NCAA Basketball: Ranking the Elite 8 teams in 2022 NCAA Tournament

Mar 24, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Wendell Moore Jr. (center) and forward AJ Griffin (right) reacts after a play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half in the semifinals of the West regional of the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

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NCAA Tournament North Carolina Tar Heels Mitchell Leff-USA TODAY Sports /

5. North Carolina Tar Heels

The Tar Heels were the highest-scoring team in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, scoring 95 and 93 points respectively against Marquette and Baylor. Of course, they shouldn’t have needed all those extra points against the Bears, blowing a 25-point second-half lead to go to overtime before prevailing there.

It almost looked like UNC would be going to overtime against UCLA in the Sweet 16, trailing for a good part of the first 35 minutes. But Caleb Love would not be denied, going for a game-high 30 points, with most in the second-half, to get the close win to advance to the Elite 8.

In all three games, someone for North Carolina had gone for at least 28 points. Brady Manek did so against Marquette, followed by RJ Davis going off in the win over Baylor. But including big man Armando Bacot, all four starters have scored a ton of points, while Leaky Black provides the defense.

And that’s been my concern for North Carolina. What happens if they can’t get one of its guys to go for 30+ in a win? Their defense at times has had letdowns and against the rest of the field, which could doom them. Of course, their next opponent (Saint Peter’s) shouldn’t worry them that much but the Tar Heels better not sleepwalk and take them seriously in the first 10 minutes of the game. If they don’t blow them out early, UNC will have a fight on its hands.

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