Tar Heels' road to Houston paved by Johnson and Paige decisions to stay

Posted Mar 30, 2016
The turning point of this Final Four run for UNC dates back to the end of last season. Only a few days after the 2014-15 Tar Heels completed a so-so (by Carolina standards) 26-12 record with a 79-72 loss to Wisconsin in the West Regional semifinals, then juniors Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige opted to return to school over pursuing professional careers. (WRAL Sports Fan)

Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Breaking Down UNC Basketball's Deep Roster
UNC unveiled a deep, versatile basketball roster for the 2026-27 season. With international newcomers like Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov officially cleared, plus key returners...
Mon Aug 24, 2026

Video: TarHeel247 Podcast - How Angelo Brizzi Can Carve Out A Role In UNC's Backcourt
Andrew Jones and Jacob Turner from TarHeel247 discuss UNC transfer guard Angelo Brizzi, his role in this season's Tar Heel backcourt, offensive strengths, recent performances...
Mon Aug 24, 2026

UNC Basketball Roundup: Frontcourt Cleared, Non-Conf. Slate Set, UNC & Duke Battle For Top Recruit
It was a busy week for the UNC Basketball program. The roster questions that have hung over the Tar Heels this offseason finally got answers,...
Mon Aug 24, 2026

Michael Malone Embraces Significance of UNC vs. NC State Basketball Rivalry
Upon taking the basketball coaching job at North Carolina, Michael Malone researched the history between the Tar Heels and Wolfpack. He wanted a better understanding...
Mon Aug 24, 2026