While we’re sitting over here focusing on what’s going on over at the Smith Center with the men’s team, the UNC women’s basketball team had an amazing weekend in Chapel Hill. They hosted an NCAA Tournament pod for the second year in a row, and showed that they earned the fourth seed that many questioned by controlling their game against fifth-seeded Maryland almost from beginning almost to end. Unlike other games earlier in the season, in which the Tar Heels let a lead slip away and the other team was
able to take them down, Carolina responded with clutch shooting down the stretch to send Maryland back home.
All in all it was just a great feeling, especially for the folks that were in attendance. Now, let’s see who the Tar Heels have to play…
So, yeah, maybe they were able to have fun in Forth Worth over the last couple of days?
Yes, in a shock to no one, the next opponent is the UConn Huskies, the team that was actually a -270 favorite to win the tournament before the brackets were announced. Now? It’s ticked up to -260 but it’s truly absurd that with sixteen teams left in the tournament that any team would be a minus anything to win it all. That eye-popping final score from their game against Syracuse — a team that Carolina needed two overtimes to beat — is actually representative of UConn taking their foot off the gas, as they were up 65-12 at halftime. Yes, if you’re doing the math, that’s the exact same 43 point margin.
If there’s any iota of hope for the Tar Heels it’s that the arena hosting this event today — Dickies Arena in Fort Worth — last saw the Carolina men’s team in 2022. It was where the eighth-seeded Heels defeated Baylor in that crazy game in which Brady Manek was tossed and the Tar Heels surrendered a huge lead, but still ended up winning in overtime.
Man — when you think about it now, that really should have been a warning sign, shouldn’t it? Anyway, back to the women’s team.
So, upsets have happened here and have happened at the hands of the Tar Heels. To pull this off, Carolina is going to need every ounce of effort they have, and a lot of luck. UConn hasn’t played a close game since all the way back in November against Michigan. They have been truly dominating every other game this year, and legendary coach Geno Auriemma will have his squad ready to play.
Still, upsets happen and who knows? Maybe the shots have trouble falling for UConn, the Tar Heels get hot from three to establish a lead, and they are able to get the tempo down to a level where the Huskies can’t run away and hide from them.
That said, again, I hope the Tar Heels made sure to have some fun in the Metroplex before today’s game.
If you happen to be in the Fort Worth area and want to see some high-level NCAA Basketball, then tickets are available in Dickies Arena for the event. One ticket gets you both regional games, as the winner of this game will take on the winner of the region’s first game, sixth-seeded Notre Dame against second-seeded Vanderbilt. Most are expecting the 1-2 showdown, but wouldn’t it be fun to have an all-ACC regional final on Sunday?
If you aren’t going to be in Fort Worth or can’t make the game, here’s how you can catch the action — and remember to join us to chat about the game in the comments below!
- Time: Approximately 5:00 PM ET, 30 minutes after the end of Notre Dame/Vanderbilt
- Location: Dickies Arena — Fort Worth, TX
- TV: ESPN — Tiffany Greene and Carolyn Peck will call the action, Angel Gray will work the sidelines, and Dee Kantner will be on site for rules. Also, Christine Williamson, Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike will be on-site for all action before and after as well as halftimes.
- Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network with Matt Krause expertly calling the action. Here’s a list of affiliates airing the THSN broadcast — look for “Basketball Women’s.” Once the NCAA Tournament begins, radio streaming rights cede to the NCAA so it may be more difficult to find the stream through the usual methods. Sirius XM will have a call on channel 203, but it’ll likely be the national Westwood One call.
- Streaming: Streaming is available on WatchESPN or the app.
- Line: UNC +27.5, Moneyline is UNC +5000, UConn -100000.
