Tag: UNC Women’s Basketball

How would UNC hoops teams be seeded if season ended today?

If the season ended today, where would the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams be seeded in their respective ACC Tournaments?

For a school known for its basketball, UNC has endured a bit of a rough stretch on the court.

The North Carolina men have only won two of its past five games, while the Tar Heel women just snapped a 4-game losing streak on Thursday, Feb. 15. This comes shortly after both programs held down the top spots in the ACC.

Good news – barring a major collapse, both programs should make the NCAA Tournament.

As we’re approximately a month away from March Madness, bracketology projections are popping up left and right. For those programs who aren’t sitting pretty near the top of their conferences, they’ll have to fight their way through.

If the season were to end today, the UNC men (19-6, 11-3) would hold the ACC tournament’s top seed.

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The Tar Heel women (16-9, 8-5), on the other hand, would be seeded seventh with a first-round bye.

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The North Carolina women could climb back into first place, but they’d have to win out while six teams in front of them – essentially – lose out. The UNC men have just a half-game lead over archrival Duke, but can clinch their first regular-season title since 2019 if they win out.

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Tar Heel women snap 4-game skid behind Alyssa Ustby’s big night

There was a huge sigh of relief and celebratory cheer inside Carmichael Arena tonight, as the UNC women’s basketball team finally won again.

After beating Miami on Thursday, Jan. 25 to move into a tie for first place in the ACC, the UNC women’s basketball team was easily playing its best basketball of the season.

No one could’ve foreseen what came next, as the Tar Heels lost consecutive games to Virginia, NC State, Virginia Tech and Duke to fall out of the rankings and all the way down to seventh place in the ACC.

That cold stretch came to a joyous end on Thursday night, as UNC beat Pitt, 75-62, behind star forward Alyssa Ustby’s 14-point, 10-assist double-double.

The win, which was North Carolina’s (16-9, 8-5) first in February, moved it into a tie for fifth place with Notre Dame and Duke. Before they lost four in a row, the Tar Heels beat UVA, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Miami for a 4-game winning streak.

Alyssa Ustby continued to be a dominating force on the court for UNC, recording her 12th double-double of the year and third in UNC’s past four games. She also added seven rebounds, three steals and blocks apiece – not too shabby.

Graduate transfer Lexi Donarski led all scorers with 20 points, her highest output since New Years’ Eve against Clemson (23). Star guard Deja Kelly dropped 17 points, with nine of those coming from free throws.

The Tar Heels have an extremely winnable game on Sunday, as they travel to Winston-Salem, N.C. to face the ACC-worst Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Wake (4-21, 0-13) hasn’t won since Dec. 21 last year, while a win could move UNC into a tie for fourth with Florida State.

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Tar Heels surprise Sydney Barker with life-changing news

Freshman Sydney Barker has only played in five games for the UNC women’s basketball team, but her recent news might help her play more.

It’s been an up-and-down year for the UNC women’s basketball team.

After beating Miami in late January to grab first place in the ACC, the Tar Heels have lost three straight games – a 15-point blowout at Virginia, a tough, 4-point loss at NC State and an overtime loss against Virginia Tech last Sunday at home.

One Tar Heel hoopster, however, just received a major confidence boost that hopefully reverberates throughout the entire program.

Sydney Barker, a two-time Conference Player of the Year at Durham, N.C.’s Jordan High School, was surprised with a scholarship.

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Barker has played in just five games this year for North Carolina, making one of her four shot attempts while grabbing two rebounds, but her high school career points to the fact she can ball.

Barker led Jordan to state playoff appearances all four years, including a run to the third round of the NCHSAA’s 4A playoffs her freshman season. She averaged 17.9 points per game, including a career-best 27.8 last year.

Maybe Barker can help UNC end its slide today, as the Tar Heels play at archrival Duke for a 2 p.m. ET tip-off. A victory would move North Carolina into sixth place in the crowded ACC.

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UNC drops four spots in latest AP Women’s Poll

The UNC women’s basketball program slides down four spots in the AP Top 25 after posting a 1-1 record.

The UNC women’s basketball program is No. 24 on this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll.

The Tar Heels slid down four spots from last week, stemming from their shocking 81-66 loss to the 11-10 Virginia Cavaliers. The upset derailed UNC’s momentum, snapping their four-game win streak in the process.

UNC picked up big wins over No.16 Louisville, No. 14 Notre Dame, and No. 21 Syracuse this month and currently holds a 7-2 record in the conference. The Tar Heels can boost their rankings on next week’s poll with big games against No. 5 NC State and No. 17 Virginia Tech on this week’s schedule.

The pace this season for UNC has been outstanding, with any player liable to fill up the stat sheet. Deja Kelly has been a big key in setting that pace ranking eighth in the ACC in assist-turnover ratio at 1.62.

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UNC Women’s basetball holds off late push from Miami

The UNC women’s basketball team escaped an upset attempt from Miami on Thursday to stay atop the ACC.

For the first three quarters, the North Carolina Tar Heels women’s basketball team looked in control in their 66-61 win over Miami on Thursday night in Chapel Hill. And despite getting the win, they had to hold off a late surge from Miami to avoid the upset.

UNC led 52-39 after three quarters, including jumping out to a 22-8 lead after the first. But in the fourth, the Hurricanes out-scored the Tar Heels 22-14 to get back in the game and try to pull the upset. They even cut the lead down to 62-61 with just over 28 seconds left on a steal and a layup.

While things looked dicey at the end, Courtney Banghart’s team didn’t back down and was able to seal the deal with stops and free throws late to escape.

It was a little nerve-wracking in the end, especially watching that big lead slowly trickle down. But when it mattered most, UNC was able to make those plays and get the big win at home.

The Tar Heels had five players in double digits in the game led by Deja Kelly’s 18 points as she helped pace UNC until the end. Maria Gakdeng added 13 while Lexi Donarski and Alyssa Ustby each added 12 in the win.

With the win over Miami, UNC improved to 15-5 overall and 7-1 in ACC play putting them in a tie for first place with Syracuse atop the standings going into Sunday’s matchup against Virginia.

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Alyssa Ustby on National Award Watch List

Alyssa Ustby has been a key cog for the UNC women’s basketball team this year, nearly averaging a double-double. She may win an award, too.

After a tough exit against Ohio State, in the Round of 32 during the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the UNC women’s basketball team is setting its sights even higher.

So far in ACC play, the Tar Heels look like a significantly-improved team.

Behind a heavy veteran presence, UNC (14-5, 6-1) is tied atop the ACC with Syracuse. North Carolina beat the Orange head-to-head, so technically, North Carolina is the current leader.

Tar Heels head coach Courtney Banghart utilized the offseason transfer portal extremely effectively, snatching a pair of starters in Maria Gakdeng and Lexi Donarski. Indya Nivar, whose minutes make her UNC’s unofficial “sixth woman,” is a key piece of depth who flirts with starting playing time.

While star guard Deja Kelly leads North Carolina in scoring, it’s hear teammate who’s on a National watch list.

Alyssa Ustby, the senior forward from Minnesota who nearly averages a double-double (12.6 points, 9.5 rebounds per game), was named to the Cheryl Miller Award Top 10 list.

The Cheryl Miller Award goes to the top small forward in all of women’s college basketball.

Ustby finds herself in the Top 10 for the second-consecutive season, plus on the entire watch list for a third-straight year. She is joined in the ACC by Lousiville’s Kiki Jefferson.

If Ustby is indeed named a finalist, she’ll be notified in March. If Ustby wins, she’ll be notified upon conclusion of the 2023-2024 campaign.

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ACC-leading Tar Heels climb three spots in Women’s AP Poll

The UNC women’s basketball team is atop the ACC, with a few ranked wins already under their belts. Where are they in the newest AP Poll?

Either NC State, Louisville or Virginia Tech – all consistently top programs in women’s college basketball – is atop the ACC, right?

Nope.

There’s an amazing, experienced and talented team in Chapel Hill leading the stacked ACC. That team would be none other than – if you hadn’t guessed already – UNC.

Deja Kelly is enjoying her hottest streak of the season, scoring 20 points in four consecutive games. The Tar Heels have taken down ranked teams in Notre Dame, Louisville and Syracuse already, while coming close against others like South Carolina and Florida State.

With how well UNC is playing, it’s no surprise to see them climb the rankings a bit.

The Tar Heels jumped three spots to 20th in Monday’s AP Poll, sandwiched between the Hokies and Creighton.

It’s not just Kelly doing all the work in Chapel Hill. She’s being aided by not only fellow senior captain Alyssa Ustby, who’s nearly averaging a double-double (12.6 points, 9.5 rebounds per game), but a trio of experienced transfers in starting center Maria Gakdeng, starting guard Lexi Donarski and sixth woman Indya Nivar.

Carolina has Miami (FL) coming to town on Thursday for an 8 p.m. tip-off. If the Tar Heels and Notre Dame (playing Syracuse) both win Thursday, the Tar Heels move into sole possession of first place in the ACC.

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UNC WBB upsets Louisville, takes over first place in ACC

The UNC women’s basketball team took over first place in the ACC on Sunday, upsetting 13th-ranked Louisville in Chapel Hill.

We’re not remotely close to March Madness and there’s already upsets galore.

Number one teams have gone down, we’re starting to see possible Big Dance Cinderellas and the unthinkable’s happened – Pitt over Duke?

One of Sunday’s biggest upsets came in the ACC – from the UNC women’s basketball team.

The Tar Heels broke a 39-all tie in the third quarter, outscoring 13th-ranked Louisville by 11, to win 79-68 and take over first place in the ACC. Carolina is tied at 6-1 with Syracuse in conference play, but owns the tiebreaker due to its Jan. 4 victory.

UNC faced a 2-point deficit early in the third quarter, then never trailed again after an 11-0 run. Deja Kelly put the Heels on her back in the third, scoring 11 of her 23 points, for her third-consecutive game with 20 points.

Lexi Donarski (13), Alyssa Ustby and Indya Nivar (10 each) all joined Kelly in double-digits, while every Tar Heel but Anya Poole and Teonni Key made four shots.

Carolina played in front of a packed Carmichael Arena, with over 6,000 fans in attendance. Expect Carmichael to be packed even more for future games, as the Tar Heels are now in first place.

UNC gets University of Miami (FL) next, with the Hurricanes coming to Chapel Hill for an 8 p.m. tip-off on Thursday. Miami (12-5, 2-4 ACC) beat NC State by 14 on Thursday.

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Deja Kelly goes off, leads Tar Heels to tough road win at Georgia Tech

If UNC women’s basketball star Deja Kelly has the ball, opponents are going to have a tough time. She scored 27 points in a Thursday win.

Have a day, Deja Kelly.

The UNC women’s basketball team’s star point guard has been showing out in her final collegiate season, consistently leading her team in scoring and dropping 20 points on the regular. Along with fellow senior captain Alyssa Ustby, plus a trio of off-season transfers in Lexi Donarski, Maria Gakdeng and Indya Nivar, Kelly is helping make the Tar Heels a legitimate ACC threat.

Kelly’s most recent 20-point outing came earlier on Thursday, Jan. 28, as she dropped 27 to lead Carolina in a 73-68 road victory over Georgia Tech. Her most impactful points came from the charity stripe, making six free throws in the final 23 seconds.

With the win, Kelly’s second-consecutive game with 27 points, the 23rd-ranked Tar Heels (13-5, 5-1) jumped Florida State for third place in the ACC.

Though UNC only won by five, it maintained a lead at the end of each quarter. Carolina held a 17-11 advantage after the opening quarter, 2-point lead at halftime and 8-point advantage heading into the final frame.

Alyssa Ustby continued her strong stretch of play, adding 15 points for the Tar Heels. Sophomore guard Teonni Key enjoyed her best game of the year, adding on a season-high 10 points.

UNC will be playing for first place in the ACC on Sunday, as Louisville comes to Carmichael Arena for a 2 p.m. tip-off. The Cardinals (16-2, 5-0) are winners of their past six matchups.

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UNC drops three spots in latest AP Women’s Poll

After splitting games against Florida State and UVA last week, the UNC women’s basketball team dropped slightly in the latest AP Poll.

After having its second 5-game win streak of the campaign snapped by Florida State last week, the UNC women’s basketball team responded with a dominant home victory over UVA on Sunday.

Carolina celebrated its 1994 National Championship team, which including former longtime head coach Sylvia Hatchell. The Tar Heels then put on a show for just over 4,500 fans, blowing out the visiting Cavaliers by 13 points.

Even with its recent hot streak, UNC finds itself clinging on to a low ranking in the latest AP Poll. Carolina dropped three spots to 23rd, a spot behind Marquette and just ahead of Iowa State.

The Tar Heels could find themselves climbing this poll with strong results in their upcoming games. They travel to 12-5 Georgia Tech for a 6 p.m. ET tip Thursday, then host #13 Louisville next Sunday at 2 p.m.

Being ranked in the AP Poll is always something teams like to see, but it’s not a requirement to make the NCAA Tournament, particularly if you’re in a Power 5 conference like UNC. Carolina ended last year ranked 20th in the AP Poll – will they be higher at the conclusion of the current season?

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