The UNC women’s basketball team, enjoying its best season in over a decade, is just moments away from hosting its NCAA Tournament opener.
On Saturday, March 22 at 4:30 p.m. ET, North Carolina will battle the Oregon State Beavers in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels (27-7, 13-5), who finished fifth in a loaded ACC during the regular season, will face an Oregon State (19-15, 12-8) squad which won the West Coast Conference Tournament during its first year post-Pac-12.
UNC, seeded third in the Birmingham 2 Region, will be making its fifth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The Beavers, seeded 14th, made the Elite Eight in 2024.
North Carolina is winning games in large part to its defense this season, holding opponents to just 58.1 points per game and a 36.6 field goal percentage. Offensively, the Tar Heels counter with a balanced scoring attack: Maria Gakdeng (11.3), Alyssa Ustby (10.6) and Lexi Donarski (10.6) all average double-digits.
Ustby is a near-double-double machine, adding 9.5 rebounds per game to her arsenal. Ustby is also a versatile asset, dishing out a UNC-best 2.9 assists per game and blocking one shot per game.
6’5″ center Kelsey Rees, a former Utah transfer, leads Oregon State with 12.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Rees nearly notched a double-double during the WCC Tournament Final, scoring nine points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
If you’re in Chapel Hill or thinking of heading there this weekend, have a blast and fill Carmichael Arena with loud cheers and your best Carolina Blue. If you’re watching on TV, your favorite streaming device or placing bets, keep reading below for more broadcast information.
What channel is North Carolina vs. Oregon State on Saturday? Time, TV schedule
TV Channel: ESPNU
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch UNC vs. Oregon State on live stream
Watch UNC vs. Oregon State live on Fubo TV
UNC vs. Oregon State prediction, picks, odds
There’s no doubt Oregon State will be looking to replicate its success from a 2024 Elite Eight run, but UNC counters with a signficantly-improved, veteran-laden team.
North Carolina wins games with its defense, but will keep you guessing with a variety of scoring options. The Tar Heels will be playing in front of their home crowd Saturday, which doesn’t guarantee a victory, but certainly can play a factor.
Oregon State starts strong and leads at halftime, but UNC comes roaring back and takes control in the fourt quarter
Score prediction: UNC 72, Oregon State 64
All College Basketball Odds via BetMGM
SPREAD: UNC -20.5
MONEYLINE: Oregon State +1600, UNC -10000
O/U TOTAL: 120.5
Full UNC basketball schedule
Nov. 4: vs. Charleston Southern (W, 83-53) (1-0)
Nov. 7: vs. UNC-Wilmington (W, 77-50) (2-0)
Nov. 12: at North Carolina A&T (W, 66-47) (3-0)
Nov. 15: vs. UConn in Greensboro, NC (L, 69-58) (3-1)
Nov. 23: vs. Ball State in Battle 4 Atlantis (W, 63-52) (4-1)
Nov. 24: vs. Villanova in Battle 4 Atlantis (W, 53-36) (5-1)
Nov. 25: vs. Indiana in Battle 4 Atlantis Championship Game (W, 69-39) (6-1)
Nov. 29: vs North Carolina Central (W, 119-42) (7-1)
Dec. 5: vs. Kentucky in ACC-SEC Challenge (W, 72-53) (8-1)
Dec. 8: vs. Coppin State (W, 72-46) (9-1)
Dec. 11: vs. UNC-Greensboro (W, 80-56) (10-1)
Dec. 15: vs. Georgia Tech (L, 82-76) (10-2, 0-1 ACC)
Dec. 18: vs. Florida in Jumpman Invitational (W, 77-57) (11-2, 0-1)
Dec. 21: vs. Norfolk State (W, 90-47) (12-2, 0-1)
Dec. 29: at Miami (FL) (W, 69-60) (13-2, 1-1)
Jan. 5: vs. Notre Dame (L, 76-66) (13-3, 1-2)
Jan. 9: vs. Duke (W, 53-46) (14-3, 2-2)
Jan. 12: vs. Boston College (W, 80-67) (15-3, 3-2)
Jan. 16: at SMU (W, 64-33) (16-3, 4-2)
Jan. 19: at Pitt (W, 75-58) (17-3, 5-2)
Jan. 23: vs. Wake Forest (W, 76-51) (18-3, 6-2)
Jan. 26: vs. Florida State (L, 86-84) (18-4, 6-3)
Jan. 30: at California (W, 65-52) (19-4, 7-3)
Feb. 2: at Stanford (W, 69-67) (20-4, 8-3)
Feb. 9: at Clemson (W, 53-51) (21-4, 9-3)
Feb. 13: vs. Virginia Tech (W, 67-62) (22-4, 10-3)
Feb. 16: vs. NC State (W, 66-65) (23-4, 11-3)
Feb. 20: at Syracuse (W, 68-58) (24-4, 12-3)
Feb. 23: at Louisville (W, 79-75) (25-4, 13-3)
Feb. 27: at Duke (L, 68-53) (25-5, 13-4)
March 2: vs. Virginia (L, 78-75) (25-6, 13-5)
March 6: vs. Boston College in ACC Tournament (W, 78-71) (26-6, 13-5)
March 7: vs. Florida State in ACC Tournament (W, 60-56) (27-6, 13-5)
March 8: vs. NC State in ACC Tournament Semifinals (L, 66-55) (27-7, 13-5)
March 22: vs. Oregon State in NCAA Tournament Round of 64
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC-Oregon State WBB channel, time, streaming information, odds
