Entering Selection Sunday, the North Carolina Tar Heels had plenty of hope – but no certainty – they’d be playing in the NCAA Tournament.
Shortly after the CBS Sports Selection show began, UNC learned its long-awaited decision. North Carolina will be in the NCAA Tournament, facing San Diego State in Dayton, Ohio for First Four matchup, on Tuesday, March 18 at a tip-off time TBD.
Keith Gill, the Sun Belt Commissioner and Vice Chair of the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, pointed to Memphis’ victory over UAB on Sunday afternoon, in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game, as the final key to the Tar Heels’ berth.
UNC (22-13, 13-7 ACC) proved it was plenty deserving of a bid in recent weeks, winning six straight games entering Senior Night against archrival Duke. The Tar Heels then beat Notre Dame and Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament, before narrowly losing a semifinal heartbreaker against the Blue Devils.
San Diego State (21-9, 14-6 Mountain West) lost their conference tournament opener against finalist Boise State, but proved its legitimacy by beating the likes of fellow NCAA Tournament teams Houston and Creighton. The Aztecs continue to prove they’re a defensive-minded team, allowing opponents to score just 63.6 points per game, which ranks 14th in the nation.
North Carolina will enter its First Four matchup with extra motivation, as an NCAA Tournament spot wasn’t likely according to several projections. The Tar Heels will try and prove they belong with a dominant performance, but they have to find ways to break SDSU’s top-line defense.
Key to victory for UNC
North Carolina is playing its best basketball of late due to its post production, highlighted by Ven-Allen Lubin. The Tar Heels’ starting center has double-doubles in three consecutive games, while scoring in double figures each of the Tar Heels’ last nine games.
Jae’Lyn Withers is now in the starting lineup as UNC’s power forward, though he does most of his offensive damage from deep. Withers’ 6’9″ frame is certainly welcomed on the defensive end, with his ability to grab rebounds helping North Carolina set up its transition offense.
If the Tar Heels want to beat a defensive-minded SDSU squad, they’ll have to win the paint battle and push the ball in transition.
Something to Watch
I’m really hoping Withers didn’t empty his buckets during UNC’s ACC Tournament victory over Notre Dame, when he set a career high with 21 points, all of which came on a UNC ACC Tournament record seven 3-pointers.
Since that big win, Withers is just 3-of-15 from the field with 11 total points. Withers did grab 12 rebounds between the Wake Forest and Duke games, though, so he still finds ways to contribute besides scoring.
If we get the Notre Dame version of Withers, I like North Carolina’s chances to advance and face Ole Miss Friday.
What you need to know
What: North Carolina Tar Heels (22-13, 13-7 ACC) vs. San Diego State Aztecs (21-9, 14-6 Mountain West
When: Tuesday, March 18 at 9:10 p.m.
Where: UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio
TV: TruTV
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network
All-Time Series: UNC leads 2-0
Last meeting: UNC 99, San Diego State 63 (Nov. 24, 1990)
Statistical Leaders
North Carolina Points: RJ Davis, G, 17.0 points per game
North Carolina Rebounds: Ven-Allen Lubin, F, 5.6 rebounds per game
North Carolina Assists: Elliot Cadeau, G, 6.0 assists per game
San Diego State Points: Nick Boyd, G, 13.4 points per game
San Diego State Rebounds: Magoon Gwath, F, 5.2 rebounds per game
San Diego State Assists: Nick Boyd, G, 4.0 assists per game
2024-2025 UNC basketball schedule
Oct. 12: Blue-White Scrimmage (Blue 62, White 53)
Oct. 15: Exhibition @ Memphis (W, 84-76)
Oct. 27: Exhibition vs. Johnson C. Smith (W, 127-63)
Nov. 4: vs. Elon (W, 90-76) (1-0, 0-0)
Nov. 8: at Kansas (L, 92-89) (1-1, 0-0)
Nov. 15: vs. American University (W, 108-55) (2-1, 0-0)
Nov. 22: at Hawaii (W, 87-69) (3-1, 0-0)
Nov. 25: vs. Dayton, Maui Invitational (W, 92-90) (4-1, 0-0)
Nov. 26: vs. Auburn, Maui Invitational (L, 85-72) (4-2, 0-0)
Nov. 27: vs. Michigan State, Maui Invitational (L, 94-90 OT) (4-3, 0-0)
Dec. 4: vs. Alabama, SEC/ACC Challenge (L, 94-79) (4-4, 0-0)
Dec. 7: vs. Georgia Tech (W, 68-65) (5-4, 1-0 ACC)
Dec. 14: vs. La Salle (W, 93-67) (6-4, 1-0)
Dec. 17: vs. Florida, Jumpman Invitational (L, 90-84) (6-5, 1-0)
Dec. 21: vs. UCLA, CBS Sports Classic (W, 76-74) (7-5, 1-0)
Dec. 29: vs. Campbell (W, 97-81) (8-5, 1-0)
Jan. 1: at Louisville (L, 83-70) (8-6, 1-1)
Jan. 4: at Notre Dame (W, 74-73) (9-6, 2-1)
Jan. 7: vs. SMU (W, 82-67) (10-6, 3-1)
Jan. 11: at NC State (W, 63-61) (11-6, 4-1)
Jan. 15: vs. California (W, 79-53) (12-6, 5-1)
Jan. 18: vs. Stanford (L, 72-71) (12-7, 5-2)
Jan. 21: at Wake Forest (L, 67-66) (12-8, 5-3)
Jan. 25: vs. Boston College (W, 102-96) (13-8, 6-3)
Jan. 28: at Pitt (L, 73-65) (13-9, 6-4)
Feb. 1: at Duke (L, 87-70) (13-10, 6-5)
Feb. 8: vs. Pitt (W, 67-66) (14-10, 7-5)
Feb. 10: at Clemson (L, 85-65) (14-11, (7-6)
Feb. 15: at Syracuse (W 88-82) (15-11, (8-6)
Feb. 19: vs. NC State (W, 97-73) (16-11, 9-6)
Feb. 22: vs. Virginia (W, 81-66) (17-11, 10-6)
Feb. 24: at Florida State (W, 96-85) (18-11, 11-6)
March 1: vs. Miami (FL) (W, 92-73) (19-11, 12-6)
March 4: at Virginia Tech (W, 91-59) (20-11, 13-6)
March 8: vs. Duke (L, 82-69) (20-12, 13-7)
March 12: vs. Notre Dame in ACC Tournament Second Round (W, 76-56) (21-12, 13-7)
March 13: vs. Wake Forest in ACC Tournament Quarterfinals (W, 68-59) (22-12, 13-7)
March 14: vs. Duke in ACC Tournament Semifinals (L, 74-71) (22-13, 13-7)
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: March Madness 2025: UNC basketball vs. San Diego State preview, info
