UNC Looks to Rebound in NCAA Tournament After ACC Disappointment

Tar Heels focus on 'two games in Greenville' as they face VCU in first round

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:23am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

North Carolina enters the NCAA Tournament looking to bounce back from a disappointing showing in the ACC Tournament. Head coach Hubert Davis has a unique approach, breaking down the tournament into three separate two-game events, with the first stop being in Greenville, South Carolina. The Tar Heels, seeded 6th in the South Region, will face 11th-seeded VCU in the opening round, hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's first-round exit.

Why it matters

North Carolina is one of college basketball's most storied programs, and a deep NCAA Tournament run is always expected. After failing to win the ACC Tournament, the Tar Heels will look to redeem themselves and potentially make a push towards their seventh national championship.

The details

The Tar Heels enter the tournament at 24-8 overall, having lost their last two games. However, they previously rattled off five straight wins, which could be a good omen. UNC will face a VCU team that is fresh off winning the Atlantic 10 Tournament title and has been playing well, but the Rams have struggled against NCAA Tournament teams this season.

  • North Carolina's first game in the NCAA Tournament is on Thursday, March 19.
  • This is UNC's first game on March 19 since their upset of No. 1 seed Baylor in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

The players

Hubert Davis

The head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, who has a unique approach to the NCAA Tournament, breaking it down into three separate two-game events.

Derek Dixon

A North Carolina player who expressed confidence in the team's ability to bounce back in the NCAA Tournament after their recent struggles.

Phil Martelli Jr.

The first-year head coach of the VCU Rams, who are making their 20th NCAA Tournament appearance.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We haven't been at our best the last two games, but this is March — this is what you play for. So we're definitely going to bring it in the (NCAA) tournament.”

— Derek Dixon, North Carolina player

“They are an accomplished program, an accomplished team that's just coming off of winning the Atlantic 10 tournament title, playing with tremendous confidence, and they've had great success this year.”

— Hubert Davis, North Carolina head coach

What’s next

The winner of the UNC-VCU matchup will face the winner of the No. 3 seed Illinois vs. No. 14 seed Penn game on Saturday.

The takeaway

North Carolina's NCAA Tournament approach of breaking the event into three separate two-game tournaments reflects their focus on taking it one step at a time. After a disappointing ACC Tournament showing, the Tar Heels will look to rebound and make a deep run in the Big Dance, potentially setting up a chance to compete for their seventh national championship.