Kenny Williams (24) shoots a three against Lipscomb in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Charlotte on March 16.

Kenny Williams, first-year bigs stand out in UNC's 84-66 win over Lipscomb

By Jack Frederick

CHARLOTTE — Kenny Williams hadn’t played in an NCAA tournament game for 713 days. 

Before tipoff against No. 15 seed Lipscomb on Friday afternoon, he’d last checked in for one meager minute during the North Carolina men’s basketball team’s win over Syracuse in the 2016 Final Four on April 2. He took no shots that night.

Men's basketball

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North Carolina guard Joel Berry II (2) walks off the floor after UNC's loss to Duke on March 3.

Top-ranked Virginia downs North Carolina in ACC Tournament Championship, 71-63

By Kirk Meyer

BROOKLYN — The North Carolina basketball team knew what lay ahead of it at the beginning of the week. An ACC Championship title was at stake.  Against top-seeded Virginia, the Tar Heels needed every bit of offensive and defensive power it could muster. But carried by the momentum after wins against No. 24 Miami and No. 5 Duke, UNC managed to make some shots against the Cavaliers. Even so, Virginia offered a litmus test for the Tar Heels to see how it compares to other national title contenders. And Saturday proved that UNC has work left to do.

The North Carolina men's basketball team huddles before its ACC Tournament game against Syracuse on Wednesday night in Brooklyn, New York. Photo courtesy of David Welker, theACC.com

'New York is the mecca of basketball': UNC enjoying its ACC Tournament location

By Kirk Meyer

Playing in Brooklyn for the 2018 ACC Tournament offers the North Carolina men’s basketball team a different kind of spotlight – one that both players and fans have relished so far. Senior Joel Berry II played in Brooklyn for last season’s ACC Tournament, and he said he notices a special level of energy playing in the nation’s biggest media market. “You can always tell the vibe around here is basketball, basketball, basketball,” Berry said. “It’s all around a lot of fun, and I’m just trying to soak it in and enjoy it as much as possible."