North Carolina Receives Number One Seed For The NCAA Tournament

Like their tobacco road rival Duke North Carolina also received a number one seed for the NCAA Tournament.

Atlantic Coast Conference regular season co-champion North Carolina has earned its record 17th No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and is the top seed in the Midwest Regional, the NCAA announced on Sunday evening.  The Tar Heels have earned more NCAA top seeds than any program in the nation. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/17/mens-basketball-tar-heels-grab-no-1-seed-in-ncaa-midwest-regional.aspx

Carolina will play No. 16 seed Iona in the first round at approximately 9:20 p.m. Eastern on Friday in Columbus, Ohio. Washington and Utah State will tip off at 6:50 p.m., and and UNC-Iona will follow 30 minutes after the completion of that game. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/17/mens-basketball-tar-heels-grab-no-1-seed-in-ncaa-midwest-regional.aspx

The game will be televised nationally by TNT and available everywhere on the CBS March Madness mobile app.  Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst) and Allie LaForce (reporter) will have the call. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/17/mens-basketball-tar-heels-grab-no-1-seed-in-ncaa-midwest-regional.aspx

The winner of Friday's contest will advance to the second round on Sunday against either No. 8 seed Utah State or No. 9 seed Washington. The winner of that second round game will move on to Kansas City for the MIdwest Regional. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/17/mens-basketball-tar-heels-grab-no-1-seed-in-ncaa-midwest-regional.aspx

"It's special to be a No. 1 seed," UNC head coach Roy Williams said on Sunday night.  "The most special thing is to see the way our kids reacted when they saw our name as a No. 1 seed and they put North Carolina up there. I just love the way they were genuinely excited. They're kids.  We've enjoyed some good moments, and we've had some difficult ones like the one against Duke in the ACC Tournament or Virginia or Louisville.  But at the same time, I love the excitement."  “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/17/mens-basketball-tar-heels-grab-no-1-seed-in-ncaa-midwest-regional.aspx

UNC is one of three No. 1 seeds from the ACC, including No. 1 overall seed Duke in the East Regional and Virginia, which is the No. 1 in the South. Gonzaga is the fourth No. 1 seed in the West.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/17/mens-basketball-tar-heels-grab-no-1-seed-in-ncaa-midwest-regional.aspx

"We have to respect everyone and fear no one," Williams said.  "Gotta be ready to play the first day.  If you play your tail off the first day, perhaps they'll let you stay around and play somebody else.  We've got Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that we can practice. Let's understand that we can still get a heck of a lot better.
 
"The great teams we've had that have won the national championship or made a big, big run to get into the Final Four, those practices in the NCAA Tournament were our best practices of the year. That's what I'm looking forward to."

Other teams in the Midwest Regional include No. 2 seed Kentucky, No. 3 seed Houston, No. 4 seed Kansas, No. 5 seed Auburn, No. 6 seed Iowa State, No. 7 seed Wofford, No. 10 seed Seton Hall, No. 11 seed Ohio State, No. 12 seed New Mexico State, No. 13 seed Northeastern, No. 14 seed Georgia State and No. 15 seed Abilene Christian. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/17/mens-basketball-tar-heels-grab-no-1-seed-in-ncaa-midwest-regional.aspx

The Tar Heels have earned 17 No. 1 seeds in their NCAA Tournament history, most of any school in the nation. Williams has led his teams to 13 No. 1 seeds, second-most in NCAA history among head coaches. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/17/mens-basketball-tar-heels-grab-no-1-seed-in-ncaa-midwest-regional.aspx

Seven ACC teams earned bids, tied with the SEC for second-most among conferences behind eight from the Big Ten. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/17/mens-basketball-tar-heels-grab-no-1-seed-in-ncaa-midwest-regional.aspx

This is the second time one conference provided three teams as No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament field since seeds were established in 1979. The other was in 2009, when the Big East's Louisville, Connecticut and Pittsburgh were No. 1 seeds.  “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/17/mens-basketball-tar-heels-grab-no-1-seed-in-ncaa-midwest-regional.aspx