UNC Basketball: 3 takeaways from a first-round NCAA Tournament win over Wagner
The Tar Heels took care of business on Thursday afternoon, beating Wagner 90-62. Here's what we learned from a victory that was never really in doubt.
The last time we saw the North Carolina Tar Heels, they were walking off the court after a shocking defeat to NC State in the ACC Tournament final. Despite the loss, Carolina still secured the 1-seed in the West bracket of the NCAA Tournament, but it was fair to wonder how the Heels would respond after a performance that left them looking like anything but one of the top four teams in the country.
Fortunately for Hubert Davis, his team was able to ease into the Big Dance with a slow number against 16-seed Wagner. Carolina used the opportunity to shake off any lingering disappointment from last week, rediscovering its groove by getting contributions from sources both likely and unlikely.
It was mostly smooth sailing for UNC as they pulled away in the second half, but the next game figures to be much more difficult. Tom Izzo and Michigan State await following an emphatic 69-51 drubbing of Mississippi State, and after their first NCAA Tournament win since 2021, the Spartans once again look like a tough out.
What did Carolina do right against Wagner, and how will it help them on Saturday against Michigan State? Let's dive in.