Why North Carolina? Tyler Nickel: "It was the best for me -- me and my future. I feel like I can go in there and contribute right away. And be able to be me -- play like Tyler Nickel. When I get there, be able to contribute to a great team and win a national championship in the process of me and my development, and everyone else that's there." (Inside Carolina)
Brad Brownell has certainly been consistent in his time in Clemson, fielding quality defensive units that struggle to score. The same narrative will likely follow the Tigers this season as leading scorer Aamir Simms and veteran guard Clyde Trapp have departed. Nick Honor and Al-Amir Dawes will be called upon to elevate their play in the backcourt, while South Florida guard David Collins and Youngstown State forward Naz Bohannon are transfers that Brownell will need to rely on to keep the Tigers near the NCAA Tournament bubble once again.
The University of North Carolina men's basketball team will begin Atlantic Coast Conference play December 5 at Georgia Tech in the first regular-season ACC game for first-year UNC head coach Hubert Davis. Carolina's ACC opener will come in its eighth regular-season game, four days after the Tar Heels host Michigan in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. (GoHeels.com)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a leading global public research university, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators, and leaders in NC, throughout the nation, and around the world. Carolina’s nationally recognized teaching, groundbreaking research, and dedication to public service continue a legacy that began when the University was chartered in 1789 and opened to students four years later. As the nation’s first public university, Carolina is committed to and is a leader in providing access to a high-quality, affordable education to students from all backgrounds.
Also located in McCorkle Place is the Davie Poplar tree under which the university's founder, William Richardson Davie, supposedly selected the location for the university. The legend of the Davie Poplar says that as long as the tree stands, so will the University.[84] Because of the tree's questionable health from damage caused by severe weather such as Hurricane Fran in 1996, the university has planted two genetic clones nearby called Davie Poplar Jr. and Davie Poplar III.[84] The second clone, Davie Poplar III, was planted in conjunction with the university's bicentennial celebration in 1993.[85][86] The student members of the university's Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies are not allowed to walk on the grass of McCorkle Place out of respect for the unknown resting place of Joseph Caldwell, the university's first president.[87]
Carolina holds an in-state rivalry with fellow Tobacco Road school, North Carolina State University. Since the mid-1970s, however, the Tar Heels have shifted their attention to Duke following a severe decline in NC State's basketball program (and the resurgence of Duke's basketball program) that reached rock bottom during Roy Williams' tenure as evidenced by their 4–36 record against the Tar Heels. The Wolfpack faithful still consider the rivalry the most bitter in the state despite the fact that it's been decades since Tar Heel supporters have acknowledged NC State as a rival. Combined, the two schools hold eight NCAA Championships and 27 ACC Championships in basketball. Students from each school often exchange pranks before basketball and football games.[183][184]
From the late 1990s and onward, UNC-Chapel Hill expanded rapidly with a 15% increase in total student population to more than 28,000 by 2007. This is accompanied by the construction of new facilities, funded in part by the "Carolina First" fundraising campaign and an endowment that increased fourfold to more than $2 billion within ten years.[45][46] Professor Oliver Smithies was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2007 for his work in genetics.[47] Additionally, Professor Aziz Sancar was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2015 for his work in understanding the molecular repair mechanisms of DNA.[48]
The most enduring symbol of the university is the Old Well, a small neoclassical rotunda based on the Temple of Love in the Gardens of Versailles, in the same location as the original well that provided water for the school.[83] The well stands at the south end of McCorkle Place, the northern quad, between two of the campus's oldest buildings, Old East, and Old West.
Former University of North Carolina basketball player Andrew Platek has enrolled at Siena College, and can now be found in the student directory of the school’s online database. He’s not currently listed as a member of the school’s basketball program, but we’re expecting that to change in the near future. Attempts by the Daily Gazette to reach Siena head basketball coach Carmen Maciariello for comment on the matter were unsuccessful.
UNC-Chapel Hill offers 71 bachelor's, 107 master's and 74 doctoral degree programs.[94] The university enrolls more than 28,000 students from all 100 North Carolina counties, the other 49 states, and 47 other countries. It is the third largest university in North Carolina, just behind North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in enrollment. State law requires that the percentage of students from North Carolina in each freshman class meet or exceed 82%.[95] The student body consists of 17,981 undergraduate students and 10,935 graduate and professional students (as of Fall 2009).[96] Racial and ethnic minorities comprise 30.8% of UNC-Chapel Hill's undergraduate population as of 2010[97] and applications from international students have more than doubled in the last five years (from 702 in 2004 to 1,629 in 2009).[98] Eighty-nine percent of enrolling first year students in 2009 reported a GPA of 4.0 or higher on a weighted 4.0 scale.[99] UNC-Chapel Hill students are strong competitors for national and international scholarships. The most popular majors at UNC-Chapel Hill are biology, business administration, psychology, media and journalism, and political science.[99] UNC-Chapel Hill also offers 300 study abroad programs in 70 countries.[100]
Platek attended North Carolina for four years, and was a member of the school’s basketball team from start to finish. He made 127 appearances for the Tar Heels, and started 11 games. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. His best season came as a junior when he boasted career-highs in points (3.9), rebounds (2.1) and assists (1.4) per game. Nine of his career starts came during that season, and he logged a career-best 18.1 minutes per game.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have named Jacob Stallings the team’s nominee for this year’s Roberto Clemente Award, given to the Major League Baseball player who "best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions on and off the field." Stallings says he became emotional. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
The ACC office did the Tar Heels no favors with three Saturday-Monday turnarounds in a five-week span at the tail end of the schedule. UNC will host N.C. State on Saturday, Jan. 29 before heading to Louisville to play the Cardinals on Monday, Jan. 31. Three weeks later, the Tar Heels will play at Virginia Tech on Saturday, Feb. 19 before hosting Louisville on Monday, Feb. 21. The following week, UNC will travel to Raleigh to face the Wolfpack on Saturday, Feb. 26 before welcoming Syracuse on Monday, Feb. 28.
If there’s one person the Seattle Mariners' young core of players turns to, it’s Kyle Seager. A massive roster turnover led the 11-year veteran to embrace the role of mentor, especially as players gear up for meaningful games in September — something many of them have yet to face. You learn to love Kyle Seager. He’s a "constant." He’s an inspiration. (The Olympian)
In 2011, the first of several investigations found fraud and academic dishonesty at the university related to its athletic program.[49] Following a lesser scandal that began in 2010 involving academic fraud and improper benefits with the university's football program, two hundred questionable classes offered by the university's African and Afro-American Studies department (commonly known as AFAM) came to light. As a result, the university was placed on probation by its accrediting agency in 2015.[50][51] It was removed from probation in 2016.[52]
One of the top backcourts in the country – David Johnson and Carlik Jones – is no longer on Louisville’s roster, although Chris Mack joined his ACC counterparts in hitting the transfer portal hard this offseason. Miami forward Matt Cross, Marshall guard Jarrod West, Florida guard Noah Locke and JuCo standout El Ellis will all factor in a rotation that already includes forwards Malik Williams, Jae’Lyn Withers and Samuell Williamson. Add in Top-100 prospects in center Roosevelt Wheeler and forward Michael James and the Cardinals may have enough pieces in place to contend for the ACC title.
Earl Grant, formerly of College of Charleston, has a massive rebuilding job ahead in Chestnut Hill after Jim Christian was shown the door following seven seasons. Four-year starter Steffon Mitchell graduated and a trio of sophomores – C.J. Felder, Jay Heath and Wynston Tabbs -- transferred. Grant was active in the transfer portal, bringing in Mississippi State center Quinten Post, College of Charleston guard Brevin Galloway and Drexel forward T.J. Bickerstaff to supplement his thin roster.
UNC basketball is in transition as coach Hubert Davis debuts. Will the Tar Heels drop off in the wake of Roy Williams’ retirement? Or are they a Top 10 team even without Dadgum Roy? Riley Davis kicks things off by explaining why he thinks North Carolina will be a Top 10 team. Jamie Shaw then plays the villain and argues against the Tar Heel hype. (Heat Check CBB)
