In a game that many critics claimed they weren’t worthy to be in, the North Carolina Tar Heels (23-13, 13-7 ACC) came out firing on all cylinders, dismantling the San Diego State Aztecs (21-10, 14-6 MWC) 95-68 in the “first four” play-in round. The Tar Heels put on a show from behind the arc, and extended their lead by as much as 40 on Tuesday night in Dayton. Tar Heels Efficient from 3, Charity Stripe North Carolina has found most of their success throughout the season when they are able to hit shots from deep at a high mark, and…
Author: Austin Gragg
Austin Gragg
Austin is a sports writer for Hardwood Heroics, joining the staff in December 2024. He covers his home state North Carolina Tar Heels, as well as the West Virginia Mountaineers. He graduated from Appalachian State University in 2021.
North Carolina (22-12, 13-7 ACC) secured their spot in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament with a 68-59 upset win over Wake Forest (21-11, 13-7 ACC) on Thursday afternoon in Charlotte. The Tar Heels and Demon Deacons are traditional in-state rivals, however they had not played each other in the ACC Tournament since 2000. The victory also gave head coach Hubert Davis his 100th win with the Tar Heels. Tar Heels Control Glass, Take Advantage of Free Throw Opportunities Both North Carolina and Wake Forest put up forgettable shooting efforts, with the Tar Heels shooting 33.9% from the floor and…
The West Virginia Mountaineers (19-13, 10-10 Big 12) had their dreams of a Big 12 championship cut short on Wednesday afternoon after a 67-60 upset loss to the Colorado Buffaloes (14-19, 3-17 Big 12). The Mountaineers had previously defeated Colorado 78-70 in January, who finished last in the regular season Big 12 standings. Turnovers Plague Mountaineers West Virginia and Colorado shot comparatively the same throughout the course of the game, with the Mountaineers making 21 shots to the Buffaloes 22, and having 6 made three’s to Colorado’s 5. Despite these close numbers, the Mountaineers gave the Buffaloes a distinct edge…
The North Carolina Tar Heels (21-12, 13-7 ACC) have advanced to round 3 of the ACC Tournament following a 76-56 win over Notre Dame (15-18, 8-12 ACC) on Wednesday afternoon in Charlotte. The victory gives the Tar Heels their second win over the Fighting Irish on the season, including a 74-73 victory on January 4th. Tar Heels Hot From Deep Drake Powell opened up the game with a make from deep to put the Tar Heels up 3-0, and North Carolina would not give up the lead the entire game on route to their 20 point victory. Powell ignited a…
The West Virginia Mountaineers (18-12, 9-10 Big 12) completed a regular season sweep of the Utah Utes (16-14, 8-11 Big 12) on Tuesday night, defeating them on the road 71-69. The game came down to a final shot attempt from half court by Utah that would have won the game for the Utes, however it was blocked as time expired by guard Joseph Yesufu. Mountaineers By The Numbers Four Mountaineers scored in double digits in the victory, including three starters. Forward Amani Hansberry tallied 12 points and a game tying six rebounds, while starting guards Jonathan Powell and Javon Small…
The North Carolina Tar Heels (20-11, 13-6 ACC) cruised to a statement win on Tuesday night, defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies (13-17, 8-11 ACC) 91-59 in their final road game of the regular season. The now six game win streak is the longest of the season for North Carolina, and the Tar Heels have only gotten stronger as their regular season campaign comes to an end. The victory also marks North Carolina’s first 30 point ACC road win since defeating Wake Forest in 2019. Tar Heels Barrage Hokies From 3 North Carolina has struggled from behind the arc at times…
The #18 West Virginia Mountaineers (23-6, 13-5 Big 12) cruised to an 85-69 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats (15-13, 7-11 Big 12) on Saturday, completing a regular season sweep of their Big 12 foes. Cincinnati jumped out to a 5-3 lead early in the contest, but the Mountaineers were able to quickly take control and tie the game up at 5 before taking the lead themselves at 8-5. West Virginia would not look back on their way to the 16 point victory, in a game where they led by as much as 22. Mountaineers Crash the Boards, Dominate Paint West…
The North Carolina Tar Heels (19-11, 12-6 ACC) continue to boost their tournament resume with an impressive 92-73 victory over conference foe Miami (6-23, 2-16 ACC) in Chapel Hill. The win marks the fifth in a row for the Tar Heels, which sets their longest streak of the season. Although two games still remain to conclude the regular season for North Carolina, the Tar Heels look to carry this momentum into the ACC Tournament and possibly the NCAA Tournament at the end of March. Tar Heels Dominate the Paint Miami would keep the game fairly close throughout the first half…
The #8 North Carolina Tar Heels (25-5, 13-4 ACC) could not complete the season sweep of tobacco road rival #16 Duke, losing 68-53 at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday night. The Tar Heels led 32-31 at halftime, however they were unable to overcome a lackluster third quarter where they were outscored 21-9. North Carolina was without starters Alyssa Ustby and Reniya Kelly, two of the Tar Heels go-to threats. This game also marked the first road loss of the season for the Tar Heels. Tar Heels Offensive Struggles While UNC was able to put together a better shooting night than…
JJ Quinerly stepped onto the court for what could be her final time playing at WVU Coliseum on Wednesday night, and she made the most of it by leading the #18 Mountaineers (22-6, 12-5 Big 12) to a victory over the Utah Utes (21-7, 12-5 Big 12) in a 75-46 show. Fans knew something special was in store the moment the Mountaineers took the court in their “coal rush” uniforms, but it was hard to imagine just how special of a performance they were about to see from their beloved star senior. A Mountaineers Legacy It has become increasingly uncommon…
The West Virginia Mountaineers (17-11, 8-9 Big 12) came out firing on all cylinders as they cruised to a 73-55 win over the TCU Horned Frogs (15-13, 8-9 Big 12) on Tuesday night in Morgantown. It marks the first time since January of 2023 that the Mountaineers have defeated TCU, snapping a four game losing streak. Senior guard Javon Small once again put on a show, posting a double-double in the effort with 23 points. West Virginia may have edged themselves into the upcoming NCAA Tournament in March with the victory, however they still have work to do with three…
The North Carolina Tar Heels (18-11, 11-6 ACC) are doing everything they can to prove they belong in the 68 team NCAA Tournament approaching in March. A high scoring 96-85 victory on Monday night over the Florida State Seminoles (16-12, 7-10 ACC) ensures they live to fight another day with the end of the regular season coming to a close. The Tar Heels had six players score in double digits in the victory, and they’ll need all that firepower ready to go before enduring a formidable ACC Tournament. Tar Heels Dominate Paint, Clean Up Glass North Carolina managed to make…
The North Carolina Tar Heels (17-11, 10-6 ACC) took care of business Saturday afternoon as they dismantled the Virginia Cavaliers (13-14, 6-10 ACC) 81-66 in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels arguably looked the best they have all season in the win, as they led by as much as 20 without letting Virginia lead at all. Tar Heels Start Hot, Finish Strong A 46 point first half had UNC rolling into halftime, and they picked up right where they left off, scoring 35 in the second half. The Tar Heels made nearly half of their shots on the afternoon, converting 27/56.…
West Virginia Mountaineers (16-11, 7-9 Big 12) entered halftime down 30-27 against #9 Texas Tech (21-6, 12-4 Big 12), a team they face only once this season. Halftime adjustments that were (or weren’t) made for both teams resulted in the Red Raiders surging to a 73-51 victory over the Mountaineers, outscoring them 43-24 in the second half. Mountaineers Shooting Woes West Virginia had a forgettable day shooting the ball in a contest that saw them hit only 19/58 shots from the field to include going 6/27 from 3 point range. Things didn’t improve at the free throw line either, as…
The North Carolina Tar Heels (14-11, 7-6 ACC) entered Monday nights game at Clemson (20-5, 12-2 ACC) needing a victory over the newly ranked Tigers in order to keep their season hopes alive. Instead, the Tar Heels lost 85-65, and dreams of making the NCAA Tournament in March continue to fade as they drop to seventh place in the ACC. Tar Heels Struggle from Deep, Charity Stripe North Carolina shot 45.2% from the field in the loss, and they were able to connect on just 4 of 19 (21.1%) from 3-point range, while the Tigers shot 48% from deep, hitting…