North Carolina Basketball: Inside Look at Round of 32 History
2017: #8 Arkansas vs. #1 UNC - (Won, 72-65)
Joel Berry II - 10 PTS, 2 REBS, 3 ASTS, 2-13 FG, 2-8 3PT, 4-7 FT
Theo Pinson - 2 PTS, 2 REBS, 2 ASTS, 1-4 FG
Justin Jackson - 15 PTS, 8 REBS, 5 ASTS, 5-14 FG, 3-6 3PT, 2-2 FT
Isaiah Hicks - 9 PTS, 7 REBS, 4 ASTS, 2-7 FG, 5-6 FT
Kennedy Meeks - 16 PTS, 11 REBS, 7-13 FG, 2-2 FT
It was a neck-and-neck battle with the Razorbacks as the Heels held an advantage of 17 points. Throughout the game, Arkansas clawed their way and even took the lead at the 3:31 mark after a Jaylen Barford layup to raise the score to 65-60.
It was the resiliency of North Carolina that kept them surviving, as a 12-0 run ended that outing, sending them to the Sweet 16.
Three guys in double figures, Joel Berry, Justin Jackson, and Kennedy Meeks, had made ends meet in an epic battle until the end.
The rest of this tournament is history.
2016: #9 Providence - #1 UNC - (Won, 85-66)
Marcus Paige - 12 PTS, 3 REBS, 1 AST, 4-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-2 FT
Joel Berry II - 15 PTS, 5 REBS, 2 ASTS, 6-13 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-2 FT
Justin Jackson - 15 PTS, 3 REBS, 3 ASTS, 6-13 FG, 1-3 3PT, 2-2 FT
Brice Johnson - 21 PTS, 10 REBS, 7-9 FG, 7-7 FT
Kennedy Meeks - 2 PTS, 3 REBS, 1-3 FG
Looking back at this team and the players it consisted of, it makes so much sense as to why they were able to reach the title game that year.
The starting five consisted of Marcus Paige, Joel Berry, Justin Jackson, Brice Johnson, and Kennedy Meeks. And as reserve guys, Roy Williams had freshman Luke Maye, sophomore Theo Pinson, junior Isaiah Hicks, and freshman Kenny Williams.
Yes, those guys off the bench were not as good as they became at the time, but it's just a good way to put it into perspective.
Next. 8 biggest winners of Round of 64. 8 biggest winners of Round of 64. dark
Roy Williams had an eye for basketball talent.