University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: J.D. Lyon Jr.
Lucas: Rapid Reactions
March 17, 2019 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from Carolina's NCAA Tournament selection.
By Adam Lucas
1. Great to see the very happy reaction from the Tar Heels when they were announced as the third number-one seed. It's obvious the players feel like they accomplished something, while also knowing there is more to come.
2. If you travel back in time to Jan. 12, there is no way you believed this Carolina team would earn a number-one seed. Before you get too focused on matchups and brackets, take just a second to appreciate how remarkable it is how far they've come.
3. Now, about that bracket. Iona is a good team. The Tar Heels will have a good source for information on the Gaels, as Iona plays in the same conference with King Rice's Monmouth club. Also, it is a certainty that at some point this week someone will repeat the Jim Valvano "You look a little young to own a college" story.
4. It's hard to find too much to complain about with regard to either seeding (can't do better than a one) or location. There were only two spots in Columbia, and it was virtually a foregone conclusion that Duke and Virginia were going to get those slots. The last time Carolina was in Columbus was the 2007 ACC-Big Ten Challenge, when the Heels won at Ohio State, 66-55.
5. The previous seven number-one seeded Carolina teams under Roy Williams (quick pause to note that it's completely absurd that half the seasons Roy Williams has coached Carolina, the Tar Heels have earned a top seed) have advanced to three national championships, two Final Fours and two regional finals.
6. Not going to Columbia was a big help for Seventh Woods' ticket requests, but didn't do any favors to Sterling Manley. The sophomore's hometown of Pickerington is 24 minutes from Columbus.
7. After last year's Virginia-UMBC game, this will be a year that every single one seed is on high alert. This stat will be frequently repeated in the days to come: Roy Williams has won at least one game in every NCAA Tournament in which he has participated. That, folks, is an incredible fact.
8. One win would put the Tar Heels into a challenging second-round game against the winner of the Washington-Utah State game. The Huskies are better than they showed in a Pac-10 tournament loss to Oregon, and Utah State is the type of program that would have nothing to lose against the Tar Heels and would be eager to prove itself. And as for that potential second weekend in Kansas City...well, that's still too far away to think about. But just remember, the NCAA consistently says it pays no attention to possible storylines.
9. If Luke Maye scores 14 more points this season, the Tar Heels will have three 500-point scorers on this year's team (Cameron Johnson and Coby White have already passed that figure). Seven previous UNC teams have had three 500-point scorers in the same season. Three of those won the national title, one finished as the national runner-up, two advanced to the Final Four, and one was eliminated in the regional final. Only two Roy Williams teams at Carolina have had three 500-point scorers--the 2009 squad and 2017. (Thanks to Isaac Schade for unearthing that nugget)
10. Stay tuned to GoHeels later tonight for a story from Roy Williams' home in Chapel Hill, where the Tar Heels watched the selection show as a team.
1. Great to see the very happy reaction from the Tar Heels when they were announced as the third number-one seed. It's obvious the players feel like they accomplished something, while also knowing there is more to come.
2. If you travel back in time to Jan. 12, there is no way you believed this Carolina team would earn a number-one seed. Before you get too focused on matchups and brackets, take just a second to appreciate how remarkable it is how far they've come.
3. Now, about that bracket. Iona is a good team. The Tar Heels will have a good source for information on the Gaels, as Iona plays in the same conference with King Rice's Monmouth club. Also, it is a certainty that at some point this week someone will repeat the Jim Valvano "You look a little young to own a college" story.
4. It's hard to find too much to complain about with regard to either seeding (can't do better than a one) or location. There were only two spots in Columbia, and it was virtually a foregone conclusion that Duke and Virginia were going to get those slots. The last time Carolina was in Columbus was the 2007 ACC-Big Ten Challenge, when the Heels won at Ohio State, 66-55.
5. The previous seven number-one seeded Carolina teams under Roy Williams (quick pause to note that it's completely absurd that half the seasons Roy Williams has coached Carolina, the Tar Heels have earned a top seed) have advanced to three national championships, two Final Fours and two regional finals.
6. Not going to Columbia was a big help for Seventh Woods' ticket requests, but didn't do any favors to Sterling Manley. The sophomore's hometown of Pickerington is 24 minutes from Columbus.
7. After last year's Virginia-UMBC game, this will be a year that every single one seed is on high alert. This stat will be frequently repeated in the days to come: Roy Williams has won at least one game in every NCAA Tournament in which he has participated. That, folks, is an incredible fact.
8. One win would put the Tar Heels into a challenging second-round game against the winner of the Washington-Utah State game. The Huskies are better than they showed in a Pac-10 tournament loss to Oregon, and Utah State is the type of program that would have nothing to lose against the Tar Heels and would be eager to prove itself. And as for that potential second weekend in Kansas City...well, that's still too far away to think about. But just remember, the NCAA consistently says it pays no attention to possible storylines.
9. If Luke Maye scores 14 more points this season, the Tar Heels will have three 500-point scorers on this year's team (Cameron Johnson and Coby White have already passed that figure). Seven previous UNC teams have had three 500-point scorers in the same season. Three of those won the national title, one finished as the national runner-up, two advanced to the Final Four, and one was eliminated in the regional final. Only two Roy Williams teams at Carolina have had three 500-point scorers--the 2009 squad and 2017. (Thanks to Isaac Schade for unearthing that nugget)
10. Stay tuned to GoHeels later tonight for a story from Roy Williams' home in Chapel Hill, where the Tar Heels watched the selection show as a team.
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