Inside Carolina: A UNC athletics podcast

For the North Carolina basketball program,  reaching the Sweet Sixteen was the benchmark of success in the NCAA Tournament since Dean Smith broke through in the late 1960s. Smith's 1967-69 run of ACC regular season championships, ACC Tournament titles and Final Four berths set the standard for UNC and throughout his tenure on the Tar Heel sidelines, Smith delivered. Roy Williams did virtually the same until he retired in 2021. Hubert Davis's teams have reached that threshold in two of his four years in Chapel Hill with another tournament run beginning on Thursday against VCU.

So what is the standard? What defines North Carolina success in the NCAA Tournament? Is that different for this specific team given the injuries and this year's bracket? 

Inside Carolina's senior reporter Greg Barnes joins Tommy Ashley to discuss the past, present and future of Carolina in the NCAA Tournament and they include the Duke rivalry in the discussion as the Blue Devils head into their own tournament run with a sweep of the league trophies this season.

 

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With eight teams selected for the NCAA Tournament, the ACC stands in much better position nationally and looks to redeem it's collective image in the 2026 big dance. While eight teams in is progress, only two of those - Duke and Virginia - are higher than a six seed with North Carolina and Louisville earning those slots. 

Inside Carolina senior reporter Greg Barnes joins Tommy Ashley to discuss the Tar Heels and the rest of the league as March Madness is finally here. Barnes and Ashley look briefly at Carolina's matchup with VCU and potentially Illinois before checking in on each league game with NC State and Texas playing on Tuesday and the controversial Miami (OH) Redhawks taking on SMU on Wednesday in Dayton. 

 

Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.”

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**Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!
**Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!
**Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

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North Carolina fizzled out early in the ACC Quarterfinals and returned to Chapel Hill to await their postseason fate. Now they're officially in the "Lose-or-Go-Home" part of the season as the NCAA Tournament awaits. The usual Coast to Coast crew of Sherrell McMillan, Sean Moran and Joey Powell bring on Inside Carolina analyst Rob Harrington and senior reporter Greg Barnes to dig into UNC's real postseason chances and what the Tournament may look like as a whole.

The crew focuses on the matchup with VCU. Harrington highlights UNC's six seed as a fair placement despite Caleb Wilson's absence, noting their potential to perform better against mid-major teams. Moran and McMillan emphasized the importance of Henri Veesaar's performance and the need for consistent bench contributions. Barnes notes the tough bracket in the East and South regions, with potential upsets like South Florida over Louisville. The panel agreed that UNC's success hinges on their ability to execute against VCU and maintain intensity throughout the tournament.

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**Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!
**Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!
**Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

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Inside Carolina senior reporter Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley discuss the aftermath of North Carolina's quick exit in the 2026 ACC Tournament with a game performance all too familiar in the Hubert Davis era at UNC. Barnes and Ashley go into the clear disconnect that has permeated this roster at times - and did again on Thursday night - and look ahead to how this game and end of the season will affect the NCAA Tournament seeding. 

Finally, the IC duo look at the future and the importance of next weekend for not only the program but especially for Coach Davis and his staff.

**Call to Action:**
**Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!
**Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!
**Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

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North Carolina's quarterfinal loss to Clemson played out as so many games have in the Hubert Davis era in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels came out flat, played a lethargic 35 minutes and appeared on their way to another disappointing loss, this time in the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. But a furious rally and a Tiger shutdown provided a miracle chance at the end. Jarin Stevenson's three-quarter heave fell way short and UNC heads home to await NCAA selection Sunday with a 80-79 loss on Thursday night.

Inside Carolina's Rob Harrington and Tommy Ashley break down the loss, highlighting the play of Henri Veesaar and Derek Dixon, and discussing the familiar script of those late game comebacks that fall short in the past five seasons. Veesaar's 28 points and 17 rebounds led the Heels while Dixon's three second half three-pointers nearly saved his team from the early exit. 

Up next for Carolina is the release of the NCAA Tournament brackets on Sunday, March 15th. The Tar Heels look to be seeded anywhere from 5th to 7th when the big dance bracket is revealed.

**Call to Action:**
**Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!
**Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!
**Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

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