North Carolina vs. Duke women's basketball matchup in NCAA tournament 'great for the sport'

A half-century-old rivalry between two of the biggest brand names in college sports -- North Carolina and Duke -- will have its highest-stakes game ever in the NCAA women's basketball Sweet 16 on Friday. The matchup in the Birmingham Regional 2 semifinals (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) will be the first between the two powers in an NCAA tournament game. (ESPN.com)

Chansky’s Notebook: Happening Again

It’s not exactly 2022, but it’s kinda close. North Carolina and Duke faced each other for the first time in the NCAA Tournament three years ago. It is happening again this afternoon with their women’s teams. They split the regular-season games, but the Blue Devils won the most recent game when UNC played without Alyssa Ustby and Reniya Kelly. (Chapelboro.com)

Carolina Insider Podcast: Men's basketball season ends; Portal season; Reniya Kelly joins

The UNC men's basketball season came to a disappointing, but familiar end in the NCAA Tournament (5:15), which means it's now Transfer Portal season for the Tar Heels (27:01). Reniya Kelly from the women's basketball team discusses the Tar Heels in the Sweet 16 (47:42). Plus: Carolina Baseball's near no-hitter (1:02:27). (Listen To Podcast)

Video: Drake Powell 2024-25 UNC Basketball Season Highlights

North Carolina's Drake Powell was a big contributor his freshman season with the Tar Heels, averaging 7.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game. Powell shot an efficient 50% from the floor and 37% from three-point range. Take a look at Powell's highlights from a great rookie season in the ACC. (View Video)

UNC women's basketball star Alyssa Ustby is trying every other Tar Heels sport

In 2022, Alyssa Ustby began trying another sport for a day, then posting videos on Instagram. She asks her fellow UNC athletes to showcase their skills in their respective sports. Then, she mimics them herself — or at least tries to. Ustby has done this with 15 different teams, and has scheduled times to test her skills on UNC's baseball field and track. (USA Today)

UNC Women's Basketball among Sweet 16 teams facing challenges with transfer portal already open

Playing during the Sweet 16 means double duty for coaches who must navigate the transfer portal while still preparing their teams. While it’s inconvenient, UNC Women's Basketball coach Courtney Banghart understands why the portal opens so early. Players need time to make visits and choose a school before summer school starts. "The timing is tricky." (Tar Heel Tribune)

This Week in UNC Baseball: Pitching Matters, Luke Stevenson Hot, Miami Up Next

UNC Baseball coach Scott Forbes discusses another big ACC series as the Tar Heels host Miami this weekend, the team's performance in Charlotte in the win over South Carolina, the emergence of quality arms in the bullpen, and the over-reliance on batting averages and what his staff looks at when determining how their players are performing at the plate. (Inside Carolina)

No. 2 UNC Women's Lacrosse Turns Out The Lights On No. 3 Northwestern

The No. 2 North Carolina women's lacrosse program used a dominant third quarter to roar past No. 3 Northwestern and remain undefeated on the season with a 15-12 win (Highlights). Chloe Humphrey matched her career high with eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) and Ashley Humphrey scored two goals and notched four assists to lead the Tar Heels. (GoHeels.com)

UNC, Duke women's basketball carrying rivalry torch into first March Madness meeting

UNC and Duke women's basketball teams are carrying a history-heavy torch into Friday's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup. For the first time since the rivalry began in women's basketball, when the schools tipped off in January 1976 in Chapel Hill and UNC claimed the victory, the Tar Heels and Blue Devils are meeting on the March Madness hardwood. (MSN.com)

UNC, Duke Women's Basketball To Square Off In Historic NCAA Tournament Matchup

UNC Women's Basketball faces Duke for the third time this season on Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala., for a spot in the Elite Eight. Friday will be the first time UNC and Duke have met in the NCAA Tournament. UNC leads the all-time series against Duke 56-54. With Courtney Banghart and Kara Lawson as head coaches, UNC leads the series 6-3. (Inside Carolina)

Reniya Kelly returns home to play in arena where she won four state titles

Reniya Kelly has a lot of championship memories of playing at Legacy Arena, which is only 20 minutes away from her home in Hoover. The most emotional was her last high school championship game two years ago when she led Hoover High School to a state Class 7-A championship. “It was like 50 seconds left on the clock, and I subbed out,” Kelly said. (Tar Heel Tribune)

Takeaways from UNC football's 2025 Pro Day ahead of NFL Draft

UNC’s 2025 Pro Day took place on Monday morning, giving 17 prospective draftees opportunities to showcase their potential to NFL scouts and executives from 31 of 32 teams. Among them was running back Omarion Hampton — UNC’s crown jewel in the 2025 NFL Draft. Other players worked to prove that teams should take a chance on them. (Daily Tar Heel)

Vance Honeycutt hits inside-the-park home run in the MLB Spring Breakout Games

For the second consecutive year, Major League Baseball has elected to host the MLB Spring Breakout Games. After being selected in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft, former UNC baseball star Vance Honeycutt is participating in this year's event for the Orioles, as he made quite the introduction in a game against the Yankees' top minor league talents. (Keeping It Heel)

A side-by-side guide of Chapel Hill’s similar restaurants

Al’s Burger Shack vs. Buns Burgers & Fries - There’s no winner here because I would go to either (or both) the moment anyone asked me. Al’s classic cheeseburger will always hit, and Buns’ decision to stay open late on the weekends is one of the better things to happen on Franklin Street. Both restaurants offer their own delicious sides. (Daily Tar Heel)

Familiarity, defense will mark Sweet 16 battle between UNC Women's Basketball and Duke

UNC and Duke have played 110 times in women's basketball, but never on a bigger stage as they will Friday. It’s a product of the ACC getting eight teams into the field that the first NCAA tournament meeting between the rivals will take place in the Sweet 16, on Friday in Birmingham, Alabama. "It’s something super special," forward Alyssa Ustby said. (Tar Heel Tribune)

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