Tag: UNC vs. UVA

UNC baseball team releases nostalgic hype video ahead of College World Series

The UNC baseball team prepared Tar Heel Nation for the College World Series with this video.

If you’re not already excited about the UNC baseball team’s journey to the College World Series, you certainly should be.

With the exception of a few early-season series, North Carolina has pretty much dominated the college baseball world. The Diamond Heels won their first outright, ACC Regular Season Championship since 2018 and – while they didn’t win the tournament – delivered some of the most clutch comebacks you’ll ever witness in the Regional and Super Regional rounds.

North Carolina gave its fans one last memory in Chapel Hill this week, inviting Tar Heel Nation to Boshamer Stadium for a team send-off. UNC has since landed safely in Omaha, sharing pictures from multiple practices and a fun, non-baseball related trip to the zoo.

Brace yourself for what you’re about to witness, as this video will have you running through a wall.

The Diamond Heels released their official CWS hype video on Thursday, June 13, highlighting their past success and trips to Omaha, this year’s journey and our passionate fanbase with a perfect soundtrack.

If you recognize the voice narrating North Carolina’s hype video, that’s Chad Flack, a member of the 2006 and 2007 teams that lost to Oregon State in the CWS finals.

I’ve said this numerous times: UNC is one of the best college baseball programs to never win a College World Series. The video highlights how many times the Diamond Heels have been to Omaha, particularly since the turn of the century: 1960, 1966, 1978, 1989, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2024.

North Carolina’s quest for its first CWS title kicks off on Friday, June 14 at 2 p.m. ET, as it faces ACC rival University of Virginia in the CWS opener.

Are you ready to run through a wall yet?

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How to watch UNC baseball’s 2024 College World Series-opening matchup

You’ll want to familiarize yourself with broadcast information for Friday afternoon’s College World Series opener.

The North Carolina Tar Heels were one of the most exciting college baseball teams during the Regional and Super Regional Rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

UNC won three of its four games on late-inning comebacks – two on ninth-inning walk-offs, then another on a tie-breaking, tenth inning Alex Madera single. North Carolina definitely seemed beat in the Chapel Hill Regional final against LSU, but Colby Wilkerson battled back from a 1-out, 0-2 count to tie it.

The Diamond Heels’ bullpen simply isn’t highlighted enough for their work in the first two rounds. There simply isn’t a reliever better than UNC closer Dalton Pence right now, who has allowed no runs and just three hits in his last nine innings.

North Carolina will now be significantly tested in its College World Series opener, facing ACC rival UVA at 2 p.m ET Friday, in a regular season rematch. The Cavaliers won two of three back in April, though the Diamond Heels won big in the series finale.

UVA had a much easier time getting to the CWS, sweeping its way through the Regional and Super Regional rounds. The Cavaliers’ last loss came in May, when it lost 12-7 to Florida State in the ACC Tournament.

If you’re not going to Omaha, here’s how you can watch the UNC-UVA battle on TV:

UNC-UVA COLLEGE WORLD SERIES TV, RADIO, AND STREAMING INFORMATION

WHAT: UNC (47-14, 22-8 ACC) vs. University of Virginia (46-15, 18-12)

WHEN: Friday, June 14 at 2 p.m. ET

LOCATION: Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.

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

ANNOUNCERS: Karl Ravech, Eduardo Perez, Ben McDonald, Dani Wexelman

SATELLITE RADIO: Tar Heel Sports Network

WEBSITE: WatchESPN

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Where do Diamond Heels rank in re-seeding of College World Series teams?

The College World Series features four ACC and SEC teams for the first time ever. Where does UNC fall in the re-rank?

The North Carolina Tar Heels get the honor of opening the 2024 College World Series, hosting ACC rival UVA on Friday, June 14 at 2 p.m.

UNC needed late-inning magic and a few career outings from star closer Dalton Pence to win its own Super Regional, while the Cavaliers breezed through their Regional and Super Regionals. Both conference foes faced off in the regular season, with UVA winning two of three over Easter weekend, though North Carolina salvaged the series finale.

Both the Diamond Heels and Cavaliers will be joined by fellow ACC programs Florida State and NC State, plus four SEC schools in Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Florida. FSU and Tennessee join UNC and UVA’s side of the bracket, while Kentucky, NC State, Texas A&M and Florida make up the other side.

One fun prediction the media likes to do before tournaments is the re-seeding of the team.

North Carolina, which enters the CWS as the fourth national seed, is also the fourth seed in 247Sports’ re-seeding of the Omaha Eight.

“North Carolina accounted for many of the tournament’s biggest fireworks in “Chapel Thrill,” winning in walk-off fashion multiple times en route to Omaha,” 247Sports, Carter Bahns wrote. “The concern with the Tar Heels is whether or not their narrow victories are sustainable, but winning in such exciting fashion goes a long way in the confidence department, and that is often half the battle in the NCAA Tournament. Vance Honeycutt seems determined to will this team to its first national championship and is one of the hottest hitters in the CWS field, after he went 4-9 with two home runs in the super regional round. That was in addition to the two-homer game he logged in the Chapel Hill Regional opener.”

Tennessee (top-ranked), Kentucky (second) and Texas A&M (third) are ahead of the Diamond Heels, while Florida State (fifth), UVA (sixth), Florida (seventh) and NC State (eighth) fall behind.

As we learned immediately in the Regional and Super Regional rounds, pre-tournament seeding means very little.

Bahns’ analysis brings up a strong point, though – will UNC need late-inning rallies to win?

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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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