Nicole Lukosius

Sports

UNC's poise seals victory

By Nicole Lukosius | March 31

CHARLOTTE - With a little more than 10 minutes to play in the second half against Louisville and the score all tied up at 59, the No. 1-seeded Tar Heels set out to prove they are not the same squad that crumbled against Georgetown in the Elite Eight last season. And after five straight points from a Tyler Hansbrough who refused to see history repeat itself, North Carolina never allowed the No. 3 seeded Cardinals to get back in the game Saturday night.

Sports

Heels win big, but turnovers a problem

By Nicole Lukosius | February 26

Coming off their fifth-straight ACC victory, the Tar Heels have plenty to be happy about after sending Wake Forest home on the losing end of an 89-73 decision Sunday night in the Smith Center. But despite out-rebounding the Deacons by a margin of 14 and sinking more than half of its shots, No. 3 North Carolina still sees room for improvement. Careless ball handling and risky passes led to an uncharacteristic 20 UNC turnovers, and coach Roy Williams said this was one of the downsides in an otherwise fundamentally sound performance.

Sports

Too much to handle

By Nicole Lukosius | February 25

Photos from the game It seems to be just what North Carolina has come to expect. Whenever time is winding down - and there is big-play potential - the ball seems to end up in the hands of sophomore guard Wayne Ellington. Luckily for the No. 3 Tar Heels, he has been able to come through - just as he did with 3.3 seconds remaining in the first half against Wake Forest.

Sports

Not even close

By Nicole Lukosius | February 18

Photos from the game. Virginia Tech might have thought it was going to encounter a battered and bruised No. 5 North Carolina squad. And while this might have been true, it certainly did not show - as evidenced by the Tar Heels' 92-53 victory Saturday afternoon at the Smith Center. "We had some really good things happen for us; we were more aggressive defensively," UNC coach Roy Williams said.

Sports

Tar Heels run over Virginia Tech

By Nicole Lukosius | February 15

After Saturday afternoon's matchup against Virginia Tech, North Carolina head coach Roy Williams and his team can finally breathe a sigh of relief. In the past four games, the Tar Heels (24-2, 9-2 in the ACC) have had to grapple with injuries to several different players, a loss to cross-town rival Duke, two overtime victories and a one-point scare by Virginia. So a 92-53 dismantling must have seemed like a walk in the park.

Sports

Defense key in matchup with VT

By Nicole Lukosius | February 15

It has been a rough week of conference play for both No. 5 North Carolina and Virginia Tech. And for the Tar Heel guards especially, things could continue to shape up that way Saturday. That's because the assignment of containing Hokie sharpshooter A.D. Vassallo won't be an easy one. Coming off a season-high 24 points in a 3-point loss to Miami last weekend, Vassallo is a threat from all over the court. He ranks third in the conference, shooting almost 41 percent from behind the arc.

Sports

Lawson-less Heels survive road test

By Nicole Lukosius | November 29

COLUMBUS, Ohio - North Carolina had yet to experience an exuberant opposing crowd this season, but all that changed when the Tar Heels walked into Value City Arena on Wednesday night to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The lights went out, spotlights were shining, red glowsticks illuminated the stadium and the Ohio State fans got loud - and this was just for the starting lineups. And the fans in red and white had much to cheer about, but in the end, the Buckeyes were not able to hold off the No. 1 Tar Heels, as UNC prevailed 66-55.

Sports

Football team goes out in style

By Nicole Lukosius | November 26

View a photo slideshow of the game. Also read "Tar Heels get a Little boost." Saturday was the last time the seniors on the North Carolina football team would ever storm through the tunnel before the game, as the band played and the crowd was on its feet.

Sports

Tar Heels get a Little boost

By Nicole Lukosius | November 26

View a photo slideshow of the game. Throughout the course of the season, the Tar Heels have struggled to put a consistent running game together. But Saturday afternoon with ACC rival Duke in town, freshman Greg Little took matters into his own hands.

Sports

Tar Heels aim to hit the road running

By Nicole Lukosius | November 13

With a 31-27 loss against cross-town rival N.C. State this weekend, North Carolina is no longer bowl eligible in head coach Butch Davis' first season. However, that does not mean the season is over. UNC (3-7, 2-4 in the ACC) will travel to Atlanta on Saturday to go head-to-head with a Georgia Tech (6-4, 3-4) team that has seen time in the national polls throughout the year. With only two games remaining on the schedule, the Tar Heels will play for more than just a victory - they'll be playing for pride. A running struggle