Selection Sunday: UNC Tar Heels Earn #1 Seed In The NCAA Tournament

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UNC won it’s conference regular season title outright and finished the season ranked fourth in the nation. After an impressive final month in ACC play capped by a blowout win over Duke the Heels positioned themselves well for a top seed. But after losing in the ACC Tournament Championship the North Carolina Tar Heels were awarded the #1 seed in the big dance along with with Kentucky, Syracuse and Michigan State.

The Heels will be in the Midwest Region in St. Louis, Atlanta, the site of the ACC Tournament would have been the ideal location. But in a season when Carolina had to fight back to gain the respect they deserved. Earning a number one seed in the big dance is a huge accomplishment. After an emotional ACC Tournament the Tar Heels can walk away proud of their accomplishments thus far this season.

The Heels took a good FSU team down to the final possession in their conference tournaments championship game without one of their best players in John Henson. Probably just as important as the #1 seed for Carolina, the fact that Henson should be healthy by the start of the tournament. The fact that he dressed as what Roy Williams would call an “emergency only” player against the Seminoles on Sunday is a huge indication. I’d be surprised if he didn’t start in UNCs first NCAA Tournament game and shocked if he didn’t play by the second round game. We’ll have tons more on UNCs March Madness national championship drive as well as coverage of the rest of the tournament here at Keeping It Heel.

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Topics: Chapel Hill, Fansided NCAA, Fansided Network, Fansided.com, NCAA Basketball, NCAA TOURNAMENT, Roy Williams, Selection Sunday, UNC Basketball

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Here are my thoughts:

ACC Tournament Semifinal: People are STILL talking about the foul that was never called at the close of the game. But the way I see it, it could have gone either way and I’m glad that Kendall Marshall had the courage to trust HIS shot. The Semifinal Win helped cement the #1 Seed in the Midwest, since Syracuse, Kansas and Duke would lose at the close of Saturday Night.

ACC Tournament Final: UNC loses by 3 to a Top 20 Team WITHOUT John Henson, Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald. I didn’t see the entire game, but it looks like Hairston is getting his shot (and his confidence) back and I’ll take that into the NCAA tournament instead of balling all out for the conference tournament championship. Plus, McAdoo needs Primetime minutes. The fact that we made a decent showing in the ACC championship without Henson, NOT losing by 30 or losing by 11 (like Kansas in their conference semifinal) is a GOOD sign. I’m sure I don’t have to remind everyone, but did we win the ACC Tourney in ’05? No. How about ’09? No.

Moving onto the “Tournament That Really Matters,” I’m glad the #1 Seed is earned for the Tar Heels. More importantly, I’m glad that we start the journey IN GREENSBORO. That’s what Roy wants, that’s what the team needs, and that’s the blueprint to start everything. Second, I’m not so happy that we could face Kansas to go to the Final Four, but in ’09, we had to face Oklahoma that had virtually the EXACT same buzz and we lit Oklahoma up like a Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center. It’s kinda fitting that we would have to face a POY Candidate in Robinson (not to mention Roy Williams’ former coaching gig) to get there, but eff it. Championships are earned, not gifted. It won’t be a cakewalk to get out of the Midwest, but it is possible. Tyshawn Taylor is EXTREMELY turnover prone and if we catch him on a bad night, we got this. Although I would have liked to have Henson back today instead of next week, I trust that Roy is doing the right thing. Remember when Ty Lawson’s toe was almost a Good Morning America Topic? That lasted until the Sweet 16. Henson’s wrist may not be nearly as bad and we’ll be at FULL strength going into the tournament. Another note: THIS UNC Team has only 1 More Loss than ’05 and ’09.

Time to get Roy Title #3 and UNC Championship #6. I don’t like to lose and today stings a little bit, but I’d rather lose now and win the next 6.