It wasn’t supposed to end like this.
That sentence seems to apply to far too much these days. For North Carolina basketball, the end looked much like the rest of the season, as the Tar …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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3/16/20
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“Man, there’s a team from North Carolina down here with a quarterback who is really freaking good.”
Those were the first words of a phone call I received in late January from a …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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3/9/20
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North Carolina came into last week on a seven-game losing streak and in real danger of challenging the single-season program low of 20 losses in a season set in 2001–02. There have been times …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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3/3/20
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This North Carolina basketball season has been all about two things: close losses and a lack of rhythm caused by lineup instability and injuries. Last week was all about the close losses, as Carolina …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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2/25/20
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UNC fans can be forgiven if they feel like they’re living the plot of Groundhog Day, watching the same game on repeat. North Carolina gets a second-half lead and appears to be in control, then …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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2/20/20
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For the first time since December, North Carolina looked like a team that was ranked in the preseason top 10 on Saturday, trailing for only six seconds of regulation against rival Duke. Somehow, …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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2/11/20
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North Carolina’s final possession in an upset loss to Boston College on Saturday was a microcosm of the Tar Heels’ week. Superstar point guard Cole Anthony dribbled around the perimeter …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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2/6/20
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A little over a week ago, North Carolina was pretty close to rock bottom, having looked shockingly helpless in a loss at Pittsburgh after blowing a late lead to lose to Clemson at home for the first …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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1/29/20
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It has been a long time since North Carolina has looked as helpless and hapless on the basketball floor as they have over the past month, as the Heels now have their first losing record (8-9) since …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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1/21/20
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Roy Williams is nothing if not honest in his assessments both of himself and his team. Williams made national headlines last week when he called this North Carolina team “probably the least …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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1/13/20
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North Carolina scored a season-high 83 points on Saturday behind Garrison Brooks’ career-high 35 points, the most by a Tar Heel since Bryce Johnson scored 39 in January of 2016. Unfortunately, …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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1/7/20
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After a nine-day layoff for exams, North Carolina “sneaked by” (to borrow Roy Williams’ summary) a plucky Yale squad 70–67 on Monday night. The win gives Roy Williams 879 in …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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12/31/19
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Even before a minor meniscus tear sidelined super freshman Cole Anthony (who is expected to miss another month), head coach Roy Williams warned everyone before the season that his North Carolina team …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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12/23/19
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The University of North Carolina department of psychology got its best endorsement in years on Sunday, as a frustrated Roy Williams explained, “If I had to go to college again, I wouldn’t …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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12/16/19
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It was a tough week for North Carolina basketball, as the Tar Heels failed to break 50 points in losses to Ohio State (74-49) and at Virginia (56-47), the first time UNC has failed to score 50 in …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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12/9/19
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Mack Brown has long placed great emphasis on UNC being the flagship program in the state, and Saturday’s 41-10 beatdown of rival NC State will surely aid that pitch on the recruiting trail this …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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12/3/19
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In recent years, North Carolina has consistently been one of the nation’s highest-scoring basketball teams, thanks in large part to Roy Williams’ philosophy of playing at a high tempo. …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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11/25/19
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“He’s the best point guard I’ve ever been around. Plain and simple. Period. The end.” UNC assistant coach and 12-year NBA veteran Hubert Davis had high praise for Cole Anthony …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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11/18/19
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If you thought the preseason hype for freshman superstar Cole Anthony might be too much to live up to, Anthony has only worn the blue of Carolina for two games and he’s already accomplished …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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11/11/19
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North Carolina knew coming into The South’s Oldest Rivalry on Saturday night that its success hinged on slowing down one man: Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins, the Cavaliers’ season …
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By Jason Staples
Special to the Times
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11/4/19
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