The North Carolina Tar Heels earned their one seed with their victory over Virginia in the ACC Championship Game.
The North Carolina Tar Heels stood and delivered on Saturday night when theydefeated the Virginia Cavaliersand won the ACC Tournament for Men’s Basketball in Washington D.C. In a fitting nature, the Tar Heels got to sixty first against a team whose tactics come from Wisconsin and the Big Ten.
It was a hard game and grinding game where the foul count remained low throughout. Defense was at a premium and the Tar Heels back court delivered by keeping the opposite numbers on Virginia suppressed for most of the game.Malcolm Brogdonworked for his fifteen points whileLondon Perranteswas kept out of double figures. Their antagonists wereMarcus PaigeandJoel Berryrespectively.
In fact Paige played his best game of the tournament despite going 0 for the three point line. His defensive effort was matched by good offensive reads and someKemba Walker-esque two point jumpers. The Tar Heels needed every one of his thirteen points.
Berry received Tournament MVP honors for the most consistent play throughout the games. With inside passing cut off by Virginia double teams, Berry added nineteen points of offense from the three and some hard drives to split defenders.
More from North Carolina Tar Heels
- NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
- UNC Football gets Commitment from Top Cornerback
- Four North Carolina players selected in first round of MLB Draft
- UNC Destroyed by Coach Duggs and Tennessee in NCAA Football 14
- UNC Basketball: Former Tar Heel star calls out Roy Williams
Virginia testedJustin Jacksonearly with driving offense fromDevon HallandMarial Shayok, but even Jackson managed to influence the game before the end. Late in the second half, Jackson stole a pass intended forAnthony Gilland ran to the court to dunk it and give the team a much needed six point cushion.
Down lowBrice Johnsonscored twelve andIsaiah Hicksscored seven from the bench. Freshman guardKenny Williamscontributed by bothering Brogdon for six minutes of game time.
More fromOld North Banter
- Carolina Panthers: Secondary battles to watch in training camp 2020
- Carolina Panthers: 2020 training camp kicks off on Tuesday
- NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
- Court alleges Zion’s Stepfather received $400k
- UNC Football gets Commitment from Top Cornerback
This was a total team effort to defeat the Virginia plan, because this was a Virginia style game from start to finish. From no scoring in the first two minutes to running past the under 16 and then under 12 timeouts before a play stoppage in the first half. The 28-28 tie, and then the Tar Heels only gaining the lead for good very late.
So the Tar Heels finally won the day in the end. Yesterday they were granted the number 1 seed in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament. Thursday will find the Heels playing the winner of the Farleigh-Dickinson versus Florida Gulf Coast game at 7:20 PM.
This ACC Tournament victory marks the first such victory for the team since 2008 when theTyler Hansbroughteam won it the year before their national title. They were a Final Four team that year though. The current group of seniors had been in this game three times total. They had previously lost to Miami in 2013 and Notre Dame last year.
Yet business is not finished for this Tar Heel team. With their one seed draw and expectations, they will be aiming for a bigger prize over the next few weeks. That would be a trip to Houston for the granddaddy of them all.
Add us as a preferred source onGoogleLoading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations