North Carolina Faces Washington In The Second Round Of The NCAA Tournment

On Sunday North Carolina out of the Atlantic Coast Conference who is a one seed in the Midwest Region will face Washington who is a nine seed and a member of the Pac -12 Conference in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina comes into the game with a record of 28-6 while Washington comes into the game with a record of 27-8.

As for how North Carolina advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament they shook off a slow start against Iona.

North Carolina completed a perfect first round for top seeds in this NCAA Tournament, but not before Iona became the latest No. 16 seed to show these matchups are no sure thing. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-ncaa-first-round-vs-iona.aspx?path=mbball

Cameron Johnson scored 21 points, and North Carolina quickly erased a five-point halftime deficit to hot-shooting Iona, going on to win 88-73 on Friday night. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-ncaa-first-round-vs-iona.aspx?path=mbball

The Tar Heels (28-6), who came into the tournament as a top seed for a record 17th time, advanced to play Washington in the second round of the Midwest Region on Sunday. They're hoping to reach their 11th Final Four. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-ncaa-first-round-vs-iona.aspx?path=mbball
  Much like Gardner-Webb did earlier Friday against No. 1 seed Virginia — which last year became the first top seed to lose in the first round — Iona surprised the Tar Heels early with their energy and outside shooting. Ricky McGill made all four of his 3-point attempts in the opening half as the Gaels (17-16) led by as many as eight and took a 38-33 lead into halftime. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-ncaa-first-round-vs-iona.aspx?path=mbball

Iona's advantage disappeared quickly. Johnson's 3-pointer and Luke Maye's jumper tied it 39 seconds into the second half, and an 18-4 run put North Carolina back on track. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-ncaa-first-round-vs-iona.aspx?path=mbball

The bigger and stronger Tar Heels dominated the boards, outrebounding Iona 52-26 and getting 25 second-chance points. After shooting 44.3 percent the first half, they hit 63 percent in the second and led by as many as 20 points. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-ncaa-first-round-vs-iona.aspx?path=mbball

McGill finished with 26 points, including 7-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Gaels, who are one-and-done in the tournament for the fourth straight season. They're still seeking their first NCAA win after 13 trips. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-ncaa-first-round-vs-iona.aspx?path=mbball

Asante Gist had 17 points and Andrija Ristanovic scored 11 for Iona. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-ncaa-first-round-vs-iona.aspx?path=mbball

Nassir Little added 19 points for UNC. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-ncaa-first-round-vs-iona.aspx?path=mbball

Like North Carolina, Washington advanced to the second round but with a win over Utah State.

Noah Dickerson had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and ninth-seeded Washington made a successful return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in eight years, beating Utah State 78-61 on Friday. “according to https://gohuskies.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-washington-makes-successful-return-beats-utah-state-78-61.aspx

The Pac-12's regular season champions swept the league's awards - top player, best defensive player and coach of the year - and got something from all of them against one of the hottest teams in March. “according to https://gohuskies.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-washington-makes-successful-return-beats-utah-state-78-61.aspx

Eighth-seeded Utah State (28-7) had won 10 in a row and 17 of 18 while taking the Mountain West title. The Aggies got the highest seed in school history and were trying to end their own long NCAA Tournament drought. They haven't won since 2002, dropping eight in a row - including 2006 against the Huskies. “according to https://gohuskies.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-washington-makes-successful-return-beats-utah-state-78-61.aspx

Washington (27-8) got enough from its top players. “according to https://gohuskies.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-washington-makes-successful-return-beats-utah-state-78-61.aspx

Jaylen Nowell, the Pac-12 player of the year, had 19 points and five assists. Top defender Matisse Thybulle helped the Huskies surge ahead to stay late in the first half but was limited by foul trouble the rest of the way. He finished with 10 points, five steals and three blocks. “according to https://gohuskies.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-washington-makes-successful-return-beats-utah-state-78-61.aspx

Coach of the year Mike Hopkins got a contract extension through 2025 on the eve of the game, and then led the Huskies to their long-awaited win. “according to https://gohuskies.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-washington-makes-successful-return-beats-utah-state-78-61.aspx

Brock Miller had 13 points for Utah State. “according to https://gohuskies.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-washington-makes-successful-return-beats-utah-state-78-61.aspx

Thybulle helped the Huskies build the game's first significant lead. He hit a 3-pointer and had a steal and layup during a 13-3 run that ended the first half and put Washington ahead 40-28. Thybulle also had an emphatic block on Abel Porter's jumper from the perimeter. “according to https://gohuskies.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-washington-makes-successful-return-beats-utah-state-78-61.aspx

The Huskies pushed the lead to 13 points early in the second half before Thybulle went to the bench with his third foul. Utah State cut it to 54-53 on Sam Merrill's 3-pointer, but Nahziah Carter hit back-to-back 3s that blunted the comeback. Washington was never seriously threatened down the stretch. “according to https://gohuskies.com/news/2019/3/22/mens-basketball-washington-makes-successful-return-beats-utah-state-78-61.aspx

Tip-off is set for 2:40pm from Nationwide Arena that is home of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The game will be televised on CBS.