⚾ Baseball

Twenty years ago in 2006, North Carolina went 2-0 to begin the College World Series in Omaha and the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in hockey. Is history repeating itself? The ‘Canes won the cup on Sunday night and the Heels are 2-0 in Omaha again, but there’s still unfinished business for a UNC team that’s 0-for-12 when it comes to leaving Omaha with a national championship.

The Tar Heels are back in the catbird seat, however, after defeating West Virginia, 5-2, on Sunday to improve to 2-0 on their side of the bracket. Gavin Gallaher (aka “Captain Clutch”) was once again the postseason hero with a two-run triple in the seventh inning that proved to be the decisive blow.

Walker McDuffie pitched 3.2 hitless innings and picked up the win for UNC before freshman phenom Caden Glauber came in to slam the door on the Mountaineers.

Now the Diamond Heels sit back and wait to see whether West Virginia or Troy advances to face them Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. ET. One more win puts the Tar Heels in the best-of-three championship series, where they fell to Oregon State 2 games to 1 in 2006. Carolina would love that shot at redemption.

Finally, congratulations to Caden Glauber (first team), Jason DeCaro (first team), and Jake Schaffner (third team), who were awarded All-American honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) last week. Glauber and DeCaro Also earned Perfect Game All-America honors.

🏀 UNC Basketball & Recruiting

We have more information about UNC Basketball’s yet-to-be-announced schedule. The Tar Heels will host Butler on Sunday, Dec. 6 as part of a home-and-home series against the Bulldogs. Carolina will make the return trip to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis next season.

Carolina Basketball’s one-and-done sensation Caleb Wilson received a coveted invitation to the “Green Room” at this year’s NBA Draft, which will be held Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Expect to hear Wilson’s name called early, with most mock drafts predicting Wilson going 4th overall to the Chicago Bulls.

Harrison Barnes and his San Antonio Spurs may have lost to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, but Barnes represented the Tar Heels well during the series, wearing his UNC-issued Jordan 40s.

On the basketball recruiting trail, Michael Malone and assistant coaches Sean May and Pat Sullivan attended the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Rock Hill, South Carolina last week.

Read more

⚾ Baseball

The Diamond Heels are headed back to Omaha for their 13th College World Series appearance following their dramatic, walk-off 4-3 victory over the USC Trojans on Sunday to win the best-of-three matchup and give coach Scott Forbes his 250th victory at UNC.

UNC was 1-for-23 with runners in scoring position in the first 25 innings of this series. They were 2 for their last 3 in the final 2 innings, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to pull off Sunday’s comeback.

North Carolina advances to the College World Series for the 9th time in the last 20 years, tying Florida for the most appearances over that span. They will open against Ole Miss in Omaha on Friday.

Coach Scott Forbes also had a big week on the recruiting trail, landing Maryland transfer catcher Devin Russell, former William & Mary shortstop Jamie Laskofski, and Queens transfer left-handed pitcher Joey Ruller.

Laskofski is currently the No. 39 ranked prospect for the 2027 MLB Draft and is coming off sophomore season in which he batted .355 with 13 home runs and 36 stolen bases.

Two other UNC Baseball commits have earned North Carolina Player of the Year awards from the N.C. Baseball Coaches Association. Harrison Ailshie (Salisbury) was named state 5A Player of the Year, and Cam Tarkenton (Cardinal Gibbons) is your 7A Player of the Year.

Congratulations to Jake Schaffner and Caden Glauber, who are up for major awards following their outstanding seasons. Schaffner has been selected as a Brooks Wallace Award finalist as the nation’s top shortstop, while Glauber is a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award.

🏀 UNC Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

The ACC/SEC Challenge matchups for next season were announced this past week. The Tar Heels will host new UNC associate head coach Chuck Martin’s former team, the Arkansas Razorbacks, on Tuesday, Dec. 1 in Chapel Hill.

Caleb Wilson is enjoying the pre-draft experience following his one-and-done season at UNC. On Wednesday, Wilson was invited to serve as a Player Correspondent for Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, where he met legendary Tar Heel icon James Worthy.

Michael Malone may not be finished constructing the 2026-27 UNC Basketball roster just yet.

Read more

UNC Baseball advanced to next weekend’s Super Regional in Chapel Hill and will host either Texas A&M or USC. It was a big week for Tar Heel Basketball following the commitment of Alexandros Samodurov and signings of Matt Able, Kevin Thomas, and Terrence Brown. UNC Football lost a transfer QB, Volleyball’s European tour is in full swing, and Sarah Gresham left it all on the field for UNC Women’s Lacrosse. On to the updates…

🏀 UNC Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

The 2026-27 UNC Basketball roster is nearing completion. This past week, UNC announced the official signings of NC State transfer shooting guard Matt Able, who withdrew from the NBA Draft, incoming freshman 5-star wing Kevin Thomas, and Utah transfer point guard Terrence Brown.

Sherrell McMillan at Inside Carolina wrote an insightful two-part piece on Brown and his basketball journey. Brown will wear No. 1 this season in memory of his late Aunt: “The last number she ever saw me wear was the No. 1 UNC jersey.“

• Part I: Terrence Brown’s Humbling Journey Led Him to UNC

• Part II: Terrence Brown Q&A: ‘Winning is My Biggest Focus’

In other good news for North Carolina, sophomore guard Neoklis Avdalas has reportedly declined an invitation to participate in the Greece U-20 European Championship in order to focus on his upcoming season with the Tar Heels.

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UNC Baseball hosts a tough Chapel Hill regional with VCU, Tennessee, and ECU coming to town this weekend. Neoklis Avdalas has signed with UNC Basketball, Seyon Keita won a EuroLeague title, Alexandros Samodurov is still on Michael Malone’s radar, Women’s Lacrosse fell just short of an NCAA title, Kenan Stadium renovations have begun, and more. On to the updates…

🏀 UNC Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

Neoklis Avdalas has officially joined the Carolina Basketball family after UNC announced that the Virginia Tech transfer combo guard signed with the Tar Heels this past week. Avdalas averaged 12.1 points and 4.6 assists in 31 games for the Hokies as a freshman last season.

North Carolina is still awaiting incoming transfer shooting guard Matt Able’s decision on whether to remain in the NBA Draft or play for the Tar Heels next season. Able has until Wednesday, May 27 to withdraw from the Draft and remain eligible to play for UNC.

Tipoff time for UNC Basketball’s matchup against Kentucky next season has been announced. The Tar Heels and Wildcats will tip off in the CBS Sports Classic in New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Dec. 19 at 2:30 p.m. on CBS, following the noon matchup between Kansas and Ohio State.

Carolina and Kentucky could also potentially face off in a new and exciting college basketball event. The proposal, currently in the planning stages, is an eight-team pool-play event called the “Diamond Cup” that would debut for the 2027-28 season and reportedly include Arizona, UConn, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and UNC.

Former UNC forward and 2009 national champion Deon Thompson announced his retirement from his 16-year playing career. This follows the news that Thompson will be returning to UNC to attend Kenan-Flagler Business School while serving as a graduate assistant coach on the UNC Basketball staff:

“After 16 years, 22 teams, and 14 countries, it’s time for me to say goodbye to playing the game that I love and that has given me so much. The game has given me so many unforgettable moments and memories, along with incredible people.“

Former UNC guard and 2005 national champion Jackie Manuel was selected to participate in the inaugural NABC Flight School on May 21. The current American University basketball associate head coach was one of just 25 assistant coaches across the country invited to the event.

Manuel’s former Tar Heel teammate David Noel is continuing his basketball coaching career as an assistant coach with the UNCG Spartans after spending the past six seasons as a G League assistant with the Capital City Go-Go, Motor City Cruise, and Greensboro Swarm.

On the recruiting front, UNC basketball center commit Sayon Keita finished with five points, seven rebounds, and a +13 on-court scoring differential to help FC Barcelona’s U18 squad to victory in the NextGen EuroLeague Championship game in Athens, Greece on Sunday.

The Tar Heels also continue to recruit other players from the transfer portal and international ranks, including Greek center Alexandros Samodurov and others. Here’s more on where those recruitments stand…

Read more

The NBA Draft Combine is over, and it’s decision time for UNC shooting guard Matt Able. Plus, Michael Malone was on the recruiting trail handing out scholarship offers, 4-star wing Kevin Thomas committed to the Tar Heels, Baseball took the series over State, Women’s Lacrosse advanced to the Final Four, Kenan Stadium is getting a 100th-birthday makeover, and more. On to the updates…

🏀 UNC Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

Coaching Staff Updates

It’s been a busy week for Michael Malone and his UNC Basketball staff that saw some key additions this past week.

• Former UNC forward and 2009 national champion Deon Thompson is joining the Tar Heels as a graduate assistant coach while he pursues his MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School following a lengthy international playing career.

• Former Providence assistant coach Bryan Tibaldi is joining Malone’s staff as a UNC assistant coach following a six-year assistant coaching stint in the NBA, most recently with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

• And former UNC guard and 2017 national champion Brandon Robinson is joining the Carolina Basketball staff in a support role.

NBA Draft Combine

The NBA Draft Combine ended Sunday in Chicago with all eyes on Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar, and Matt Able.

Wilson measured 6'9.25 barefoot and 211 pounds, with a 7'0.25 wingspan and 9'0 standing reach. He posted a Max (Running) Vertical of 39.5” and a Standing (No-Step) Vertical of 34.5”, per Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.

Here are Henri Veesaar’s NBA Draft Combine measurements:

And just to make it official, there’s no chance Veesaar returns to school, according to Veesaar himself:

“I feel like it's just the right thing to do, basketball wise. Going to the NBA, it's gonna help me develop more, get better basketball quicker, better than staying in college.”

Incoming UNC shooting guard transfer Matt Able also had a strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine and spoke like someone who hasn’t completely decided on remaining in the Draft or not, telling ESPN’s Jeff Borzello:

“It’s definitely a tough decision. I love UNC, I’m excited to get over there at some point … I’m still back and forth on it. I gotta think about it some more, get with my camp and figure it out.“

Able has another week and a half to “figure it out,” as the withdrawal deadline for college players exploring the NBA Draft is Wednesday, May 27.

Recruiting Updates

On Wednesday, the Tar Heels landed a commitment from class of 2026 small forward Kevin Thomas. The 4-star former LSU commit already boasts deep connections to UNC Basketball:

• Legendary Tar Heel guard Kenny Smith founded the Jet Academy, where Thomas played for several years.

• Smith’s son K.J. Smith played at UNC from 2017-21 and is Thomas’ agent.

• Kenny’s other son, Malloy Smith, committed to the Tar Heels in March.

• And UNC transfer wing Matt Able played with Thomas at Sagemont Prep where they won a state title together.

Coach Malone then headed to the Memphis EYBL event with assistants Sean May and Chuck Martin where they were front-and-center watching some of the nation’s top talent…and even handing out a scholarship or two. Here’s more on who they watched and who received offers…

Read more

UNC Basketball is pursuing Greek center Alexandros Samodurov, Seth Trimble and Matt Able are in Chicago for pre-draft combines, Indya Nivar makes the Atlanta Dream roster, Bobby Petrino discusses UNC Football, Baseball sweeps Pitt, Lacrosse and Women’s Tennis advance, Softball’s season ends, and Eric Church visits Carolina. On to the updates…

🏀 UNC Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

The NBA Draft Combine begins Monday in Chicago. And although UNC incoming transfer shooting guard Matt Able will be participating, he helped allay fan concerns that he may choose to remain in the draft by officially signing with the Tar Heels this past week. Like many future NBA hopefuls, Able appears to be going through the process to identify areas of improvement he can target this upcoming season.

Fellow guard Evan Smith is also returning to the UNC Basketball Roster this season. While not a household name to a lot of Carolina fans, Smith holds the distinction of being the last remaining player from the UNC JV Basketball team. Coach Michael Malone met with Smith and was so impressed by his journey that he invited him to remain with the team.

“When UNC basketball player Evan Smith runs onto the floor of the Smith Center, he wears number 32. It’s a number that was worn by Tar Heel greats. But as the last-ever varsity walk-on from the now-defunct JV basketball team, Smith’s journey to Roy Williams Court wasn’t quite like theirs.”

And while Smith is UNC’s last JV player, former UNC guard Seth Trimble could be one of the Tar Heels’ last 4-year players, given the new college basketball landscape. Trimble was at the G League Combine over the weekend and no doubt impressed scouts with his 43.5-inch(!) vertical leap to lead all combine participants.

On the recruiting trail, the UNC Basketball staff currently has two big men on its radar and hopes to sign at least one of them. Here’s where things stand with those recruitments…

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What a week! UNC Basketball coach Michael Malone landed Sayon Keita and Cade Bennerman, recruited Momo Faye, lost Maxim Logue, and is now reportedly targeting Italian center Luigi Suigo. Matt Able was invited to the NBA Combine, there are four new Tar Heel Hall-of-Famers, Baseball blasted Duke, UNC Women’s Basketball hosted a 5-star official visitor, and more. On to the updates…

🏀 UNC Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

Congratulations to legendary Tar Heel Tyler Hansbrough on his induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame on Friday night in Greensboro, where several members of the Carolina Basketball Family were on hand to honor the ACC’s all-time leading scorer.

“It represents a lot of people from my hometown who have helped me throughout my journey, and also it represents a lot of good coaches and teammates that I had at Carolina. So hopefully when they see my name, they can feel like they’re a big part of that,” Hansbrough said.

Fellow former Tar Heel basketball stars, Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar are among 74 players invited to the NBA Combine, which takes place May 10-17 in Chicago.

Current UNC transfer commit Matt Able also received an NBA Combine invitation and is expected to attend. Some Tar Heel fans are concerned that Able my jump to the NBA, but as it stands now he is simply gathering feedback and is expected to suit up for the Tar Heels this coming season.

Former UNC guard Seth Trimble was invited to the G League Combine taking place May 8-10 in Chicago with an opportunity to earn a call-up to the NBA Combine if he performs well.

And former Tar Heel fan favorite Brady Manek is continuing his pro basketball career this summer with Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico following this past season’s stint in Nanjing, China.

As for coach Michael Malone’s ongoing recruiting efforts (both domestically and internationally), here’s the latest on who’s in, who’s out, and who’s being pursued…

Read more

Henri Veesaar declared for the NBA Draft as UNC Basketball landed three transfer portal commitments. UNC Football hosted recruits and signed four players to NFL contracts. Baseball blasted Duke. The Tar Heels set a new NCAA Track & Field record, won the ACC Women’s Lacrosse Title, crowned a new home run queen, earned an ACC P.O.Y. honor and more. On to the updates…

🏀 Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

The transfer portal has closed, but there’s been plenty of movement as players already in the portal can still be recruited and signed. Last week, the UNC Basketball coaching staff added three players from the portal, lost Henri Veesaar to the NBA Draft, and now find themselves combing the portal and international market for Veesaar’s replacement.

Here’s the latest on who’s in, who’s out, and who could be still be added to the roster…

Who’s in?

North Carolina guard Isaiah Denis announced that he will remain with the Tar Heels for his sophomore season, mentioning that his faith and conversations with coach Michael Malone convinced him that UNC was “home.”

Former Utah guard Terrence Brown committed to UNC from the transfer portal, giving the Tar Heels an athletic point guard to run the show. Brown averaged 19.9 points per game last season as a junior for the Utes.

Former NC State shooting guard Matt Able will join Brown in the Tar Heels’ starting backcourt next season after committing to UNC last week. Able averaged 8.8 points per game last season as a freshman for the Wolfpack and has a high upside.

UNC’s frontcourt remains a work in progress, but FAU transfer Maxim Logue should help with depth at the position after committing to the Tar Heels. The 6-9, 232-pound power forward averaged 4.8 points and 3.1 rebounds for the Owls last season and sports a 7-foot-4 wingspan! He’s considered a developmental project with two seasons of eligibility and is expected to contribute as a shot blocker and rebounder.

Who’s out?

Henri Veesaar announced he is entering the NBA Draft with no intention of returning to college basketball. That’s unfortunate news for Tar Heel fans, but it makes sense from Veesaar’s perspective. He’s 22 years old (“old” by NBA rookie standards), this year is perceived to be a weaker draft class, and he doesn’t stand to improve his draft position with another season in college.

Although he might have made more money next season at UNC, it seems Veesaar was simply ready to move on and become a professional.

And while Veesaar is opting out of a season for which he is eligible, former UNC guard Seth Trimble is making himself available next season for which he’s currently ineligible by entering the transfer portal.

The reasoning is this: If the NCAA passes the proposed “5-for-5” rule allowing all college athletes five years to complete five seasons of eligibility, there’s a chance that athletes who just completed their fourth and final season of eligibility could receive an extra season. In Trimble’s case, he’s just making sure he’s available to UNC or any other school should the rule pass and apply to him.

Former UNC forward James Brown has found a new home after committing to the Howard Bison on Saturday. The Chicago native was a top-100 recruit in 2024 and joins a Howard program that has made the NCAA Tournament three of the last four years.

Who’s Next?

The Tar Heels are currently without a starting center, but there are several post players reportedly being pursued. Here are some frequently named targets:

• Cade Bennerman is a 7-foot freshman center who entered the transfer portal after a redshirt season at Northwestern. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, he was a 3-star recruit.

• Sayon Keita (Mali/Spain): A 7-foot center currently developing within the FC Barcelona system. The class of 2027 prospect, who could reclassify to 2026, is considered a “must-land” recruit for many, and 247Sports reports that UNC is in a “good spot” following his official visit to UNC last summer.

  

• Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje (Cameroon/Spain): Another class of 2027 7-footer from Barcelona’s youth ranks and the son of former NBA player Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje. He is a modern, mobile big man who emerged as a high-priority target after standout performances in Europe. He also could reclassify to 2026.

• Alexandros Samodurov (Greece): A 21-year-old, 6’11” forward currently with Panathinaikos. He has strong indirect ties to the program as a long-time friend of new Tar Heel Neoklis Avdalas, with rumors suggesting the two have discussed playing together in college.

• Brice Dessert (France): A 23-year-old, 6’11” center with Anadolu Efes (Turkey). UNC has shown interest in his rim-running and rebounding.

🏈 Football

The NFL Draft was held this past weekend, and for the first time since 2016, the Tar Heels did not produce a single draft pick despite hiring Bill Belichick to elevate UNC Football to the “NFL’s 33rd Team.” There were, however, several Tar Heels who signed free-agent deals following the draft:

• Thad Dixon, CB, New York Giants

• Marcus Allen, CB, Minnesota Vikings

• Austin Blaske, OL, Los Angeles Rams

• Chad Lindberg, OL, Los Angeles Rams

UNC Football concluded it second year of spring practice under coach Bill Belichick. There was no public spring game as in years past, but there was a closed scrimmage Friday night at Kenan Stadium with numerous recruits on hand. Here’s a list of recruits who visited UNC on Friday and over the past couple of weeks, according to their social media accounts:

2027 Confirmed Visitors

• ⭐⭐⭐⭐ TE Mason Oglesby (New Palestine, IN)

• ⭐⭐⭐⭐ CB Kamil Loud (Las Vegas, NV)

• ⭐⭐⭐⭐ DL John Archer (Fayetteville, NC

• ⭐⭐⭐ QB Brayden Santibanez (Collierville, TN)

• ⭐⭐⭐ QB William Wood (Westwood, MA)

• ⭐⭐⭐ RB Dorien Jones (Venice, FL)

• ⭐⭐⭐ OL Shavezz Dixon (Leesburg, GA)

• CB Roman Edwards (McKinney, TX)

• ATH Rodreon Cranford (Hartsville, SC)

• OL Masen Tye Price (Orlando, FL)

2028 Confirmed Visitors

• ⭐⭐⭐⭐ DL Tory Clark (Atlanta, GA)

• LB Isaiah Woodburn (Concord, NC)

• CB Zion Dobson (Kernersville, NC)

• CB Jaleek Parson (Greenville, NC)

• S Mekhi McNair (Atco, NJ)

• WR TJ Maddox (Atco, NJ)

• QB Chandler Dyson (Warner Robins, GA)

• QB James Armstrong (Aliquippa, PA)

• OL Eytan D’oleo (Camden, NJ)

Finally, former All-ACC and NFL linebacker Kevin Reddick has been promoted to head football coach at Rolesville (NC) High School following a stint as the Rams’ defensive coordinator.

🏀 Women’s Basketball & Recruiting

It’s awards season, and UNC incoming freshman Kate Harpring received perhaps the biggest award of all this past week as she was presented with the Naismith High School Player of the Year trophy and All-America jersey

Laila Hull announced she will be returning to Courtney Banghart’s squad for her senior season. Hull was also named to the All-ACC Academic Team along with teammates Reniya Kelly, Taissa Queiroz, Blanca Thomas, and Ciera Toomey.

Freshmen Taliyah Henderson and Aliza Astakhova opted to hit the transfer portal. Henderson committed to Clemson for next season and Astakhova is headed to BYU.

⚾ Baseball

No. 2 UNC Baseball blasted Duke, 22-5, on Saturday in Durham to capture its seventh consecutive ACC series victory. Gavin Gallaher and Owen Hull combined to go 6-for-9 at the plate with 11 RBI to lead the Tar Heels.

“The 22 runs were their most since scoring 25 vs. Princeton on March 16, 2010, and their most vs. an ACC foe since scoring 23 vs. Maryland on April 16, 2000. UNC’s streak of seven straight ACC series wins is its longest in a season since going 10-for-10 in 2017,“ according to Pat James.

Finally, coach Scott Forbes has landed a commitment from class of 2027 right-handed pitcher/shortstop Harrison Corey from D.H. Conley High School in Greenville, NC. Corey is rated 8.5 out of 10 by Perfect Game.

🏅 Olympic Sports

🐏 The 2026 Rammy Awards were held last Sunday night honoring the top Tar Heel performers and moments from the past year. Caleb Wilson and Chloe Humphrey received the most outstanding male and female athlete awards, but be sure to check out the full list of winners. What a collection of amazing talent and memories!

🏃‍♂️ On the track, UNC set an NCAA Women’s Distance Medley Relay (DMR) record at the Penn Relays on Friday, running a combined 4,000 meters (2.48 miles) in 10:36.82 to break the record. Here’s the breakdown and video of the entire race:

• 1200m - Sydney Masciarelli - 3:16.35

• 400m - Delea Martins - 53.91

• 800m - Makayla Paige - 2:00.43

• 1600m - Vera Sjoberg - 4:26.15

🥍 No. 1 UNC Women’s Lacrosse claimed their second straight ACC Championship on Sunday, defeating Stanford 12-8 in the tournament finals. The Tar Heels were led by Tournament M.O.P. Chloe Humphrey’s four goals and Kate Levy’s hat trick.

🥍 Owen Duffy was named ACC Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Tar Heels to a thrilling 16-15 overtime victory last week at No. 11 Virginia.

🥎 Congratulations to UNC Softball’s new single-season home run queen, Emily LeGette, who blasted her Tar Heel record 25th home run of the season on Wednesday in a 16-14 loss to South Carolina. It was also the 93rd home run of the season for Carolina, which breaks the UNC record previously set in 2015.

🎾 Finally, defending NCAA singles champion Reese Brantmeier was named ACC Women’s Tennis Player of the Year for the second straight year as five Tar Heels were named to the All-ACC teams.

🎂 This Week’s Tar Heel Birthdays

Happy birthday shouts out to…

• Kacey White, 2003 Women’s Soccer National Champion, 3x All-American: Apr. 27 (42)

• Maggie Bill, 2015 Lacrosse All-American, 2016 NCAA Champion, USWNT: Apr. 28 (31)

• Bud Carson, UNC Defensive Back, 40-year College/NFL Coaching Career: Apr. 28 (1930-2005)

• Serge Zwikker, All-ACC Basketball Center: Apr. 28 (51)

• Dick Crum, 1980 ACC Football Coach of the Year, 1980 ACC Champions: Apr. 29 (92)

• Dax McCarty, 18-year MLS Career, USMNT: Apr. 30 (39)

• Ethan Albright, All-ACC Long Snapper, 17-year NFL Career, 2007 Pro Bowl: May 1 (55)

• Ron Burton, 4-year NFL Linebacker, 23-year College Coaching Career: May 2 (62)

• Dee Hardison, 1977 All-American Defensive Lineman, No. 71 Honored UNC Jersey, 11-year NFL Career: May 2 (1956-2018)

• Marcus Holman, 3x Lacrosse All-American, 5x MLL All-Star: May 2 (35)

• Michael Morin, 2012 All-American Pitcher, 7-year MLB Career: May 3 (35)

🏁 Final Thoughts

Thanks again to everyone for supporting the Tar Heel Times Newsletter. I hope you had a great weekend, and please leave a comment to let me know how you’re enjoying the content, what you’d like to see more of, or anything else that’s on your mind. I truly appreciate your support.

Go Heels!
James

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UNC Basketball fans are on Terrance Brown watch as the transfer portal churns. Neoklis Avdalas became Michael Malone’s first portal commitment, Henri Veesaar remains undecided, Kim English backed out, Malloy Smith signed, UNC Baseball blasted No. 2 Georgia Tech, Women’s Basketball landed three transfers, and Women’s Soccer is joining UNC Football in Ireland. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

UNC Basketball’s wild offseason ride continues as the Tar Heels continue to assemble their coaching staff, recruit the transfer portal, and say goodbye to some familiar faces.

Coaching Staff

Former Providence head coach Kim English had just joined Michael Malone’s staff after three seasons with the Friars in which his teams posted a 48-52 record (23-37 Big East). However, on Sunday Pete Thamel reported that English “informed UNC officials that he’s decided not to pursue an assistant coach position at North Carolina.“ No reason has been made public, but Kim didn’t just decide “not to pursue” the job. He was already in Chapel Hill working 🤔

That leaves new associate head coach Chuck Martin, Sean May, Pat Sullivan, and Eric Hoots on the Tar Heels’ staff with two assistant coaching spots left to fill.

Who’s in?

Former Virginia Tech guard Neoklis Avdalas is Malone’s first transfer portal commitment. Avdalas will arrive in Chapel Hill with three seasons of eligibility remaining. At 6-foot-9, the Kalamata, Greece native has the size and skills to play multiple positions and should make a big impact.

Avdalas joins returning players Jarin Stevenson, Jaydon Young, and Isaiah Denis, who all announced their intentions to remain with the Tar Heels over the past week, as well as incoming freshman Malloy Smith (son of Kenny Smith), who officially signed with UNC on Wednesday.

So, where do the Tar Heels stand with Henri Veesaar and top transfer portal targets like Terrence Brown, Juke Harris, Paul McNeil, and others? Here’s the latest…

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What a week! Michael Malone was hired as UNC’s new Men’s Basketball coach, the transfer portal is in overdrive, Maximo Adams is still a Tar Heel, Bill Belichick went Bananas, Women’s Basketball landed three commitments, there was a Softball no-hitter, and a new Baseball commitment. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

24-year NBA coaching veteran Michael Malone, who led the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA title, is UNC’s 21st men’s basketball head coach. Iowa’s Ben McCollum turned down the offer to interview for the job, and the search quickly pivoted to Malone, per Matt Norlander of CBS Sports.

Malone was far from a “last resort” hire by the Tar Heels. He’d been on the search committee’s radar from the beginning, having visited UNC basketball practices while spending time in Chapel Hill with his daughter, Bridget, who plays volleyball at Carolina. Malone was also a top name in the New Orleans Pelicans and other NBA coaching searches.

Now the real work has begun for Malone as he continues building his staff and next season’s roster for the Tar Heels. Here’s the latest on where things stand in the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail…

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The UNC Basketball coaching search is coming into focus now that Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May have committed to remain with their programs. Transfer portal losses have begun in men’s and women’s basketball, Marcus Paige has found a new coaching home, Football gained one commitment and lost another, and rapper J. Cole has teamed up with Brady Manek in China. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball

It’s been a whirlwind week in UNC’s basketball coaching search. Tommy Lloyd signed a contract extension with Arizona. Dusty May told the Michigan administration on Sunday that he will not be pursuing the UNC job. And Dan Hurley said that he’s “a UConn coach to the end.“ So, where does that leave Carolina? Here’s the latest…

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The UNC Basketball coaching search is in full swing, Caleb Wilson is off to the NBA Draft, the Smith Center/new arena debate is tabled, spring Football kicks off with two commitments, Women’s Basketball falls in the Sweet 16, Baseball has a 4-0 week, and Women’s Lacrosse’s win streak ends at 31. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball

As we all know by now, Hubert Davis is out as UNC Men’s Basketball coach following his termination last Tuesday. A coaching search is now underway. UNC Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham and AD-in-waiting Steve Newmark are leading the search, and Carolina has hired executive search firm Turnkey ZRG to assist.

Here are some news and notes regarding Davis’ dismissal and a behind-the-scenes recap from CBS Sports:

• The search firm Turnkey ZRG assisted Michigan with the hiring of their current basketball coach, Dusty May, who is also one of the Tar Heels’ top-3 targets.

• Hubert Davis released a statement Tuesday via his Instagram account expressing his desire to “coach again in the very near future.”

  “Tonight, I was let go by the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. My desire was to continue to coach here. This opportunity has truly been such a blessing. I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together. My goal is to coach again in the very near future.“

• UNC will pay out all the remaining money on Davis’ contract. Davis’ buyout exceeds $5 million.

• “Players and staff were informed of the change of leadership at a 9 p.m. team meeting Tuesday at Davis’ house, minutes after an email from athletics director Bubba Cunningham arrived in the inboxes of members of the basketball staff.“

UNC is now almost a week into its coaching search, with three prominent names remaining from a candidate pool that once exceeded half a dozen. Here’s the latest on each…

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Has Hubert Davis coached his final game at North Carolina? We’ll likely find out very soon. UNC Women’s Basketball advanced to the Sweet 16, Caleb Wilson’s jersey is headed to the Smith Center rafters, Tar Heel Football is hosting its Pro Day Monday, the Diamond Heels downed Louisville, and there’s another National Champion in Chapel Hill. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball

We’ll start with the good news. Caleb Wilson’s No. 8 jersey is headed to the Smith Center rafters after being named Second Team Associated Press All-American. When asked why he chose to wear No. 8 ahead of his standout freshman season, Wilson noted that there was no No. 8 currently in the rafters. Talk about calling your shot!

Now to the big news. Carolina lost 82-78 to VCU in overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Greenville, South Carolina after blowing a 19-point second-half lead. It was the largest comeback ever in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and it may have cost Hubert Davis his job.

The Tar Heels are now 48-2 all-time when leading by 10+ points at halftime in the NCAA Tournament. Both losses have come under Hubert Davis, per ESPN’s Bryan Ives. The other blown Tournament lead came in the 2022 National Championship game, when UNC led Kansas 40-25 at halftime.

Speculation is rampant that Davis is out. Monday’s “Hubert Davis Live!” radio show has been “postponed,” per Jones Angell. And Hubert Davis’ son Elijah Davis has removed all UNC photos from his Instagram account.

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March Madness is upon us, UNC Baseball swept Cal, three Tar Heels were named All-ACC in Men’s Basketball, and there are six new UNC Track All-Americans. Ryan Switzer, Dre Bly, and Wes Miller hop on the coaching carousel as other Tar Heels make NFL moves, while Chloe Humphrey, Emily LeGette, and Kate Harpring continue to amaze. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball

Congratulations to Henri Veesaar for being named a finalist for the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Award as the nation’s top center.

Veesaar, along with Caleb Wilson and Seth Trimble, were also named to this season’s All-ACC Teams. Wilson nabbed First-Team honors, while Veesaar was named to the Second Team and Trimble received Honorable Mention recognition.

Veesaar lived up to those lofty honors in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals Thursday, scoring 28 points and pulling down 17 rebounds. However, North Carolina fell to Clemson after falling behind by as many as 18 points, only to rally and lose, 80-79 (Box Score).

The Tar Heels will need to bottle that late-game intensity and carry it with them into the NCAA Tournament if they want to make any sort of postseason run, which begins Thursday in Greenville, South Carolina as the No. 6 seed in the South Region.

Carolina will face the No. 11 seed VCU Rams, who are 27-7 and have won 16 of their last 17 games, at 6:50 p.m. Thursday on TNT.

No stranger to March Madness, Tar Heel assistant coach Marcus Paige is still receiving awards long after his playing career has ended. Paige has been elected to the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Hall of Fame after a standout high school career at Linn-Mar, where he was a four-time all-state pick, a McDonald’s All-American, Iowa’s Mr. Basketball, and Gatorade Player of the Year in 2012.

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UNC Basketball experienced a big win and a big loss this past week, the Tar Heels landed a commitment from combo guard Malloy Smith (son of Kenny Smith), Caleb Wilson broke his other thumb, Armando Bacot is safe in the Middle East, Baseball and Softball split ACC series, UNC alumnae won the SheBelieves Cup, Women’s Hoops awaits their Tournament fate, and more. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball

Carolina Basketball’s week got off to a great start with Seth Trimble being named ACC Player of the Week after averaging 25 points, four assists, and three rebounds in UNC's wins over No. 24 Louisville and Virginia Tech.

On Tuesday, Carolina took care of a tough Clemson team at home, 67-63, behind Luka Bogavac’s 20 points, which included 6(!) three-pointers.

But it was all downhill from there as news broke Friday that star freshman forward Caleb Wilson had broken his other hand after banging his thumb on the rim during a dunk at practice Thursday. Wilson had surgery Friday, and the future first-round NBA Draft pick has likely played his final game as a Tar Heel.

On the other side of the globe, former UNC rebound king Armando Bacot and several members of his Turkish basketball team were stranded in Dubai amid the attacks between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. They eventually made it back to Istanbul once air travel was safely restored, but that had to be one stressful day at the airport.

And to cap off the week, No. 17 UNC fell at Duke, 76-61, after trailing by just 5 points at halftime. Derek Dixon was Carolina’s star in the losing effort, scoring 17 points and draining five three-pointers. The difference in the game? Duke led in second-chance points and points-off-turnovers by a combined 38-8 margin. There’s your ball game in a nutshell.

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Welcome to March! UNC Men’s Basketball’s had a 2-0 week and looks to clinch a double-bye in the ACC Tournament, Women’s Hoops beat Duke for Courtney Banghart’s 150th win at UNC, the Diamond Heels won 5 games by a combined score of 71-10(!), Softball’s undefeated streak ended at 17, Malloy Smith and Kate Harpring visited, and Mack Brown was back on campus. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball & Basketball Recruiting

Add another big win to Hubert Davis’ 2025-26 resume as the Tar Heels took care of No. 24 Louisville on Monday night, 77-74. With the win, UNC has now beaten Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, Ohio State, Virginia, and Louisville this season (with a few obvious bad losses mixed in).

Seth Trimble had a huge week, scoring 30 against the Cardinals and 20 in Saturday’s 89-82 win against Virginia Tech as his late-season surge continues in the absence of Caleb Wilson. Carolina’s role players have stepped up as well. Jonathan Powell (15) and Zayden High (12) combined for 27 points in the win over the Hokies.

The Tar Heels are now fourth in the ACC Standings with games against Clemson (home) and Duke (away) remaining as they look to clinch a coveted double-bye in next week’s ACC Tournament.

During Tuesday’s game against Clemson, UNC will honor RJ Davis as his jersey is hoisted to the Smith Center rafters following his 2024 ACC Player of the Year award. The ceremony was originally scheduled for Monday’s game against Louisville but severe weather in the Northeast complicated travel plans for Davis and his family.

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It was another terrific week in Carolina Athletics. Five-star guard Dylan Mingo committed to the Tar Heels, Henri Veesaar returned from injury to help lead North Carolina past Syracuse as Zayden High continues to step up, UNC Softball is off to a dominant 14-0 start, Lilly Parrish pitched a no-hitter, and Women’s Basketball had a 2-0 week. We also remember Doug Moe and more. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball

Following the Tar Heels’ thrilling last-second win over Duke, a letdown was imminent as Carolina came out flat against NC State in Raleigh on Tuesday and got humbled, 82-58, playing without Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar in front of a rowdy crowd and against a team who just wanted it more on that night. Hopefully, a postseason rematch is in the cards since the two longtime foes only play once this regular season.

On Saturday, Henri Veesaar returned from his lower-body injury as the Tar Heels looked much mor like their normal selves in a 77-64 road win over Syracuse.

One major silver lining from the injuries to Wilson and Veesaar has been the emergence of forward Zayden High, who tied for a team-high 13 points at NC State and followed that up with a 9-point, 11 rebound effort against the Orange. High also led all players with a +17(!) on-court point differential.

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It’s been quite the eventful week in UNC Athletics. Caleb Wilson suffered a broken hand, the Diamond Heels swept their season opener, Kenny Smith’s son Malloy Smith received a basketball offer, Carolina Football signed a transfer quarterback, Courtney Banghart secured win No. 400, Softball scored 44(!) runs in 2 games, and Dylan Mingo is set to commit. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball

Following UNC Basketball’s dramatic victory over Duke last week (which was ESPN’s most-watched college basketball game in four years), you could almost guarantee that a letdown would follow on Tuesday in Miami…and that’s exactly what happened. UNC’s starting backcourt combined for just six points on 1-of-14 shooting, the Tar Heels were out-rebounded by seven, and fell 75-66 in a lackluster performance (Box Score).

The hits kept coming long after the game when it was discovered that star freshman Caleb Wilson’s “sprained” wrist was actually a fractured left hand upon re-evaluation in Chapel Hill. Wilson’s timetable for return has not been determined, but it seems the earliest he’d be back would be for the ACC Tournament, if at all.

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What a week in UNC sports! Seth Trimble became a legend, Women’s Basketball beat State in their house, Chazz Surratt won a Super Bowl ring, two future Tar Heels were named McDonald’s All-Americans, Coby White is coming home, RJ Davis was honored, and we remember the life and legacy of James Spurling. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball

Maybe it was just a case of UNC looking ahead to Saturday’s game against Duke, but the Tar Heels let their foot off the gas against Syracuse last Monday and watched a 32-point lead dwindle to six before holding on to defeat the Orange, 87-77 (Box Score).

Against the No. 4 Blue Devils on Sunday, UNC senior guard Seth Trimble became a legend. Trimble, the only Tar Heel on this season’s roster ever to play a game in the UNC-Duke rivalry, nailed a clutch corner-three with 0.4 seconds remaining to give Carolina its only (and final) lead of the game, 71-68 (Box Score).

It was UNC’s first last-second game-winner since Luke Maye beat Kentucky with 0.3 seconds left in the 2017 NCAA Elite Eight.

Needless to say, Franklin Street was electric:

Former UNC Basketball All-American and 2024 ACC Player of the Year, RJ Davis, was named the NBA G League player of the week last week:

“The New York native opened the week against College Park with 21 points. Davis recorded his first career triple-double against Salt Lake City on Jan. 29, finishing with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. On Jan. 31 vs. Salt Lake City, the UNC product set a career high with 45 points.”

Another all-time great Tar Heel guard, Coby White is coming home to North Carolina after being traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.

🏈 Football, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

A former UNC quarterback is now a Super Bowl Champion after Sunday night’s big game…it’s just not the one we expected.

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I hope everyone is safe and warm as many of us continue to dig out of the snow. Since we last caught up, Caleb Wilson had a happy homecoming in Atlanta, Bill Belichick was denied election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot, UNC Women’s Tennis took down No. 9 NC State and No. 1 Georgia, soccer legend Crystal Dunn retired, and more. On to the updates…

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🏀 Basketball

No. 16 UNC took care of business against Georgia Tech on Saturday, 97-75 in Caleb Wilson’s homecoming. Here are some noteworthy nuggets from the win:

• Caleb Wilson scored 22 points and set two UNC freshman records. It was his 21st consecutive game scoring in double figures, the longest streak to begin a career by a freshman and it was his 15th 20-point game.

• The Tar Heels committed just 2(!) turnovers, which were the fewest ever by UNC on the road.

• UNC also set a school record for fewest turnovers in consecutive games with six (four at Virginia and two at Georgia Tech).

Carolina will need to put that win behind them quickly, though, as they have a short turnaround before hosting Syracuse on Monday (7:00, ESPN).

Caleb Wilson has obviously been a star on the offensive end of the court all season, but he’s starting to be recognized for his defensive abilities as well. Wilson was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List on Thursday.

It was also announced that Carolina Basketball will face Kentucky in the 2026 CBS Sports Classic on Dec. 19 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Kansas will face Ohio State in the other half of the double-header.

And the Smith Center will be this site of ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday, Feb. 7 ahead of UNC’s game against Duke.

Per ESPN producer (and UNC alum) Bryan Ives, Saturday will mark the 88th meeting in which both Duke and North Carolina are ranked. That is 47 more than any other matchup. In those games:

• North Carolina: 44 wins, 77.9 PPG

• Duke: 43 wins, 77.4 PPG

Two Tar Heels very familiar with the North Carolina-Duke rivalry, Makhtar N’Diaye and Antawn Jamison reunited recently at the invitation of the Dakar Youth Olympics Committee to work with basketball players in N’Diaye’s home country of Senegal. N’Diaye posted a great photo gallery on Instagram of Jamison’s first trip to Africa.

In “where are they now?” news, former UNC guard and 1993 NCAA Champion Dante Calabria is continuing his basketball coaching career this season with the Montreal Toundra, which is part of Canada’s Basketball Super League founded in 2023.

🏈 Football, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

North Carolina’s 2026 football schedule has been announced, and it could be another tough season. The Tar Heels begin with a rematch against TCU in Dublin, Ireland. UNC also visits, Clemson, Pitt, and Virginia and hosts Notre Dame, Miami, Louisville, and NC State. The Tar Heels likely will not be favored in any of those matchups.

In surprise news of the week, Bill Belichick did not receive enough votes to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, failing to receive 40 of the 50 necessary votes. Apparently, several voters decided to “punish” Belichick for his alleged involvement in the infamous “Deflate-gate” and “Spy-gate” NFL scandals. This is not a good look for the voting committee, and blowback by fans and media was fierce.

Former North Carolina defensive lineman Jahvaree Ritzie has signed a Reserve/Future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which guarantees him a slot on the team’s 90-player training camp roster next season.

And on a sad note, UNC Football Team Chaplain Mitch Mason announced his transition to hospice care as a result of his lengthy battle against idiopathic small fiber neuropathy, an incurable, debilitating nerve disorder. Here is the announcement he posted on social media last Monday. Please keep Mitch in your thoughts:

🏀 Women’s Basketball

There was no Women’s Basketball game this past week, but there is a HUGE game Monday as coach Courtney Banghart’s squad heads to Raleigh to face the Wolfpack at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN2). The UNC men’s team plays Syracuse at 7:00 on ESPN, so it will be a split screen or channel surfing night as the games overlap for a half.

Congratulations to Indya Nivar, who was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List last week. Nivar is averaging an impressive 2.1 steals per game in ACC play.

Finally, 2026 5-star UNC Women’s Basketball signee Kate Harpring has been nominated for the prestigious McDonald’s All-American game.

⚾ Baseball

The Diamond Heels continue spring practices leading up to the season-opener against Indiana at Boshamer Stadium on Feb. 13. UNC held an intrasquad scrimmage this past Thursday, with Erik Paulsen blasting a 372-foot home run to right center while going 2-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

UNC Baseball was picked to finish second in the ACC behind Georgia Tech during the media preseason poll released last week.

🏅 Olympic Sports

It was a big week for No. 3 UNC Women’s Tennis. On Tuesday, reigning ITA national champion Reese Brantmeier was named ACC player of the week along with doubles partner Alanis Hamilton.

On Friday, the Tar Heels scored a huge come-from-behind victory to beat No. 9 NC State, 4-3. And if that wasn’t enough, UNC followed that up with a convincing 5-2 victory over No. 1 and defending national champion Georgia.

Former UNC Women’s Soccer and U.S. Women’s National team great Crystal Dunn announced her retirement from professional soccer. A legend in the sport, here is a link to Dunn’s farewell post on Instagram and a few of her too-many-to-list accolades:

• 2012 Honda Award for Soccer

• 2012 NCAA Champion

• 2013 MAC Hermann Trophy Winner

• 2013 ACC Athlete of the Year

• 2019 World Cup Champion

• 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist

• 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist

• 13-year US Women’s National Team Veteran

• 3x NWSL Champion

⏪ This Week In Tar Heel History

February 2, 1995: Jerry Stackhouse (25 points), Rasheed Wallace (25), and Donald Williams (24) combined for 74 points as Carolina beats Duke, 102-100, in double overtime. Blue Devil guard Jeff Capel sends the game into a second overtime with a halfcourt three-pointer, but a Jeff McInnis steal and basket provides the winning margin for UNC.

🎂 This Week’s Tar Heel Birthdays

Happy birthday shouts out to…

• Lawrence Taylor, 2x Super Bowl champion, 1986 NFL MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame, ACC POY, UNC No. 98 Honored Jersey, All-American: Feb. 4 (67)

• Kennedy Meeks, 2017 Basketball National Champion, 9-year Overseas Professional: Feb. 5 (31)

• John Kuester, 1977 ACC Tournament MVP, 3-year NBA player, longtime college/NBA coach, 2004 NBA Champion (asst. coach): Feb. 6 (71)

• Fiona Crawley, Women’s Tennis All-American, 2023 ITA National POY, Honda Award Winner, Doubles National Champion: Feb. 7 (24)

• Mike O’Koren, 3x Basketball All-American, Longtime NBA Player and Asst. Coach, Feb. 7 (68)

🏁 Final Thoughts

Thanks again to everyone for supporting the Tar Heel Times Newsletter. I hope you had a great weekend, and please leave a comment to let me know how you’re enjoying the content, what you’d like to see more of, or anything else that’s on your mind. I truly appreciate your support.

Go Heels!
James

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