North Carolina Basketball: What is the Tar Heels' recent history in the Sweet 16?
2019: #5 Auburn vs. #1 UNC (Lost, 97-80)
Coby White - 15 PTS, 3 REBS, 4 ASTS, 4-15 FG, 0-7 3PT, 7-8 FT
Kenny Williams - 10 PTS, 5 REBS, 3 ASTS, 4-6 FG, 2-3 3PT
Cam Johnson - 15 PTS, 5 REBS, 4-11 FG, 2-7 3PT, 5-5 FT
Luke Maye - 13 PTS, 7 REBS, 3 ASTS, 6-14 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-1 FT
Garrison Brooks - 6 PTS, 4 REBS, 1 AST, 2-2 FG, 2-2 FT
For a team that was so fun to watch for Carolina fans all around, it was hard to see them get kicked out of the tournament earlier than hoped.
A 56-point second half by the Auburn Tigers was the reason.
The Tigers had six different guys enter double-figures as Chuma Okeke, Malik Dunbar, Bryce Brown, Danjel Purifoy, Samir Doughty, and J'Von McCormick made up those spots. Bruce Pearl's team shot over 50 percent from the field and 46 percent from the three-point line. Remarkable.
North Carolina was able to produce four different guys with at least 10 points as well (Cam Johnson, Coby White, Kenny Williams, and Luke Maye) during the contest. However, it was not enough to overcome Auburn's terrific shooting performance.
2017: #4 Butler vs. #1 UNC (Won, 92-80)
Joel Berry II - 26 PTS, 1 REB, 2 ASTS, 8-13 FG, 3-7 3PT, 7-9 FT
Theo Pinson - 5 PTS, 2 REBS, 4 ASTS, 1-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 3-4 FT
Justin Jackson - 24 PTS, 5 REBS, 5 AST, 9-18 FG, 2-8 3PT, 4-6 FT
Isaiah Hicks - 9 PTS, 1 REB, 3 ASTS, 4-5 FG, 1-5 FT
Kennedy Meeks - 5 PTS, 11 REBS, 1-3 FG, 3-4 FT
Although the final score stands as a 12-point feast for the Tar Heels, the game was over in the first half, given their 52-36 lead after the first 20 minutes of play.
Joel Berry displayed a scoring clinic with 26 points on 8-13 FG and 3-7 3PT, plus 7-9 FT. Behind him was the sharpshooter Justin Jackson, who collected 24 points alongside his five rebounds and five assists.
Luke Maye, off the bench, provided a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
North Carolina was just the better team and proved to be later on down the line in that 2017 NCAA Tournament.