Tar Heels Embrace Crucial Stretch Ahead of NCAA Tournament

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina coach Hubert Davis emphasized the importance of the upcoming week on Monday as the Tar Heels prepare for the final stretch of the regular season in ACC basketball. As the team heads into their matchup against Virginia Tech, Davis invoked an architectural metaphor, stating, “The higher the building goes up, the deeper the foundation has to have.” He elaborated, saying, “For us to continue to have success, we need to go deeper into the little things. We must improve in boxing out, taking care of the basketball, shot selection, and communication in transition.”

The Tar Heels, with a record of 19-11 overall and 12-6 in the ACC, enter Tuesday night’s road game on a season-high five-game winning streak. They are just one win away from achieving 20 victories in a season for the 65th time, and for the fourth consecutive season under Davis.

Following the matchup with Virginia Tech (13-16, 8-10), UNC faces a pivotal rematch against No. 2 Duke on Saturday at the Smith Center. This game presents another significant opportunity to conclude a regular season that has been marred by missed chances. Duke is likely to come to Chapel Hill contending for the outright ACC regular-season title, a scenario reminiscent of last March when the Tar Heels faced the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Currently, UNC sits in a tie for fourth place in the conference with Wake Forest and SMU, all with a 12-6 conference record. However, Wake Forest holds the tiebreaker by virtue of its earlier victory against both UNC and SMU. Despite this, the Tar Heels secured a previous win against SMU in January, providing them an edge should the teams finish with identical records.

“I’m grateful, I’m confident, and I’m excited for what’s to come,” said guard Seth Trimble, reflecting on the team’s recent success after a dominant 92-73 win over last-place Miami. “We have really good opportunities in these next few weeks. As long as we stay together as a team and enjoy each other, I think it can take us a long way.”

During their five-game winning streak, Carolina has averaged 90.8 points, marking the first time since February 2018 that the team has scored 80 points or more in five consecutive ACC contests. Additionally, they have out-rebounded their opponents — NC State, Virginia, Florida State, and Miami — by a total of 148-89, showcasing a plus-59 advantage on the boards over the last four games.

Despite their recent success, Davis acknowledged the need for continued improvement. “You want your players individually to get better, and you want your team to improve. I feel like we’re headed in that direction. But there’s a long way to go. Virginia Tech is a really good basketball team, and it’s always difficult to play them, especially on their home floor,” he noted.

As the Tar Heels face these final challenges leading up to March 16, Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament, their performance against the top half of the ACC remains concerning. Out of their 12 conference victories, only two have come against teams ranked in the upper echelon of the league—SMU and Georgia Tech.

As the regular season culminates, North Carolina is focused on fortifying their fundamentals while navigating this crucial period. The anticipation of the upcoming games is palpable, and fans eagerly await how the Tar Heels will perform on this critical road to the NCAA Tournament.