Keeping It Heel
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March Madness: Tar Heels’ history as 8-seed in NCAA Tournament

By Nick Delahanty

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 19: Teammates Brice Johnson #11 and Marcus Paige #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels try to grab a loose ball from Quadree Smith #10 of the Providence Friars during the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PNC Arena on March 19, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 19: Teammates Brice Johnson #11 and Marcus Paige #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels try to grab a loose ball from Quadree Smith #10 of the Providence Friars during the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PNC Arena on March 19, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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March Madness
4 APR 1994: NOLAN RICHARDSON, HEAD COACH OF THE ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS, ON THE SIDELINES DURING THE 76-72 WIN OVER THE DUKE BLUEDEVILS AT THE NCAA FINAL GAME IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT /

Dean Smith Leads UNC to the Sweet 16

The 1989-1990 UNC basketball team was the first in program history to earn a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Led by legendary head coach Dean Smith, the Tar Heels made quite a run in the big dance, as they made their way to the Sweet 16. Here is their path through that respective tournament:

Midwest Region First Round: Defeated No. 9 Missouri State 83-70

Midwest Region Second Round: Defeated No. 1 Oklahoma 79-77

Midwest Region Sweet 16: Lost to No. 4 Arkansas 96-73

After taking care of Missouri State in the first round, Smith’s team pulled off an upset against the top-ranked team in the Midwest in Oklahoma. That season, the Sooners were 27-5 under Billy Tubbs and earned a No. 1 seed after finishing second overall in the Big 8.

Related Story. Did Bruce Pearl take a shot at Tar Heels?. light

There is quite a connection to be made from the 1989-1990 team to this year’s current squad. Little did we know at the time, this roster possessed a player who would ultimately become the head coach at the University of North Carolina.

Hubert Davis was among the players on this respective Tar Heels team. In what was his sophomore season, Davis was a key reserve for North Carolina, as he averaged 9.6 points per game while averaging 21.3 minutes a night.

It would be a while before the Tar Heels would be a No. 8 seed again, a decade to be exact, and things looked quite different for the program this time around.

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