UNC Basketball doesn't need to travel far for NCAA Tournament opening rounds

As is the case every year, college basketball teams across the country have to travel to compete in the annual NCAA Tournament.

Some benefit from starting their March Madness journey close to home, while others have to travel a long way to reach their first destination.

Fortunately for Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program, their opening round games are being played very close to home. In fact, they are one of the teams with the shortest distance to travel among the NCAA Tournament qualifying teams.

Bet Carolina recently put together a list of teams who have the shortest distance to travel for first round matchups in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Having to travel just 140 miles to Charlotte, North Carolina, the Tar Heels have the fourth-shortest trip.

1 Purdue (Indianapolis, IN)- 69 miles
2 Akron (Pittsburgh, PA)- 110 miles
3 Drake (Omaha, NE)- 132 miles
4 North Carolina (Charlotte, NC)- 140 miles
5 UConn (Brooklyn, NY)- 142 miles
6 Iowa State (Omaha, NE)- 168 miles
7 Western Kentucky (Indianapolis, IN)-226 miles
T-8 Tennessee (Charlotte, NC)- 233 miles
T-8 South Dakota State (Omaha, NE)- 233 miles
10 Marquette (Indianapolis, IN)- 281 miles

Along with having to travel a short distance, the UNC basketball program has already played at their first round location this season. The Tar Heels squared off against Oklahoma in the Jumpman Invitational, a game that North Carolina won by the score of 81-69.

As a No. 1 seed, the UNC basketball program has benefitted from being able to play its early round contests within their home state. The hope is that the shorter travel distances pays off for the Tar Heels as they look to begin a run towards another national championship game appearance.