As top West Region seed, UNC to play in Charlotte on Thursday

JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer
·2 min read

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — UNC Chapel Hill is the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament West Region a year after being left out of the bracket.

The fourth-ranked Tar Heels will open March Madness just down the road in Charlotte on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. against the First Four winner between Howard and Wagner.

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UNC head coach Hubert Davis said the team was pleased to be playing in front of a friendly crowd this week.

“I know the importance of being able to play close to home, so playing in Charlotte for potentially the first two rounds and being closer to our fans is a big deal for us,” said Davis, who was chosen as the ACC Coach of the Year. “But it’s just fun coming into the tournament.”

The West Region also includes Arizona, Alabama, Baylor and Michigan State.

UNC found itself in a rare position in coach Hubert Davis’ second season a year ago, going from preseason No. 1 to watching the NCAA Tournament from home.

Davis has told his players in the past that a NCAA seed number isn’t what’s important.

“I told them that again today. It’s great being a number one seed but it’s an NCAA Tournament,” Davis said. “It’s 68 accomplished teams so you have to come play, whatever seed you are, wherever you play, so our preparation, practice and play will be the same as it’s been for 34 games. We’re excited about the challenge.”

Behind RJ Davis and Armando Bacot, the Tar Heels opened this season at No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and steadily climbed the polls, reaching No. 3 for a three-week stretch.

RELATED: Click here for the full 2024 NCAA Tourament bracket (pdf file)

UNC went 27-7 overall and 17-3 to win its first outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title in seven years before losing to North Carolina State 84-76 in the ACC tournament championship game.

Davis was stellar in his senior season, leading the ACC with 21.4 points per game. Bacot continued to dominate in the paint, averaging 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds. Both played in the 2022 national championship game.

RELATED: Click here for the full 2024 NCAA Tourament bracket (pdf file)

The Tar Heels also got a big lift from Stanford transfer Harrison Ingram and sharpshooter Cormac Ryan to sweep rival Duke.

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