Tar Heels Face Wake Forest in ACC Tournament Quarterfinal Thriller

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The fifth-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels will take on the fourth-seeded Wake Forest Demon Deacons Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament, held at the Spectrum Center. This matchup follows a closely contested game earlier in the season which saw Wake Forest narrowly defeating UNC 67-66.

Both teams finished the regular season tied for fourth place in the ACC, each recording a conference record of 13-7. The winner of this quarterfinal will advance to face the winner of the Duke vs. Georgia Tech game in Friday’s semifinal.

North Carolina enters the game following a decisive 76-56 victory over Notre Dame in the second round. The Tar Heels have shown impressive form recently, winning seven of their last eight games, with six of those victories coming by double digits.

Highlighting Carolina’s recent performance, Charlotte native Ian Jackson registered a career-high seven three-pointers and scored 21 points in the win against Notre Dame, marking the most three-pointers made by a Tar Heel in an ACC Tournament game.

In their previous matchup against Wake Forest, UNC struggled despite having an early lead. The game featured a pivotal moment when Wake Forest outscored Carolina 21-6 from the free-throw line, showcasing their ability to convert on critical plays.

The Tar Heels have a strong historical performance in the ACC Tournament, with 18 championships and a notable 109-52 all-time record. Against Wake Forest, UNC holds a 13-8 record in tournament matchups.

At this year’s ACC Tournament, the Tar Heels aim to continue their winning tradition, especially in Charlotte where they have a solid record of 23-8 in tournament games. Head coach Hubert Davis expressed confidence in his team’s abilities and emphasized the importance of consistent play and leveraging the home crowd advantage.

As the game approaches, both teams are taking the court with high stakes. The match is not only crucial for advancement but also impacts each team’s momentum moving forward into the NCAA Tournament.