North Carolina has clinched the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament West Region, marking a remarkable turnaround from last year when they were excluded from the bracket. The Tar Heels, currently ranked fourth, are set to kick off their March Madness campaign in Charlotte on Thursday against the winner of the First Four matchup between Howard and Wagner.
The West Region boasts strong competition with teams like Arizona, Alabama, Baylor, and Michigan State vying for a spot in the Final Four.
Under the leadership of coach Hubert Davis in his second season, North Carolina has had a standout year. After a disappointing season last year, the Tar Heels started this season ranked No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and steadily climbed the rankings, peaking at No. 3 for three weeks.
With RJ Davis and Armando Bacot leading the charge, North Carolina posted an impressive 27-7 overall record and secured their first outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title in seven years. Despite falling short in the ACC tournament championship game against North Carolina State, the team's performance has been commendable.
Senior standout RJ Davis topped the ACC scoring charts with an average of 21.4 points per game, while Armando Bacot showcased his dominance in the paint with 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Both players were instrumental in North Carolina's journey to the 2022 national championship game.
Additionally, the Tar Heels received significant contributions from transfers like Harrison Ingram from Stanford and sharpshooter Cormac Ryan, who played pivotal roles in the team's victories, including a sweep against archrival Duke.
As the NCAA Tournament unfolds, North Carolina will look to capitalize on their No. 1 seed and make a strong push towards securing a spot in the Final Four.
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