All articles tagged with #vcu
North Carolina right-hander Ryan Lynch tossed seven scoreless innings on a career-high 108 pitches, allowing two hits and striking out five to power the Tar Heels to a regional-opening win over VCU and preserve bullpen depth for a winners’-bracket showdown with East Carolina.
UNC opened the Chapel Hill Regional with an 8-0 win over VCU behind seven strong innings from Ryan Lynch (two hits, five strikeouts) and solid relief from Walker McDuffie and Matthew Matthijs, marking just the Tar Heels’ third NCAA Tournament shutout of the Scott Forbes era. Two-out runs in the first sparked the offense, Cooper Nicholson sparked a key 5-3 double play in the sixth, and Owen Hull’s eighth-inning RBI triple helped seal it. UNC advances to face East Carolina at Boshamer Stadium on Saturday; bullpen plans and ECU’s pitching could shape the next game. The crowd helped fuel UNC’s continued regional success (39-8 since 2006).
North Carolina will start Ryan Lynch on Friday in the NCAA regional opener vs. VCU, marking the Tar Heels’ first time since 2023 that coach Scott Forbes has saved his ace for game two. Jason DeCaro is slated for a potential game two against East Carolina or Tennessee. Lynch carries a 4.44 ERA and was previously the Saturday starter, while DeCaro owned a 2.03 ERA and 10-2 record before last Friday’s ACC Tournament. UNC needs solid pitching to navigate a tough regional field after a limited showing in the ACC Tournament.
Tennessee’s basketball program is intensifying its transfer-portal roster overhaul, having already added four players (Tyler Lundblade, Dai Dai Ames, Miles Rubin, Jalen Haralson) and hosting VCU guard Terrence Hill Jr. on an official visit as the next target. Hill averaged 15.0 points per game and earned All-Atlantic 10 honors after a breakout season and NCAA Tournament performances. UT is also pursuing Wake Forest guard Juke Harris (in-home visit completed) and eyeing 2026 four-star forward Chris Washington Jr., while DeWayne Brown II and Troy Henderson return and several players have departed.
Illinois pulled away to beat VCU 76-55 in the NCAA Tournament second round, with Keaton Wagler scoring 13 of his 14 points after halftime and Andrej Stojakovic adding 21 off the bench; VCU's Nyk Lewis left early with an ankle injury, and Illinois advances to the Sweet 16 to face Houston in Houston.
UNC blew a 19-point second-half lead and fell 82-78 in overtime to 11-seed VCU in the NCAA Tournament, ending a season marked by poor free-throw shooting, late-game collapses, and questions about Hubert Davis's rotation and decision-making as UNC missed the Round of 32 in three of the last four years.
After UNC blew a 19-point lead and dropped to 11-seed VCU in the NCAA Tournament’s first round, pressure grows on Hubert Davis as the program weighs his future amid a history of uneven NCAA results, Caleb Wilson’s injury impact, and a wider UNC athletics leadership shake-up (Bubba Cunningham transitioning roles and Steve Newmark taking over).
The 11-seed VCU Rams rallied from a 19-point deficit to stun 6-seed North Carolina 82-78 in overtime in the NCAA Tournament, delivering the sport’s biggest first-round comeback, but TSN Canada cut away from the late-regulation finish to curling, prompting debate over access since the ending was still playable on TSN4/TSN+ and sparking subscriber concerns.
VCU erased a 19-point second-half deficit to upset UNC 82-78 in overtime in the NCAA Tournament. UNC squandered the late chances with free-throw misses and turnovers as VCU surged to shoot 62% in the second half. Terrence Hill poured in 34 for VCU, while Henri Veesaar tallied 26 points and 10 rebounds for UNC but two late OT free throws haunted him. UNC’s bench was outscored 42-7, and the Tar Heels set more difficult first-round NCAA history, with Seth Trimble likely playing his last game for Carolina; questions loom about the program’s direction after back-to-back early exits.
North Carolina blew a 19-point second-half lead and fell 82-78 in overtime to VCU in the NCAA Tournament, ending the Tar Heels’ season. Henri Veesaar led UNC with 26 points and 10 rebounds, but UNC went 0-for-6 in the overtime period and struggled after halftime as VCU rallied and sealed the win with late free throws following a key sequence.
No. 6 seed North Carolina draws a dangerous No. 11 seed VCU in the NCAA Tournament first round in Greenville. UNC arrives off an ACC quarterfinal defeat to Clemson, highlighted by Henri Veesaar’s 28-point, 17-rebound game, while VCU rode a 16-1 stretch to win the A-10 title and has surged late, led by Lazar Djokovic and Terrance Hill Jr. The Rams play a fast-paced attack that drives to the basket and shoots well from deep, while UNC seeks to defend without fouling and capitalize on its size and rebounding edge. This sets up UNC’s first-ever meeting with VCU and a stern test as the Rams’ pressure and efficiency collide with the Tar Heels’ frontcourt depth.
Duke earned the No. 1 overall seed and leads a favored field alongside Arizona entering the 2026 NCAA men’s tournament, as both programs posted strong seasons and title aspirations. Cinderella contenders highlighted include Miami (Ohio), which opens in Dayton as a First Four participant against SMU with the winner facing Tennessee, and VCU, the No. 11 seed from the Atlantic 10 that draws North Carolina in the opener and could later meet Illinois or Penn before a potential date with Houston. Despite tough paths, the piece identifies these programs as possible surprise runs in a wide-open bracket.
UNC is the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament’s South Region and will face No. 11 VCU in Greenville, S.C., on Thursday. The Tar Heels (24-8) pursue a deep run under fourth-year coach Hubert Davis, while VCU (27-7) arrives with a 16-of-17 win streak and the A-10 title. This marks UNC’s 55th NCAA Tournament appearance, a program record second only to itself in all-time wins, and UNC and VCU will be meeting for the first time in men’s basketball. The winner moves on to play the Illinois-Penn winner in Greenville on Saturday. Carolina has played 13 games vs. teams in the 68-team field this season, going 7-6 against them.
After a 47-year wait, Duquesne secured its eighth consecutive victory by defeating VCU 57-51 to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1977. Despite VCU's comeback from an 18-point deficit, Duquesne held on to the lead and sealed the win with crucial free throws in the final minute. The late political consultant Mossie Murphy, a prominent Duquesne basketball supporter, would have been proud of the team's achievement.
The No. 25 Dayton Flyers secured a historic 91-86 victory against Virginia Commonwealth, marking their 13th consecutive Senior Night win and a perfect 15-0 home record for the season. Coach Anthony Grant praised the team's resilience and character, hailing them as a special group. The Flyers overcame a 17-point deficit with standout performances from Nate Santos, Kobe Elvis, and DaRon Holmes II. The game featured lead changes and an overtime battle, ultimately culminating in a hard-fought triumph for Dayton.