University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Set For Indiana In Sweet 16
March 25, 2016 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA, PA.—Top-seeded North Carolina (30-6) will face fifth-seeded Indiana (27-7) in an NCAA Tournament East Regional semifinal on Friday night in Philadelphia. The Tar Heels and Hoosiers will take the opening tip at 10 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center. Notre Dame will meet Wisconsin at 7:27 p.m., followed by UNC-IU.
♦ The Tar Heels are making their record 33rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament round of 16 and their record 27th official Sweet 16 appearance (since 1975).
♦ UNC beat No. 16 seed Florida Gulf Coast and No. 9 seed Providence last weekend in Raleigh to advance to Philadelphia. Indiana beat No. 12 seed Chattanooga and No. 4 seed Kentucky in Des Moines, Iowa.
♦ Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst) and Dana Jacobson (reporter) will call the game for a TBS national TV audience (and the March Madness Live app).
♦ Westwood One Sports will carry the game nationally on radio. Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and John Thompson (analyst) will have the call.
TAR HEEL STORYLINES
♦ UNC, the second overall NCAA seed this year behind Kansas, is seeking its sixth NCAA championship and its third under head coach Roy Williams (2005, 2009).
♦ The Tar Heels have played in 18 Final Fours, most in history. Fourteen of those 18 Final Four runs began in the East Regional.
♦ Carolina is the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament champion. An NCAA-record six ACC teams earned berths in this weekend's NCAA Sweet 16 (Carolina, Duke, Virginia, Miami, Notre Dame and Syracuse).
UP NEXT
♦ The winner of Friday's game will advance to Sunday's East Regional final in Philadelphia against the winner of the matchup between No. 6 seed Notre Dame and No. 7 seed Wisconsin.
A TAR HEEL WIN WOULD ...
♦ Make UNC 31-6 in 2015-16.
♦ Send Carolina to its 27th NCAA regional final, including its seventh in 12 NCAA Tournament appearances under Roy Williams.
♦ Improve Carolina to 53-10 as an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed.
♦ Improve Williams' NCAA Tournament record to 68-23, including 34-9 at UNC.
♦ Improve Carolina to 4-1 in the NCAA Tournament in Philadelphia.
♦ Improve Williams' career record as a head coach to 781-208 overall, including 363-107 at Carolina.
A TAR HEEL LOSS WOULD ...
♦ End UNC's 2015-16 season at 30-7.
♦ Drop UNC to 52-11 in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed.
♦ Drop Roy Williams' career record to 780-209 overall, including 362-108 at UNC.
♦ Drop Williams to 67-24 in NCAA action overall, including 33-10 at UNC.
♦ Drop UNC to 3-2 in the NCAA Tournament in Philadelphia.
TAR HEEL TIDBITS
TEAM NOTES
♦ This season, Carolina won the regular-season title and the ACC Tournament in the same year for the 11th time (1957, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1977, 1979, 1982, 2007, 2008 and 2016). In eight of the previous 10 occasions, UNC subsequently advanced to the NCAA Final Four (1957, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1977, 1982 and 2008).
♦ This is the third time that Roy Williams has coached the Tar Heels to the regular-season and Tournament titles in the same year (2007, 2008, 2016).
♦ Four UNC players have at least 100 assists this year: Joel Berry II (124), Marcus Paige (111), Theo Pinson (105) and Justin Jackson (104). This season marks only the second time and the first since the 1972-73 season four Tar Heels have tallied 100 assists (George Karl 192, Bobby Jones 130, Donn Johnston 112, Darrell Elston 100).
♦ UNC's defense has allowed only one opponent to shoot 50 percent or better from the floor this season (Maryland at .508 on Dec. 1).
♦ The Tar Heels have held 27 consecutive opponents to under 45 percent in field goal percentage.
♦ Carolina had 40 fast break points in its first two NCAA Tournament wins (outscored Florida Gulf Coast and Providence, 40-8, in fast break points). UNC is 22-1 this year when it has at least 10 fast break points.
♦ The Tar Heels scored 44 and 46 points in the paint vs. FGCU and Providence. UNC is 22-1 this year when it scores at least 40 points in the paint.
♦ Assist-Turnover Ratio: Carolina's assist-to-turnover ratio (1.63) ranks third in the nation and is the best of any Tar Heel team since turnovers were first recorded in 1981-82. The second-best figure is 1.53 in 1985-86. Other top-five seasons include 1.45 (2008-09), 1.45 (2011-12) and 1.42 (1997-98).
♦ Cutting Down on Turnovers: UNC is averaging 10.9 turnovers per game, the lowest figure of any Carolina team since turnovers were first recorded in 1981-82. Last year, the Tar Heels averaged nearly 13 turnovers per contest.
♦ There have been seven seasons in which UNC has committed fewer than 13 turnovers per game. The current record was set in 2013-14 (11.94 per game). The other seasons below 13 are 2011-12 (11.95), 2012-13 (12.3), 2008-09 (12.4), 1994-95 (12.9) and 1981-82 (12.9).
♦ Shooting 50 Percent: UNC is 19-1 this year when shooting at least 50 percent from the floor.
♦ Carolina is 175-16 under Roy Williams when its opponents shoot under 40 percent.
♦ UNC's three-point percentage of 31.4 would be the lowest in school history. The current low is 32.8 percent, set in 2010-11.
♦ 80 or More: Carolina has scored 80 or more points in 23 of 36 games and is averaging 82.4 ppg this season.
♦ The Tar Heels are 235-28 in 13 seasons under Roy Williams when they score at least 80 points (22-1 this season).
♦ 90 or More: The Tar Heels have scored 90 or more points eight times his season after doing so five times all of last year.
♦ 100 or More: UNC is 49-1 under Williams when it scores 100 points or more.
♦ Carolina is the first team in ACC history to win the ACC regular-season championship outright and have only one player earn all-conference honors. Brice Johnson was a unanimous selection to the 2016 All-ACC first team by both the media and the coaches. No other outright champion ever had just one player on the first, second and third teams.
♦ The Tar Heels also have just one player in the top 25 in the league in scoring. Johnson is seventh at 16.8 points per game. The Tar Heels lead the ACC in scoring as a team at 82.4 points per game.
♦ Carolina's six losses have been by a total of 22 points. That's the fewest combined points in UNC's first six losses in a season since 1941, when UNC's first six losses were by a combined 17 points (and its first seven that year were by 18).
♦ Carolina tied its school record for regular-season ACC wins with 14. This is the ninth time UNC won 14 games (1957, 1984, 1987, 1993, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2016). The last five times were under head coach Roy Williams.
♦ 25-Point Games: No Tar Heel player scored 25 points in a game last season, but the team has had eight 25-point performances this year by four different players: Justin Jackson (25 vs. Northern Iowa), Kennedy Meeks (25 vs. Temple), Marcus Paige (30 at Florida State) and Brice Johnson five times (25 vs. Tulane, 27 vs. UCLA, 39 at Florida State, 27 vs. Wake Forest and 29 vs. Duke).
♦ In the NCAA stats: The Tar Heels are 12th in the nation in scoring at 82.4 points per game, 12th in scoring margin at 13.0, third with an assist-turnover ratio of 1.63, fourth with 17.8 assists per game, 12th in rebounding margin (8.3) and 23rd in field goal percentage (47.8).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
♦ Brice Johnson and Isaiah Hicks are the third and fourth Tar Heels to shoot 60 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the free throw in the same season (minimum 100 field goals made). The only other Tar Heels to accomplish that are Tommy LaGarde in 1976 (.612 FG, .809 FT) and Dennis Wuycik in 1971 (.607 FG, .858 FT) and 1972 (.610 FG, .854 FT). Johnson enters Sweet 16 play shooting 61.9 percent from the floor and 77.8 percent from the free throw line. Hicks is shooting 61.5 percent overall and 75.2 percent from the line.
♦ Johnson is the only Tar Heel to ever compile 600 points, 375 rebounds, 50 blocks and 40 steals and shoot 60 percent from the floor in a season.
♦ Johnson has 996 career rebounds, eighth in UNC history, and needs four to become the eighth Tar Heel with 1,000 rebounds. Brad Daugherty is seventh in school history with 1,003.
♦ Johnson leads the ACC with 21 double-doubles this season. He had 10 in 108 games in his first three seasons.
♦ Johnson's 21 double-doubles are tied as the second-most in UNC single-season history with John Henson in 2010-11 and Antawn Jamison in 1997-98. Billy Cunningham had 22 in 1964.
♦ Johnson is eighth in UNC history with 157 blocked shots. Scott Williams is seventh with 161 and Eric Montross is sixth with 169.
♦ Johnson has 377 rebounds this year, the fifth-best single-season total in UNC history. Billy Cunningham is fourth with 379 in 1963-64, Antawn Jamison is third with 389 in 1997-98 and Sean May is second with 397 in 2004-05. Tyler Hansbrough had 399 in 2007-08.
♦ Johnson is the only player in the ACC shooting at least 60 percent from the floor.
♦ Johnson is on pace to become the third Tar Heel to average a double-double in points and rebounds and shoot 60 percent (with Mitch Kupchak in 1975 and Bobby Jones in 1973) and the fifth Tar Heel in the last 39 years to average a double-double (with John Henson in 2011, Tyler Hansbrough in 2008, Sean May in 2005 and Antawn Jamison in 1998).
♦ Johnson has six games this season with 15 or more rebounds. He's the first Tar Heel to accomplish that since Sean May in 2004-05. The last Tar Heel with seven or more 15-rebound games in a season was Billy Cunningham with 12 in 1963-64.
♦ Johnson has 1,641 career points, 20th in school history. Wayne Ellington is 19th with 1,694, Rick Fox is 18th with 1,703 and Billy Cunningham is 17th with 1,709.
♦ Johnson is averaging a team-high and career-high 16.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this season. His previous career highs were 12.9 ppg and 7.8 rpg last season.
♦ Joel Berry II is only the second Tar Heel point guard to win ACC Tournament MVP honors, joining Phil Ford in 1975.
♦ Berry has scored in double figures in 25 of the last 27 games and 31 of 36 contests this season. As a freshman he scored in double figures one time.
♦ UNC is 29-2 this season when Berry scores in double figures.
♦ Berry has committed just three turnovers in the last four games.
♦ Marcus Paige has scored 1,776 points, 13th in Carolina history. Michael Jordan is 12th with 1,788 and Bobby Lewis is 11th with 1,836.
♦ Paige has 585 assists, eighth in school history. Ty Lawson is seventh with 608.
♦ Paige has 200 career steals, third in UNC history. George Lynch is second with 241.
♦ Paige is one of four Tar Heels with 1,500 career points and 500 career assists (joining Phil Ford, Jeff Lebo and Kenny Smith).
ANOTHER SWEET 16
♦ The win over Providence sent Carolina its record 33rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament round of 16 and its 27th official Sweet 16 appearance.
♦ This is UNC's eighth Sweet 16 in 12 NCAA trips under Roy Williams.
♦ The NCAA record book lists Sweet 16 appearances only since 1975 (when all teams have needed to win at least one game to reach the regional semis). Carolina has advanced to the Sweet 16 an NCAA-record 27 times since 1975. Kentucky and Duke are second with 25.
♦ UNC has an all-time record of 25-7 in NCAA Tournament regional semifinal games, including a 19-7 mark since the NCAA field expanded in 1975.
♦ Carolina has won 11 of its last 12 games in the regional semifinals, winning 11 in a row before losing to Wisconsin in 2015. UNC's 11 straight Sweet 16 wins came in 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2000, 1998, 1997, 1995 and 1993.
♦ UNC has reached the Sweet 16 25 times in its last 33 NCAA Tournament appearances.
♦ Roy Williams has taken 17 teams to the Sweet 16 and is making his 26th NCAA Tournament appearance as a head coach.
SERIES HISTORY VS. INDIANA
♦ Indiana leads the all-time series with North Carolina, 8-5.
♦ Most recently, top-ranked IU beat UNC, 83-59, in Bloomington on Nov. 27, 2012. Tar Heel seniors Marcus Paige, Brice Johnson and Joel James were freshmen on that team.
♦ Carolina is 2-4 against Indiana at neutral sites, including a 2-0 Hoosier advantage in NCAA Tournament games.
♦ The Hoosiers have won five of the last seven games in the series, a stretch that began with an IU win in the 1981 NCAA championship game in Philadelphia.
♦ The UNC wins in that stretch were a 106-92 win on Nov. 25, 1988, in the Preseason NIT third-place game in Madison Square Garden in New York City and a 70-63 win in Bloomington in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Dec. 1, 2004.
♦ Roy Williams is 6-2 as a head coach against Indiana, including a 5-1 mark at Kansas and a 1-1 record at Carolina.
♦ These same two teams met in the 1981 NCAA championship game played at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. Isiah Thomas led all scorers with 23 points to lead the Hoosiers to the national title, 63-50. The teams played despite the fact that President Ronald Reagan was wounded in an assassination attempt that afternoon (March 30, 1981) in Washington, D.C. A year later, Dean Smith won his first NCAA championship.
♦ Indiana also beat the top-ranked Tar Heeels in the 1984 NCAA Sweet 16 at the Omni in Atlanta. That night, Steve Alford scored 27 points for IU, which ended the UNC careers of Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins, 72-68.
LAST TIME VS. IU
♦ Carolina kept it close for most of the first half at top-ranked Indiana but lost, 83-59, on Nov. 27, 2012, in the ACC/Big Challenge in Bloomington, Ind.
♦ The score was tied 31-all with 4:14 left in the first half. The Hoosiers put together a 15-6 run to end the half, then a 13-0 burst to start the second half (28-6 overall, taking a 59-37 lead with 15:17 left in the game).
♦ UNC didn't make its first field goal after the break until the 14:58 mark, missing its first 11 field goal tries after halftime.
♦ The Tar Heels shot just .278 in the second half and .377 for the game after shooting .485 in the first 20 minutes.
♦ Dexter Strickland led Carolina with 14 points on 6 for 10 shooting. James Michael McAdoo had 10 points and nine rebounds despite 4 for 15 shooting. Marcus Paige scored 11 points and Brice Johnson had 10.
CAROLINA'S HISTORY IN THE NCAA EAST REGIONAL
♦ Carolina is making its 28th NCAA Tournament appearance in the East Regional and its first since 2014.
♦ UNC is 63-14 in the NCAA East Regional.
♦ UNC has advanced to through the East Regional in 14 of its 18 Final Four seasons (1946-1957-1967-1968-1969-1972-1977-1982-1991-1993-1997-1998-2005-2008).
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY IN PHILLY
♦ Carolina is 3-1 in NCAA Tournament games played in Philadelphia. That includes two wins in the 1957 East Regional semifinal and final and a 1-1 mark in the 1981 Final Four in The Spectrum
♦ In 1957, UNC beat Canisius, 87-75 in the regional semifinal and Syracuse, 67-58, in the regional final. A week later, Carolina beat Michigan State and Kansas (both in triple overtime) in Kansas City to win the first of UNC's five NCAA titles.
♦ In 1981, the Tar Heels beat Ralph Sampson and Virginia in the national semifinal, 78-65, behind 39 points from Al Wood. Two nights later, Indiana beat UNC in the title game.
♦ In its history, Carolina is 5-0 in the Palestra with appearances in 1948, 1957, 1987 and 2008.
♦ UNC went 1-2 in The Spectrum (1-1 at the 1981 Final Four and a 76-56 loss to No. 7 Villanova on Jan. 20, 1996).
SEEKING ANOTHER ELITE 8
♦ A win over Indiana would send Carolina to an NCAA regional final for the 27th time overall, the first time since 2012 and the seventh time in 13 years under Roy Williams.
♦ The Tar Heels have advanced to at least the regional finals under Williams in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, reaching the Final Four in 2005, 2008 and 2009 and winning the national championship in '05 and '09.
