North Carolina's History Playing in the NCAA West Region Posted Mar 26, 2024 The top-seed Tar Heels take on 4-seed Alabama on Thursday with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line. UNC’s last trip to L.A. was in 2015, when it fell to Wisconsin in the Sweet 16. Navigating to the Final Four from the West Region hasn’t been easy for the Tar Heels. Only once in seven previous trips through the West did UNC advance to the Final Four. (Tar Heel Illustrated)