The North Carolina Tar Heels are gearing up for their First Four clash against the San Diego State Aztecs on March 18 at 9:10p.m EST. After a close call by the NCAAās Selection Committee, the Tar Heels made the 68-team bracket for March Madness, raising many eyebrows around the nation. However, neither RJ Davis nor the rest of the locker room have any doubts about the schoolās attributes.
The Tar Heels fell to their archnemesis, the Duke Blue Devils at the ACC Semifinal, leaving their postseason hopes in tatters. In need of a hand from the Committee, the schoolās prayers were answered, and UNC will be taking part in the Big Dance.
There is much buzz surrounding the program in Chapel Hill as it is, but if they canāt move past the Aztecs during their First Four matchup, every index finger in the league will point towards the Committeeās verdict.
RJ Davis and the rest of the Tar Heels havenāt been immune to the noise, acknowledging that pressure is mounting ahead of their do-or-die game in Dayton, Ohio. However, pressure is a privilege, and Davis is looking to embrace it.
RJ Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on during the first half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Dean E. Smith Center on March 08, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
āFor us to be considered an 11 team and to have people asking āDo you think youāre a tournament team?ā that irks my soul, because I know we are, and I know what weāre capable of,ā RJ Davis firmly stated ahead of the game, per On3. āItās really just about proving ourselves right than people wrong.ā
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NCAAB News: North Carolina star RJ Davis drops bold 6-word statement about controversial March Madness selection
Looking to set record straight
The Tar Heels are playing for glory, as is every other college basketball program in March Madness. But there is an extra element brewing within North Carolinaās locker room. The team coached by Hubert Davis will also be playing for pride, as their ego has been put to the test by the recent comments.
If they are able to chanel that red-hot fury into the court during the NCAA Tournament, then the Tar Heels could become a serious threat to any contender in the competition. Guard Seth Trimble voiced a powerful admission prior to tip-off against San Diego State.
Seth Trimble #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on in the second half of his game against the Florida Gators during the Jumpman Invitational at Spectrum Center on December 17, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
āI think weāve all kind of felt the hate, the disagreement, all that, from everybody outside of the Carolina family and fan base. Weāre just running with it,ā Trimble admitted. āWe definitely feel like weāve got something to prove. We wanted to be better this year, but we deal with the cards at hand. So, absolutely.ā
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Why is it called āMarch Madnessā? The history behind the name
Looking ahead
The Tar Heels cannot afford to take the Aztecs for granted, and vice versa. However, both programs are also aware of who will be waiting for the victor of their matchup in the NCAA Tournamentās First Round. The team that prevails between UNC and SDSU will face Ole Miss on March 21.
