It has been more than a week since the Women Tar Heels last played, and much like the men there isn’t really anything else on their minds except where they fit into the tournament. So with Selection Sunday on the horizon, here is a quick recap of what the Tar Heels have done in the Tournaments in the past.
History
When North Carolina’s name gets announced on Selection Sunday, it will be their 33rd time making the tournament. In those previous 32 tournaments, North Carolina has made 19 Sweet Sixteens, 7 Elite
Eights, 3 Final Fours and 1 title games, which they won in 1994.
The Tar Heels 32 appearances ranks seventh all-time, and is second in the ACC behind Stanford who are only in their second season in the conference. Their 19 Sweet Sixteens is tied for seventh all-time with Texas and ranks third in the ACC, behind Stanford and Notre Dame. North Carolina’s seven Elite Eights are tied for sixteenth with Virginia and Rutgers and are tied with the Cavaliers for fifth in the ACC behind Stanford, Duke, Notre Dame and Louisville. Meanwhile, their three Final Fours are tied for fourteenth with eight other schools, and their one Championship is tied for ninth with seven other programs.
Streaks
When the Tar Heels hear their name called on Selection Sunday it will be their seventh straight tournament appearance. Though that is not as long as the men’s streak, the Women have been a solid basketball team throughout the years. Here is a list of streaks for UNC over the years:
Tournaments made: 10 (2002-2011)
First Round games won: 10* (1992-95, 1997-2000, 2002-2003)
*You may have noticed the gaps as those are years that UNC missed the tournament. However, since they didn’t make the tournament, they didn’t lose first round games either. Just like with the men this number could be increased to 12 as in 1986 and 1987 there were given byes out of the first round, therefore not losing, but not playing them either.
Sweet Sixteens: 7 (1994-1995, 1997-2000, 2002, same rules apply as first round games)
Elite Eights: 4 (2005-2008, one more than the men’s streak)
Final Fours: 2 (2006-2007)
Championship Games: 1 (1994, only championship made, but they made it worth it)
One Seeds: 4 (2005-2008, this streak actually overlaps with the men’s one seed streak; good times)
Seeding
Currently North Carolina is looking at a top 4 seed, which was guaranteed when they were announced as a host on Saturday. The Tar Heels have been a 4 seed eight previous times (their most in the tournament). Even though they have been a four seed twice more than any other seed, their 11 wins ranks third behind the 1 and 3 seed, while their winning percentage ranks fifth.
Additionally, of the 32 times North Carolina has been in the tournament, they have been a 1 seed five times , a 2 seed two times, a 3 seed six times, a 5 seed three times, a 6 seed two times, a 7 seed two times, a 8 and 9 seed one time, and a 10 seed twice.
The Tar Heels one championship came as a three seed but they have won their most games (16) and been their most successful (.762 winning percentage) as a 1 seed. They have been the least successful as a 10 seed (.000, which is tied with their percentage as a nine seed, but they’ve been a 10 seed an additional time).
Here’s hoping that all the numbers align well for the Tar Heels!
