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: IC Podcast - What UNC Basketball's Exhibition Opener Forecasts
UNC Basketball fans finally got to see what a Michael Malone-coached Tar Heel team looked like Friday. While only an exhibition, Sherrell McMillan, Sean Moran,...
Mon Oct 12, 2026

Isaiah Denis says his confident, breakthrough performance was 'personal'
Isaiah Denis could have left when UNC changed basketball coaches, but the sophomore stayed. On Friday, in Michael Malone’s debut, Denis was rewarded with a...
Mon Oct 12, 2026

Michael Malone’s Unofficial UNC Welcome is a Hit: 'You want to win for him'
When Michael Malone stepped onto the court Friday in Greensboro, he took a look up. Maybe it was to check the time on the pregame...
Sun Oct 11, 2026

Video: Tar Heel Tribune - UNC Football and Basketball Postgame Reactions
UNC Football vs. Pitt and Basketball vs. USC postgame reactions from Britt Whitmire, Doc Kennedy, and R.L. Bynum on the “Tar Heel Tribune Podcast,” breaking...
Sun Oct 11, 2026