No. 1 North Carolina will begin its quest for a seventh national championship on Friday against No. 16 Iona in Columbus. The Tar Heels enter the tournament with a 27-6 record and are the heavy favorites to emerge from the Midwest region.
According to ESPN.com’s “people’s bracket,” 72 percent of users are picking the Tar Heels to beat Kentucky in the Elite Eight, and more than 60 percent of people are predicting a Duke vs. UNC title game.
Here are 6 key NCAA tournament stats for the Tar Heels. All stats via GoHeels.com:
- North Carolina is a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for the third time in the last four seasons, and the 17th time in program history.
- The 2018-19 Tar Heels are hitting more three-pointers per game (8.8) than any team in program history
- North Carolina has more Final Four appearances (20) than any other men’s program. Kentucky and UCLA are tied for second with 17.
- UNC has 124 wins in the NCAA tournament, just three behind all-time leader Kentucky.
- North Carolina has never faced Duke in the NCAA tournament. If it happens this year, Duke and UNC will meet in the national championship game.
- Three North Carolina players have won national championships and NBA titles: James Worthy, Michael Jordan and Danny Green
