J. Mike Blake, writer for HighSchoolOT.com, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the complications with the changes to the North Carolina High School conference realignment. Please click here to listen.
Five-Star Shines for NC State Basketball Alum at Prep Showcase
Potential 2027 NC State basketball recruiting target Jordan Page powered the Broughton High School (N.C.) Capitals, host of the annual John Wall Holiday Invitational, to a 57-43 win over the Ravenscroft School (N.C.) Ravens Thursday. Please click here for more. Broughton coach and former NC State player Scott Wood pictured.
ACC men’s basketball power rankings: Duke, Pitt continue to lead the way
It’s a time of change in the ACC with the fall semester over, the holidays in full swing and three new members officially getting welcomed to their new home with in-conference matchups. As the new year approaches, here’s where the ACC’s 18 men’s basketball programs stand, please click here.
Huskies vs Tar Heels 2024 Fenway Bowl: How to watch, kick off time
The UConn Huskies will face the North Carolina Tar Heels in the 2024 Fenway Bowl game on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Tar Heels finished their season 6-6, while UConn went 8-4. In the all-times series between the two teams, the Tar Heels have won all three times. But, the Heels have lost their last four bowl games. UConn and UNC last faced off in 2009. Please click here for more.
Duke Basketball Freshman’s Younger Brother Gets First D1 Offer
The 6-foot-8 Kager Knueppel, a teammate to Kon Knueppel last year on a Wisconsin Lutheran squad that finished 30-0, is an inch or two taller than his sharpshooting older brother and appears to enjoy a bit more length. Plus, he’s also a proven deep threat. He has an offer from Toledo. Will Duke get involved? Please click here for more.
UNC linebacker Ashton Woods enters NCAA Transfer Portal
North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker Ashton Woods has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, On3 has learned. Woods played high school football at Walton (GA), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 567 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle. Please click here for more.
Top-Paid College Football Assistant Turns Down Bill Belichick Job Offer
Bill Belichick has been rounding out his coaching staff after taking a job at North Carolina, but missed out on landing one high-profile assistant. John Brice of FootballScoop reported that Kentucky associate head coach and tight ends coach Vince Marrow opted to stick with the Wildcats and turn down an offer to join the North Carolina staff. Please click here for more.
NC State, ECU renew in-state rivalry in Go Bowling Military Bowl
Both NC State and East Carolina have played down the word “rivalry” leading up to their matchup in the Military Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 28. It’s hard not to look at the history between these two, the moments and the battles and think of it as anything else. Please click here for more.
Tar Heels save season with big comeback over UCLA
North Carolina had played several top teams and failed to beat any of them. The Tar Heels needed a win over No. 18 UCLA, who had won nine straight, to improve their NCAA Tournament resume. They got it as the Heels rallied from 16 points down in the second half to nip the Bruins 76-74 in the wild last few minutes at Madison Square Garden in New York. (12/21)
Carolina had comeback from big deficits in other games but came up short. After UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau hit back-to-back threes, the Tar Heels trailed 59-43 with less than 13 minutes to play and it looked bleak. But Bilodeau, who got in foul trouble, only managed two more points the rest of the way.
UNC coach Hubert Davis said the experiences of the recent past in losses to Kansas, Auburn, Michigan State and Alabama helped this time. “We remembered the small details,” he said, adding that his team fought possession to possession in the second half.
Freshman Ian Jackson, who was playing in his hometown and scored a season-high 24 points, agreed. “We chipped away piece by piece instead of trying to hit the home run,” he said “We got stops down the stretch until it was time to knock down the door and win, and we did it.”
Carolina, which shot only 35 percent from three, managed two big ones – one by Drake Powell and one by Seth Trimble – to claw back to within seven points.
A 10-1 Tar Heel run, capped by a step-back long two by Jackson, pulled the team within a point at 66-65 with 5:40 to go.
It took a while to tie it, which Jalen Washington did at 72-all by putting in a Trimble miss with 90 seconds left.
With a chance to take the lead, UNC’s RJ Davis was called for a charge and then seconds later was called for a block, which resulted in a pair of free throws for UCLA. It was a rough stretch for Davis who missed the first of two free throws before drawing the Heels within one at 74-73 with the second with 22 seconds to go.
On the inbounds play, defensive pressure from Trimble caused Dylan Andrews to lose the ball out of bounds off his leg. With 13.6 seconds left, Davis was fouled as he drove to the basket.
This time Davis came through with two free throws to give Carolina its first lead since the first minute of the game. UCLA’s Sebastian Mack aggressively attacked the basket in the closing seconds but a short turnaround in the lane banged off the back rim. Elliot Cadeau came down with it and Powell controlled it and was fouled with less than a second to go.
Powell hit the first free throw and missed the second as a desperation heave came up well short and the UNC celebration began.
“We needed one stop,” Coach Davis said noting that the Heels had not got the one stop they needed in the earlier losses. “We got it today.”
Jackson said it felt like a home game while Coach Davis said he’d like to play half the games in Chapel Hill and half at Madison Square Garden.
“We fought extremely hard,” Jackson said. “Our toughness showed at the end of the game.”
Joining Jackson in double figures were Davis, who had 17, and Trimble, who added 12.
Bilodeau’s season-high 26 points led the Bruins, who fall to 10-2.
The Tar Heels, who improve to 7-5 on the season, take on Campbell at home after Christmas.
Belichick is pulling out ALL the stops to impress potential transfer recruits
Since taking over as the UNC football program’s head coach, Bill Belichick, alongside general manager Michael Lombardi, have been very active in the transfer portal. In fact, as of Saturday morning, the Tar Heels have earned commitments from 9 transfers, as more are expected to follow. Please click here for more.