North Carolina-Gonzaga was far from pretty, but Tar Heels a champion all the same

Posted Apr 4, 2017
The story of the whistles and clanks and often unsightly basketball? Now it was just an artless means to a beautiful end—to Joel Berry knocking down a final free throw while fighting back tears, to Theo Pinson grabbing a final rebound and then flinging it into the air in celebration, to a cluster of Carolina blue-clad students triumphantly chanting “the ceiling is the roof!” (Sports Illustrated)

Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting

Video: IC Podcast - UNC Basketball's Backcourt Upgrade
UNC Basketball retained Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young in the backcourt and added Matt Able, Terrence Brown, and Neo Avdalas. Inside Carolina basketball analyst Rob...
Mon Jun 1, 2026

ESPN's College Basketball Way-Too-Early Top 25 Rankings - Post-NBA Withdrawal Deadline
25. North Carolina: Michael Malone has done a pretty impressive job building UNC's roster. Jarin Stevenson is back, Matt Able probably will be a first-round...
Mon Jun 1, 2026

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Does Alexandros Samodurov Complete UNC Basketball's Frontcourt?
Michael Malone has landed another international frontcourt player in Alexandros Samodurov. Does that mean the Tar Heels' frontcourt is now finished and ready to go?...
Mon Jun 1, 2026

Newsletter: UNC Baseball To Super Regionals, Samodurov Commits, Able, Brown, and Thomas Sign
UNC Baseball advanced to the Super Regional and will host either Texas A&M or USC. It was a big week for Tar Heel Basketball following...
Mon Jun 1, 2026