The North Carolina Tar Heels are making a surprising appearance in this year's NCAA Tournament, clenching a place in the First Four matchup against the San Diego State Aztecs. After a tumultuous season, marked by an inconsistent performance and a close loss to rival Duke in the ACC Tournament, the Tar Heels learned on March 16 that they would have a chance to dance in March after being one of the last teams selected for the tournament.
The game is set for March 18 at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, and marks a pivotal moment for both squads vying for an 11 seed. North Carolina, who finished the regular season with a lackluster record of 22-13, will take on San Diego State, boasting a commendable record of 21-9. Although they struggled, particularly with a 1-12 Quad 1 record, North Carolina's ninth-ranked conference strength of schedule played a key role in swaying the selection committee's decision.
Hubert Davis, now in his fourth season at the helm, has gotten the Tar Heels back to the NCAA Tournament for the third time. The team’s journey was uncertain; they sat on the bubble before the Selection Show, only to be buoyed by unexpected outcomes, namely Memphis winning the AAC championship, which ultimately allowed North Carolina to secure a last-minute spot in the tournament. NCAA Men’s Basketball Vice Chair Keith Gill remarked on CBS that if Memphis had lost, UNC would have been out of the tournament entirely.
"Saturday night we took our final vote and voted in four teams in the field on Saturday night," Gill explained. "And we had a contingency vote on the last team in the field. It was based on Memphis-UAB. If Memphis won that game, then that was going to free up the spot and that team was going to be North Carolina. If UAB had won, then Memphis was going to be in the tournament, UAB would have been in the tournament and North Carolina would have been the first team out. That process played out today. Memphis won and that put North Carolina in the field.”
The Tar Heels will face significant challenges in their First Four encounter against the Aztecs. San Diego State, having a strong season and good quality wins over teams like Creighton and Houston, presents a stern test for North Carolina as they aim for victory. The Aztecs come into the game motivated and prepared, looking for redemption after a loss to Boise State in the Mountain West Championship quarterfinals.
North Carolina has its eyes set on star player RJ Davis, who leads the team with 17 points per game. Despite his struggles in the last game against Duke, being held to just eight points and not making a single three-pointer, Davis is poised to return to form and deliver in this crucial game. Davis, who was a significant contributor to the team that made it to the national championship game in 2022, will be aiming to lead with his experience and offensive prowess.
Competing against him, San Diego State will rely on their sharp guard duo of Nick Boyd, averaging 13.4 points, and Miles Byrd at 12.6 points per game. Boyd displayed his scoring ability by netting 20 points against Boise State, showcasing their capacity to compete at a high level.
Tipoff for the game is scheduled for March 18, 2025, at 9:10 PM ET and will be broadcast live on truTV. Currently, North Carolina stands as a 4.5-point favorite according to ESPN Bet, which adds another layer of anticipation to this win-or-go-home scenario where every possession matters.
The road to this point has not been straightforward for the Tar Heels. Starting the season with expectations of a top-10 ranking, they found themselves battling through a challenging midseason stretch with an 8-6 record. However, they bounced back, winning eight of their last ten games leading up to the NCAA Tournament, marking a significant turnaround that ultimately earned them a shot at redemption.
On March 17, a delayed flight did not help the overly eventful journey for the Tar Heels as they traveled to Ohio, arriving a day late due to uncertain circumstances. However, despite logistical challenges, hopes are high as they prepare for their chance to move on in the NCAA Tournament, hanging onto the opportunity to face Ole Miss should they manage to defeat San Diego State.
As the team rallies in Ohio, fans are engaging with the event online, voicing excitement and confusion over UNC's placement in the tournament. Social media reactions from analysts and supporters alike have highlighted both skepticism and optimism about their chances. CBS analyst Seth Davis summarized the situation saying, “Well, if anybody wants to know what everybody is going to be talking about after the show, North Carolina is your answer.”
With their NCAA Tournament journey now underway, the Tar Heels look toward their First Four game as not just an opportunity to advance in the tournament, but also a stage to change the narrative of their season.
