The first step in their journey is squaring off against Wagner, who is coming off of a three-point victory against Howard. The Heels get the luxury of playing their first two games in Charlotte, so this should feel more like a home game than a neutral court affair. </p>
<p id="7xHnlL">The biggest question surrounding UNC is whether or not they will have enough offensive firepower to make it past Wagner and beyond. One could argue that facing off against NC State for the third time in the ACC championship game the Wolfpack had their number on the defensive side of the ball based off of familiarity, but truly there were a lot of instances where the basketball just wouldn’t go in. It’s also worth noting that there were some questionable shots that were taken throughout the night as well — if they weren’t taking ill-advised shots they were putting too much juice behind shots. It will be important for them to rebound offensively in this game, and hopefully we can see the return of the early season version of the defense as well.</p>
<p id="oNkAWv">If you were unable to get off of work and make your way to Charlotte, here is how you can watch this afternoon’s game, as well as the betting line at the time of writing. </p>
<ul>
<li id="fITB6b">
<strong>Time: </strong>2:45 PM ET</li>
<li id="bIvuob">
<strong>Location: </strong>Spectrum Center — Charlotte, NC</li>
<li id="8txxw7">
<strong>TV:</strong> CBS with Brian Anderson and Jim Jackson on the call, and Allie LaForce on the sidelines</li>
<li id="C33uPa">
<strong>Radio: </strong>Tar Heel Sports Network. Here’s a <a href="https://affiliateresources.learfieldimgcollege.com/north-carolina-tar-heels/"><strong>list of affiliates</strong></a><strong> </strong>airing the THSN broadcast. You can also listen to them on <a href="https://thevarsitynetwork.com/audioapplink/source/university-of-north-carolina"><strong>The Varsity Network</strong></a>. </li>
<li id="yR2XkT">
<strong>Streaming: </strong>March Madness Live App, Paramount +</li>
<li id="FuDWlp">
<strong>Line: </strong>UNC -25 <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox"><strong>according to Draftkings.com</strong></a>. <em>Odds/lines are subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/</em><a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/featured"><em><strong>sportsbook</strong></em></a><em> for details.</em>
</li>
</ul>
<p id="Xe60xT"></p>
https://www.tarheelblog.com/2024/3/21/24105706/unc-vs-wagner-live-stream-start-time-how-to-watch-tv-channel-schedule-odds-march-madnessBrandon Anderson2024-03-20T09:00:00-04:002024-03-20T09:00:00-04:002024 NCAA Tournament: Opening odds for UNC vs. Wagner in first round
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: ACC Conference Tournament Championship-North Carolina vs North Carolina State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6OZxHj1pJ9K4YG6pIGYhZO87HV8=/0x0:2945x1963/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73220147/usa_today_22796539.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Here’s an early look at the betting odds for the Tar Heels as they get set to take on the Seahawks.</p> <p id="GLjRNx">It’s official: the #1 seed North Carolina Tar Heels (27-7) will face the Wagner Seahawks (17-15) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Seahawks pulled off a tough win over Howard after the Bison came back from being down 10 points in the final minutes of the game to almost send things into overtime. Now that the Seahawks have secured their first NCAA Tournament victory in school history, they will attempt to check another box: beating their first one-seed team in school history. </p>
<p id="vPOhE8">The stakes for the Tar Heels really need no explanation: the number one goal is to avoid losing to a 16-seed in the tournament, and the number two goal is to make their way to the Final Four. The Heels failed to finish out the ACC Tournament with a trophy for the Carolina Basketball Museum, so now fans are anxiously seeing if they can at least make it to Phoenix here they would likely run into a tough UConn team unless March Madness gets the best of the Huskies. </p>
<p id="feZh9q">For now, the focus is squarely on UNC making it past Wagner, and Vegas has the Tar Heels as the <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox">22-point favorite per Draftkings.com</a>. Additionally, UNC has the fifth-best odds (+1300) to win the national championship. It will be interesting to see if the Heels actually do win by 22+ points if they manage to secure a victory over the Seahawks given the fact that they haven’t really put away that many teams this season in such dominant fashion. Perhaps all of that will change Thursday afternoon, but while I’m not the best person to ask for betting advice, I would at least take that particular detail into consideration before placing your bets. But remember: I am not to be trusted with your money, so make your own decisions wisely.</p>
<p id="1u9xdI">Now that you know what Vegas says about tomorrow’s game, I want to hear from you: do you think the Heels will be able to handle Wagner with ease, or are you concerned that they will suffer an embarrassing 16-seed loss? Also who do you have making it to the Final Four? Let us know in the comments below. </p>
https://www.tarheelblog.com/2024/3/20/24103099/team-vs-team-odds-first-round-2024-ncaa-basketball-best-bets-lines-draftkingsBrandon Anderson2024-03-18T11:00:00-04:002024-03-18T11:00:00-04:00UNC Basketball: Breaking down the West Region of the NCAA Tournament
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Notre Dame at North Carolina" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2nTLyNVdnr3qzHSSBUkokMWhwVI=/0x0:6000x4000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215240/usa_today_22702611.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Can the Tar Heels return to the Final Four in Phoenix? </p> <p id="p0JCej">Last night we learned that UNC earned the No. 1 seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament. They will begin their journey in the NCAA Tournament against the winner of Tuesday’s game between Wagner and Howard. This will be the Heels’ 53rd time playing in the NCAA Tournament, and it will be 18th time that they entered the event as a one-seed, both being NCAA records. </p>
<p id="K3IQRb">As one could expect there have been a lot of thoughts about what the West Region looks like for the Tar Heels, so naturally we wanted to discuss who is in the field, who could potentially be tough matchups, and opening betting odds for the Heels winning the NCAA title. Let’s start by discussing who UNC’s potential opponents are. </p>
<h2 id="3bf7eA">The Field in the West</h2>
<ul>
<li id="5Cn0PG">#1 North Carolina Tar Heels</li>
<li id="V33BDx">#16 Howard Bison / Wagner Seahawks</li>
<li id="9jUwUU">#8 Mississippi State Bulldogs</li>
<li id="Fg0HYR">#9 Michigan State Spartans</li>
<li id="DqxOIe">#5 Saint Mary’s Gaels</li>
<li id="kd4b9x">#12 Grand Canyon University Lopes</li>
<li id="w8rECu">#4 Alabama Crimson Tide</li>
<li id="9UmtKW">#13 College of Charleston Cougars</li>
<li id="GJ5EFD">#6 Clemson Tigers</li>
<li id="GuekXv">#11 New Mexico Lobos</li>
<li id="ncj9NR">#3 Baylor Bears</li>
<li id="aTspft">#14 Colgate Raiders</li>
<li id="c2U0Jo">#7 Dayton Flyers</li>
<li id="8uYtlu">#10 Nevada Wolfpack</li>
<li id="mzzag9">#2 Arizona Wildcats</li>
<li id="3gTRmQ">#15 Long Beach St. Beach</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="q65KTy">Breaking Down the Region</h2>
<p id="4feDvR">Let’s get the obvious out of the way: the biggest advantage for any one-seed in the tournament is matching up with the 16th seed, and one would have to think that the Tar Heels should fair well against either Wagner or Howard. Should they resist the urge to join the Loss to a 16th Seed Club, they will face off against either Mississippi State or Michigan State. Facing one of the Bulldogs or the Spartans will likely be one of the harder obstacles of their path to the Final Four — Mississippi State took down Tennessee twice this season, and Michigan State should never be underestimated in the month of March. </p>
<p id="Ki2y8C">Should the Tar Heels get to the second weekend, it would be reasonable to expect either Saint Mary’s or Alabama to be waiting for them. In the event that something crazy happens, UNC could also face off against either Charleston or Grand Canyon University. Saint Mary’s facing off against the Tar Heels is a reasonable bet, especially since Alabama didn’t do especially well against some of their ranked opponents in the SEC during the regular season. </p>
<p id="0RdYOH">Finally, what we’ve already started hearing about over the last 12+ hours: should the Tar Heels make the Elite Eight, Arizona, Baylor, Clemson, or Dayton could be waiting on the other side as far as higher-seeded opponents. The analysts on CBS have basically put down their life savings that we will see the Heels face off against Arizona in a “Caleb Love Game,” but Carolina fans are very aware that there is no promise that it will happen. While Love has been better this season in a blue and red jersey, he has still had some sub-30% shooting performances after jacking up 15+ shots. A good version of Caleb Love can make this game happen, and the same goes for RJ Davis if we’re being honest. More and more we’ve seen Davis struggle with how teams are guarding him now, but if he can catch fire offensively like we’ve seen him do so many times this season, perhaps we will get what CBS desperately wants. </p>
<p id="GjMirD">I won’t try to predict who would be waiting in the Final Four for the Tar Heels because honestly I have no idea. I don’t see this tournament being as chalky as other analysts have seen it, but I do feel decent about UConn returning to the final weekend. As for the other two, Purdue doesn’t deserve the trust of any college basketball fan, and Houston just had a clunker of a game against Iowa State. It’s also worth noting that the Cougars had a rather uninspiring non-conference schedule, so do with that what you will. </p>
<p id="GoYUz2">Overall, I do think the Tar Heels have a reasonable path to get back to the Final Four. Vegas also agrees if you are into that kind of thing — they gave UNC the fifth-best odds (+1300) to win the NCAA championship <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/march-madness--odds">per Draftkings.com</a>. The downside to them potentially having the easiest path is that it will look pretty bad if they don’t at least make it to the second weekend, but it would probably be understandable if they didn’t make it to the Final Four if they were to lose to an Arizona or a Baylor — since you know, the Big 12 is the best conference in the country according to ESPN, so why would a loss to Baylor be embarrassing? UNC has a huge opportunity in front of them, and it will be up to them to capitalize on it. </p>
<p id="Umh8tW">What are your thoughts on the West Region? Do you think UNC drew the best teams to go up against? Also which team do you think poses the biggest threat? Let us know in the comments below. </p>
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https://www.tarheelblog.com/2024/3/18/24104473/unc-basketball-tar-heels-ncaa-tournament-west-region-breakdownBrandon Anderson