For as good a crew UNC is in men’s basketball, it hasn’t loved a ton of current success in the ACC Tournament.
North Carolina has received the ACC Tourney 18 times, however just three times in the 21st century. While prevailing the convention crown is usually a exceptional accomplishment, it doesn’t examine to the Big Dance, which the Tar Heels have enjoyed notably greater success in.
For these of you wondering, UNC last captured the ACC Tournament crown in 2016, beating snail-paced UVA in a 61-57 clash. Joel Berry II gained tournament MVP honors – would he do the same in the Big Dance?
What exactly befell after that elusive ACC crown?
North Carolina, which earned the East’s top seed, breezed via most of the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels beat Florida Gulf Coast with the aid of sixteen in the opening round, Providence (85-66), Indiana (101-86), Notre Dame (88-74) and Syracuse (83-66) en route to the title game.
Not to deliver up any painful memories, but that 2016 National Championship recreation still sits fresh in my mind. UNC and Villanova played neck-and-neck most of the game, until the Wildcats started to spoil away later in the 2nd half.
Marcus Paige played transient hero for North Carolina, hitting an off-balance 3-pointer to tie the game at 74 in the waning seconds.
There used to be one problem – too an awful lot time. Villanova took gain of this, with Ryan Arcidiacono discovering a wide-open Kris Jenkins crossing the half-court line. Jenkins drained the deep 3-pointer, sending heartbreak via Chapel Hill.
