Tag: UNC vs. UVA

Hubert Davis hoping Tar Heels will benefit from extra practice time this week

The UNC men’s basketball team didn’t play a mid-week game for the first time since late December. Will that help at UVA on Saturday?

It’s the night of Friday, Feb. 23, with the UNC men’s basketball team just under 24 hours away from playing its biggest game of the season.

North Carolina (20-6, 12-3), which owns the tiebreaker with Duke atop the ACC, will be playing on Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville, The Tar Heels are faced with the tall task of beating UVA – on the road – for the first time since 2012.

UNC was among the NCAA Championship favorites a few weeks ago, but then lost three consecutive Tuesday games to Georgia Tech, Clemson and Syracuse. North Carolina offset those losses with big wins over Duke, Miami and Virginia Tech, but it’s no longer a top contender.

Between last weekend’s win over the Hokies and tomorrow’s matchup with UVA, UNC didn’t have a game. Not only did this give the Tar Heels some much-needed rest, but also some extra practice time.

“One of the things I’m excited about this week – not having a midweek game – is that for the first time in a long time, we can actually practice as opposed to practicing for preparation for a particular opponent,” North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis said during the ACC’s weekly coaches conference call Monday.“

During North Carolina’s 10-game winning streak that spanned from late December-late January, it limited every opponent to 70 points or less. UNC’s newly-discovered defensive prowess was particularly strong on the perimeter, highlighted by limiting Clemson to a 1-of-18 mark from 3-point land in their first matchup.

“In that 10-game stretch, I thought we were really locked in, particularly halfcourt defending without fouling, finishing possessions with a rebound, protecting the paint and also protecting the 3,” Davis told Saturday Down South. “Those are things we’ve talked about as a team that we’ve got to get back to. It’s just being more consistent and sound from a fundamental standpoint.”

Since losing to Georgia Tech, Tar Heel opponents have scored 74 points in every game. In four of those six games, North Carolina’s opposition has reached the 80-point plateau.

Even though Virginia Tech scored 81 in UNC’s win last weekend, star guard RJ Davis thinks the defense is finally starting to turn a corner again.

““I think we kind of got our groove back in terms of our defensive mindset,” Davis said in the same. “It was in the gaps, it was talking, getting through screens and the help side was there. I think this is definitely something we can improve on going into the bye week, where we can catch our breath a little bit.”

During the UVA game, we’ll see firsthand how much the Tar Heels practiced defense this week.

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How to watch Saturday’s highly-anticipated UNC-UVA basketball clash

When the UNC and UVA men’s basketball teams face off on Saturday, it’ll be more than just a rivalry game. How can you watch this key game?

If you have plans to watch college basketball on Saturday, make sure you’re in front of a television at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

Plenty of eyes will be on the UNC men’s basketball team, as they try to beat UVA on the road for the first time since 2012. Not only will the Tar Heels try to snap a long streak, they’ll also try to move 2.5 games ahead of the Cavaliers and maintain first place in the ACC.

North Carolina is playing UVA at the perfect time, as the Cavaliers are coming off a 34-point loss to Virginia Tech on Monday evening. UVA could still have its confidence shaken from this letdown, or come out angry and move a half-game behind UNC in the top-heavy ACC race.

Armando Bacot is playing his best basketball at the right time, while Cormac Ryan seems to have shaken his shooting slump. RJ Davis continues to play like a National Player of the Year candidate and Harrison Ingram repeatedly shows why he’s North Carolina’s most impactful transfer since Brady Manek.

We know the Tar Heels can hold up their end of the bargain on offense, but they’ll need to re-discover that defensive intensity that helped them win 10 consecutive games.

UNC AT UVA TV, RADIO AND STREAMING INFORMATION

WHAT: North Carolina (20-6, 12-3 ACC) at UVA (20-7, 11-5)

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. ET

LOCATION: John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va.

TV: ESPN (Watch and stream the game live on ESPN)

SATELLITE RADIO: SiriusXM (82 or 193)

WEBSITE: ESPN

Re-visiting UNC’s season-ending loss to UVA in ACC Tournament

UVA proved to be the final dagger in UNC’s basketball season last year. The Tar Heels can avenge that loss on Saturday afternoon.

Throughout much of last year, the UNC men’s basketball team was on NCAA Tournament Bubble Watch.

A run to the 2022 NCAA Championship Game had North Carolina ranked as the Preseason Number One team, an expectation never lived up to. The Tar Heels brought in Pete Nance to try and replace Brady Manek’s production, but he also didn’t play up to his incoming hype.

A disappointing regular-season forced UNC to, essentially, win the ACC Tournament for a shot at the big dance. North Carolina handled Boston College with ease in the second round, but ran into Virginia in the quarterfinals.

UVA controlled UNC in a defensive battle, winning 68-59 and sending the Heels packing.

North Carolina has a golden change to avenge this loss, playing the Cavaliers on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. ET in Charlottesville, but let’s re-visit the 2023 heart-breaker first.

This game wasn’t all Cavaliers, contrary to what the final score might show. North Carolina trailed by just a point at halftime, exactly the kind of position it needed to be in against a slow, methodical UVA squad.

The second half wasn’t pretty, as the Tar Heels finished the game shooting a hair under 36 percent. RJ Davis carried the UNC offense with 24 points on eight made shots and four free throws, but Caleb Love shot a horrendous 3-of-15 from the field and Armando Bacot slugged through 21 minutes on a bad ankle.

UVA rode a balanced scoring attack led by Jayden Gardner (17 points), Reece Beekman (15) and Armaan Franklin (14). The Cavaliers ultimately decided this game in points off turnovers, earning a 14-2 advantage over North Carolina in this department.

The Tar Heels are in a much better position this year, owning a tiebreaker with Duke atop the ACC. If UNC scores early and often against UVA, which is coming off its worst loss of the season, it’ll be able to control the tempo and win this crucial matchup.

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Why not playing this week could benefit Tar Heels on Saturday

Playing on Saturday, then turning right around to play on Tuesday, can be tiring. Luckily for UNC, it can rest before Saturday’s UVA game.

There’s just something about Tuesdays and the UNC men’s basketball team that don’t seem to mix well.

Before North Carolina’s Jan. 30 loss at Georgia Tech, it was on a 10-game win streak and looked like an NCAA Tournament favorite. The Tar Heel defense was suffocating opponents, limiting them to 70 or less during the hot stretch.

Since that defeat, UNC has gone 3-3. It’s won each of its weekend games – against Duke, Miami and Virginia Tech, but also lost on Tuesdays to Syracuse and Clemson.

North Carolina doesn’t play during the work week for the first time since late December. This might actually be a good thing – why, exactly?

While playing during the week is beneficial for teams, as it gives them another chance for live game action, it can get tiring.

There’s a case to be made for UNC being fatigued recently, as its defense has looked extremely beatable. Syracuse shot over 60 percent from the field earlier this month, while four of the Tar Heels’ past six opponents have scored 80 points.

Resting up would be beneficial for North Carolina, but there’s no doubt the lack of game means more practice time. Saturday’s UNC-UVA game, which has major implications in the ACC standings, is something Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis needs to make sure his players are prepared for.

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UNC Basketball at Virginia: Game preview, prediction and more

The UNC-UVA basketball matchup has always provided intense battles, though most of them are low-scoring. Can the Tar Heels win on Saturday?

For the first time since late December, the ACC-leading UNC men’s basketball team does not have a mid-week game.

North Carolina (20-6, 12-3) is coming off a convincing, 96-81 victory over Virginia Tech last Saturday. This was exactly the type of game UNC needed, given it suffered yet another Tuesday loss to Syracuse the game before. Armando Bacot recorded yet another double-double, while four starters scored in double-figures.

The Tar Heels now turn their attention to the Virginia Cavaliers, who suffered arguably their worst loss of the season (75-41) against the Hokies on Monday. UVA (20-7, 11-5) is still contending for the ACC regular-season crown, as it trails North Carolina by just a game-and-a-half, but it’ll need to beat UNC on Saturday afternoon.

Odds are stacked against the Tar Heels for Saturday’s 4 p.m. ET tip-off, as they haven’t won in Charlottesville since Feb. 25, 2012. The Cavaliers employ a pace slow as molasses, draining the clock and looking for the perfect shot attempt, which runs completely different than North Carolina’s lightning-fast pace.

If UNC wants to win Saturday, it’ll need to score early and often. The Tar Heels’ style of play, if executed effectively, will put pressure on UVA by forcing it to play out of system and rush shots.

Let’s see a few things UNC needs to do on Saturday, in order to escape Charlottesville with a win:

Which version of UVA basketball will UNC face Saturday?

UNC and UVA enter Saturday’s matchup off two different results – a big Tar Heel win, plus a major, disappointing loss for UVA.

Despite having a lot of newcomers on its roster, the UVA men’s basketball team has exceeded expectations and rose to third place in the ACC.

Not too long ago, the Cavaliers (20-7, 11-5) were trailing UNC for first place.

Every good team is due to have a few bad games every year. For North Carolina (20-6, 12-3), those letdowns have occurred in consecutive Tuesdays against Georgia Tech, Clemson and Syracuse.

For UVA, that major letdown came on Monday evening against in-state rival Virginia Tech, as the Hokies smacked the Cavaliers by a 75-41 mark. VT shot over 50 percent from the field and built a 20-point halftime lead – for a slow-paced team like UVA, that deficit is monumental to overcome.

You might be wondering, how does the Cavaliers’ loss affect UNC?

For one, the two longtime rivals face off on Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville. Second, you could see one of two UVA teams – a discouraged bunch, wonder how it’ll ever recover from its most demoralizing defeat on the year, or a hungry bunch eager to show it belongs in the same echelon as North Carolina and Duke.

The Tar Heels can’t expect the Cavaliers the play one way or the other, but instead focus on winning in Charlottesville for the first time since 2012. I expect UNC to play with vengeance, as UVA sent them home in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals last year.

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Tar Heels fall several spots in latest AP Poll after loss to unranked UVA

The Tar Heel football squad’s 31-27 loss to unranked, 1-win UVA dropped them down the AP Poll. Where exactly did UNC land?

After the UNC football team’s disappointing loss to UVA last night, what were you thinking?

Was the Tar Heels’ magical season over? Was the loss enough to completely rid Carolina’s dream of making the College Football Playoff? Why wasn’t UNC prepared to beat a significantly inferior team?

Yes, no and I still have no idea.

One of the first things fans thought after the loss, was how far down the AP Poll rankings UNC would drop.

On Sunday afternoon, we finally have our answer.

The Tar Heels slid seven spots down the 17th in the latest AP Poll, one spot ahead of ACC rival Louisville.

This comes as a bit surprising, considering UNC lost to an unranked, 1-win team in UVA. I was thinking the Tar Heels would drop out of the Top 20 or, even worse, out of the Top 25 entirely like Clemson after the Duke loss.

Carolina’s ranking might give fans and palyers some newfound hope. If the Tar Heels win out and take down FSU in the ACC Championship, assuming they even get there, the CFP committee might have to take a good, hard look in the mirror.

There’s so many teams playing good football in front of UNC, however, that a spot in the Final 4 is next-to-impossible.

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Helmet Stickers for UNC Football’s season-altering loss against UVA

UVA’s football team marched into Chapel Hill yesterday and dealt UNC a gut-punching, 31-27 defeat. Which of the few UNC players shined?

Undefeated, one of the best quarterbacks in the nation and an opponent it should easily beat.

All was set up for the UNC football team to dominate UVA on Saturday and keep its Top-10 ranking, something it has not become accustomed to often.

Yet, as we’ve seen so many times with a ranked Tar Heels program, disappointment set in.

Carolina quarterback Drake Maye threw his lone interception of the contest with just seconds left, sealing the 31-27 UVA win that will almost surely send UNC tumbling from the Top 20.

Carolina appeared to score a tie-breaking touchdown in the fourth quarter, only for it to be wiped out by a holding penalty. UNC had to settle for a field goal, which appeared to be the momentum shift UVA needed for its shocking upset.

There’s not many positives to take away from this upsetting – but unsurprising – defeat. Every time Carolina seems to touch the Top 10, chaos ensues. Just see the 2021 season-opener at Virginia Tech – UNC was ranked 10th, then left Tar Heel Nation in utter disappointment.

Yet despite the defeat, there were some positive takeaways, even though it might not seem like it. The defeat is fresh in our minds, so we’re still voicing our frustrations at UNC’s season taking a complete 180.

UNC Football: Five things to watch in nighttime rivalry clash with UVA

The UNC football program is expected to dominate old ACC rival UVA in the two teams’ Week 8 clash See what you need to watch out for.

We’re almost there.

Tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. on The CW, college football fans will tune in to witness UNC host UVA in its third consecutive home game. The Tar Heels provide offensive fireworks seemingly every game – first, those fireworks came in the forms of running backs British Brooks and Omarion Hampton, while Tar Heel Nation got to experience the Drake Maye-Devontez Walker connection we’ve all been waiting for last weekend.

UNC is also 6-0, which creates a massive target on its back. Outside of App State, the Tar Heels have downed opponents with relative ease. Into Chapel Hill comes a struggling, 1-5 UVA squad that just nabbed its first win two weekends ago.

On paper, tomorrow night should go down as an easy win for the Tar Heels. We said the same thing last year against Georgia Tech – Carolina was ranked, the Yellow Jackets struggled to find consistent rhythm.

Georgia Tech marched right into Kenan Stadium and dealt UNC its first of four straight losses.

If Carolina had taken care of the Yellow Jackets, who knows if the season would’ve ended differently? We could spend all day guessing, but we’re turning our focus over to UVA.

This Tar Heels team is too smart to play down to its competition, but we’ll just have to wait and see. While we wait, let’s look at five areas of focus.

UNC Football vs. UVA: How to watch South’s Oldest Rivalry

Saturday night’s UNC-UVA football game pits one of the ACC’s best (Carolina) against one of the ACC’s worst (UVA). See how you can watch it.

No matter how each team is doing in any given year, the UNC-UVA football rivalry has always proven to be an exciting matchup.

Just last year, Carolina won a 31-28 thriller in Charlottesville. The Drake Maye-Josh Downs connection was clicking, with Downs catching 15 of Maye’s 26 completions for 166 yards and a touchdown.

UVA only won three games, but the focus of its season became the unfortunate murdering of three former players. UNC improved to 8-1 after the victory, but only won one more game after.

The Tar Heels sit at 6-0 so far this year, with five of their wins coming against Power 5 teams. Carolina’s offense is among the country’s best, with Maye headlining the passing game, new receivers stepping up every week and Omarion Hampton cementing himself as one of the top young backs in college football.

UVA sits at just 1-5, but is coming off its first win, a 27-13 thumping of in-state rival William and Mary. Don’t be fooled by the Hoos’ record – three of their losses are by a combined seven points.

This should go down as an easy Tar Heel victory, but we’ve said that for plenty of past games. What UNC does NOT want to do is play down to its competition – see the Georgia Tech game last year.

Let’s take a look at what you need to know for the UNC-UVA clash.

UNC-Virginia TV, RADIO, AND STREAMING INFORMATION

WHAT: North Carolina (6-0, 3-0 ACC) vs. Virginia (1-5, 0-2 ACC)

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. ET

LOCATION: Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

TV: The CW Network (Watch and stream the game live on CW Sports)

ANNOUNCERS: Tom Werme (play-by-play), James Bates (color analyst) and Treavor Scales (reporter).

RADIO: Tar Heel Sports Network. Jones Angell, play-by-play;
Brian Simmons, analyst; Lee Pace, sideline

SATELLITE RADIO: SiriusXM (194 or 383)

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