Report: North Carolina to take on Northern Iowa in opener Posted May 4, 2017 North Carolina will defend its 2017 NCAA Championship this next year. And CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein tweeted Wednesday how the Tar Heels will start that journey. The Tar Heels went 33-7 in 2016-17, including an 85-42 win over Northern Iowa in Chapel Hill on Dec. 21. North Carolina went on to win both the ACC and national titles. (Carolina Blue)