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
KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 22: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches play as Marcus Paige #5 stands on the court in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 22, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Roy Williams, Tar Heels receive early NCAA Tournament exit

Unfortunately, the third trip to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 8 seed did not pan out as the first two occurrences did.

Now under the direction of Roy Williams, a young UNC basketball roster, featuring just two seniors, finished the season with a 25-11 record, good for third in the ACC.

There was no deep run in this particular tournament, as Williams and his team were knocked out by the legendary head coach’s former program.

South Region First Round: Defeated No. 9 Villanova 78-71

South Region Second Round: Lost to No. 1 Kansas 70-58

After beating Villanova in their opening contest, Williams got the opportunity to square off against No. 1 seed Kansas, a program he was the head coach from prior to returning to Chapel Hill. The game did not go in North Carolina’s favor, as a 22-point effort from Travis Releford led the Jayhawks (31-5) to a 70-58 victory.

Williams would have one more shot at defying the odds as a No. 8 seed, but things did not go in his favor in what ended up being the final time he served as the UNC basketball program’s head coach.

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