By: Anthony Evangelista
March Madness is here, and for basketball fans in the Carolinas, there’s plenty to be excited about. With six teams from North and South Carolina punching their tickets to the NCAA Tournament, the region is well-represented on college basketball’s biggest stage. From blue-blood powerhouses to mid-major Cinderellas, each team brings its own story, strengths, and aspirations to the Big Dance. As the tournament tips off later this week, we’ll break down the six teams from the Carolinas, their matchups and what to expect as they chase a national title.
University of North Carolina Tar Heels- #11 Seed vs. #11 San Diego State (Play-In)
In perhaps the most eye-opening twist of Selection Sunday, the UNC Tar Heels slipped into the tournament as a First Four team, sending shockwaves through the nation and angering many fans of the sport. While UNC’s placement over West Virginia can be argued and disagreed with, the fact of the matter is this: the Tar Heels are in the tournament, and have a real shot to win multiple games.
Headed by senior RJ Davis and a supporting cast of guards that have shown up in the second half of the season, the Tar Heels have won eight of their last 10 with their only losses coming at the hands of Duke. If they make it past SDSU, they’ll be matched up against a gritty Ole Miss squad. While the path is challenging, the Tar Heels’ recent form provides a measure of optimism for their chances.
Duke University Blue Devils- #1 Seed vs. #16 American/Mount St. Mary’s
Is there anyone in this tournament that can stop the Blue Devils? With a textbook season with just three losses that ended in an ACC title, Duke comes into the NCAA Tournament as the clear favorite to win the championship with arguably the easiest path out of all the #1 seeds. With phenom Cooper Flagg expected to return from injury for Duke’s first-round matchup, the Blue Devils come in as the team to beat. Even without Flagg, Duke showcased their depth in the ACC Tournament, showing that they can be just as dominant without the projected first pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. It will be a massive surprise if Duke doesn’t make it to at least the Final Four this year, expectations that college basketball analysts don’t have for any other team. Teams are scared of Duke, but hey- this is March. Anything can happen.
High Point University Panthers- #13 Seed vs. #4 Purdue
Mid-major basketball is on the rise in North Carolina, with High Point punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. After stealing the Big South title from Winthrop in a 15-point comeback victory, the Panthers waltz into the tournament as a popular upset pick against the Purdue Boilermakers. High Point’s most impressive characteristic is their depth, with a nine-man rotation that could produce a different leading scorer every night. Players like Kimani Hamilton and Kezza Giffa have been incredible second-year pieces for High Point, and newcomer Bobby Pettiford has previous experience in March, winning a national championship with Kansas back in 2022. Against a strong Purdue team, High Point will need a lot to go their way to pull off an upset. However, with a coach like Alan Huss, the Panthers are in a prime position to make a big splash.
UNC Wilmington Seahawks- #14 Seed vs. #3 Texas Tech
The UNC Wilmington Seahawks are a good team. After Delaware pulled off two upsets in the CAA Tournament and advanced to the championship, the Seahawks had a much easier road to March Madness than originally expected. That shouldn’t downplay the success of the Seahawks and coach Takayo Siddle, who had a great year and punched their ticket for the first time since 2017. With Donovan Newby at the helm, Wilmington has a very efficient offense. Their defense, while not elite, has shown the ability to step up in crucial moments, allowing them to close out tight games. They’re a longshot to beat Grant McCasland’s Texas Tech squad, but definitely have a chance to make things interesting if they can dictate the pace and knock down shots early.
Clemson University Tigers- #5 Seed vs. #12 McNeese
Heading over to the teams from South Carolina, Clemson had a very strong year in the ACC, finishing 18-2 in the conference and coming just a few points short against Louisville this past Friday. Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin are a deadly duo, with Viktor Lakhin and Jaeden Zackery also averaging over 11 points per game. The Tigers have the capability and the talent to make a deep run this year, but they’ll have a tough time with their side of the bracket. If all goes right, a Sweet 16 matchup against #1 seed Houston could be a massive test for Clemson and their chances at going all the way. However, the focus for coach Brad Brownell is currently on Will Wade’s McNeese State Cowboys, which is far from a cakewalk of a first round.
Wofford College Terriers- #15 Seed vs. #2 Tennessee
Wofford finished the regular season as the sixth seed in the Southern Conference. They lost at least one game to every seed higher than them, and came into the SoCon Tournament as a major underdog to win the conference. Fast forward a full week later, and the Terriers are gearing up for their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. Kyler Filewich is an extremely dynamic big-man, growing into a strong 1-2 punch alongside Corey Tripp. Filewich has been nothing short of dominant in the paint, and with players like Justin Bailey shooting over 45% from deep, this Terrier squad showed up when they needed to most. Does Wofford have much of a chance against the Tennessee Volunteers? Most likely not. However, the Terriers were also unlikely to get far in the SoCon this season, and look where they are now. Never say never, Wofford fans.
