Tar Heels Set Records Ahead of NCAA South Regional

The Tar Heels, having triumphed in nine of their last 11 matchups, are gearing up to face the No. 6 seed Ole Miss in the initial round of the NCAA South Regional. This exciting clash is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. on Friday, March 21, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, with TNT broadcasting the event. Currently positioned as the eleventh seed, Carolina boasts a 23-13 record, while the Rebels stand at 22-11.

In a dazzling display of talent, RJ Davis nailed six of Carolina’s record-breaking 14 three-pointers, and Elliot Cadeau contributed 12 assists. The Tar Heel offense delivered a sensational performance, clocking the highest score and shooting percentage of any San Diego State opponent this season. Meanwhile, their defense limited the Aztecs to just 23 points in the first half, culminating in a resounding 95-68 victory in the First Four showdown on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio. Shooting 52.6% from the field, 58.3% beyond the arc, and 87.5% from the free-throw line, Carolina became the first team in NCAA Tournament history to achieve over 50/50/85 shooting percentages while also scoring upwards of 95 points.

Notably, Davis matched UNC’s record for NCAA Tournament games, dazzling with a season-high six three-pointers and setting a new single-game record for Carolina by making six shots from deep without a miss. This impressive 6-for-6 effort ties the best record in any Tar Heel game and forms part of Carolina’s unprecedented 14 three-pointers in an NCAA Tournament setting.

The game shifted dramatically as Carolina, leading 13-11, erupted with a 20-2 streak, securing a 20-point margin with 6:48 left in the first half. They started off by sinking their first five three-point attempts, dominating the first half with a 47-23 lead, and eventually extending it to an overwhelming 82-42 lead with just over seven minutes remaining.

Remarkably, this marks Carolina’s third appearance in the state of Wisconsin. The Tar Heels initially competed in two NCAA Tournament games back in 1941, where they faced defeat against Pitt and Dartmouth at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.