March Madness is coming to Charlotte with UNC Tar Heels-Wagner matchup

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – It doesn’t get much more David vs. Goliath than what is on the table for UNC on Thursday during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

On paper – the top-seeded Tar Heels have all the advantages against Wagner, including the home-court edge playing here in Charlotte.

Carolina is one of the most decorated programs in the country with six national championships, while Wagner making just its second appearance in the Big Dance. The Seahawks are down to seven healthy players ahead of Wednesday, and there’s the fact UNC is the West Region’s No. 1 seed. The Seahawks are 16.

March Madness: Spectrum Center set to host NCAA Tourney first, second rounds

Until recently, it would have been a foregone conclusion that this would be an easy win for UNC but times have changed. The fact is, two No. 1 teams have gone down to a 16 seed.

UMBC shocked Virginia in 2018 — a game also played in Charlotte. And then just last year Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Purdue. UNC center Armando Bacot said the landscape in college sports has changed, and that’s why the Heels can’t take their opponent lightly.

Charlotte Sports Live asked UNC players if they intend to increase their tempo for this one to tire them out and they said, “not a chance, they’re just going to play their game.”

Tipoff is Thursday at the Spectrum Center.

NCAA Charlotte Schedule

Thursday’s first-round games will tip off at 12:15 p.m. when No. 8-seed Mississippi State will take on 9-seed Michigan State.

Then at 2:45 p.m., the No. 1 seed UNC will face Wagner.

At 6:50 p.m., No. 7 Texas will hit the court against No. 11 Colorado State.

Rounding out the day, No. 2 Tennessee will tip off against No. 15 Saint Peter’s at 9:20 p.m.

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