The Daily Tar Heel

DTH Photo Illustration. March Madness is here and after a year of the tournament being disrupted due to COVID-19, people are excited to experience the tournament again. Some UNC students have had to alter their traditions due to COVID-19 but one still remains: making a bracket.

Makayla Key

Sports

UNC students find ways to replace March Madness traditions amid pandemic

By Twumasi Duah-Mensah | Apr. 7

Fans weren’t the greatest casualty of the NCAA cancelling the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in 2020. They weren't the ones who had put in so much hard work over the year only to be left wondering what the point of it all was. But now, March Madness is back. The tournament looks different, but UNC students are still excited to return to some of their favorite traditions.

Stephanie Watts attempts a layup during a game against Alabama during the NCAA Tournament in San Antonio, Texas on Monday, March 22, 2021. UNC fell to Alabama 71-80. Photo courtesy of Dana Gentry.

Dana Gentry

Sports

UNC women’s basketball's first-round exit sums up its season — but not in a bad way

By Twumasi Duah-Mensah | Mar. 22

The UNC women's basketball team started its clash with Alabama in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament poorly on Monday. As the game went on, the Tar Heels found their rhythm, and eventually got better. But it wasn't enough.

UNC graduate guard Stephanie Watts high-fives first-year forward Alyssa Utsby during Carolina's 80-71 first-round NCAA tournament loss at the Alamodome in San Antonio on March 22, 2021. Watts had a team-high 29 points in her final outing as a Tar Heel. Photo courtesy of Dana Gentry/UNC Athletics

Sports

UNC women's basketball falls to Alabama, 80-71, in first round of NCAA Tournament

By Twumasi Duah-Mensah | Mar. 22

A late comeback attempt from 14 points down couldn’t save the tenth-seed North Carolina women’s basketball from the inevitable, falling 80-71 to seventh-seed Alabama in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday.

UNC's women's basketball coach Courtney Banghart talks with junior center Janelle Bailey (30) during a game against N.C. State on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. UNC broke NC State's undefeated streak with a score of 66-60.

Morgan Pirozzi

Sports

'Keep getting better': UNC women's hoops prepared for NCAA run despite young roster

By Twumasi Duah-Mensah | Mar. 22

“It’s important that all five people on the floor see themselves as a threat and believe they can score at any time," senior center Janelle Bailey said. "We dictate what we want to do, we don’t let them dictate what we do on the offensive end.”

UNC senior attacker Katie Hoeg (8) keeps the ball from an opposing player during the game against Maryland at Dorrance Field on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. No 1. UNC won against No 4. Maryland 19-6.

Angelina Katsanis

Sports

No. 1 UNC women's lacrosse displays versatility in 21-9 win over No. 10 Boston College

By Twumasi Duah-Mensah | Mar. 7

Sure, a 21-9 scoreline suggests that the UNC women's lacrosse team is a truly dominant team, but that’s no secret to head coach Jenny Levy. What intrigued her instead was that, despite her team's quality, they went 3-1 down early in the first half.

ACC Commissioner John Swofford addresses the media during the 2017 ACC Football Kickoff media event in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, July 13, 2017. (Photo by Sara D. Davis, the ACC.com)

Sara D. Davis, Sara D. Davis

Sports

Former UNC athletic director John Swofford talks ACC commissioner retirement and more

By Twumasi Duah-Mensah | Mar. 2

Before his upcoming retirement in June 2021, The Daily Tar Heel sat down with ACC commissioner and former UNC athletic director John Swofford to discuss the lessons learned throughout his life, the difficulties of his time as commissioner and the regrets of his career.

Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley (33), drives on North Carolina's Janelle Bailey (44) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Blacksburg Va. Sunday February 28 2021. Photo courtesy of Matt Gentry/AP Photo/The Roanoke Times

Sports

UNC women's basketball 'growing up at the right time' after win over Virginia Tech

By Twumasi Duah-Mensah | Mar. 1

On Sunday, the team was victorious against Virginia Tech in the final game of the regular season, a result that all but secures an NCAA Tournament berth for the Tar Heels.

UNC sophomore outfielder Caleb Roberts hits his first of two home runs during Carolina's 8-1 season-opening victory over James Madison at Boshamer Stadium, Feb. 19, 2021.

Yates McConnell

Sports

Despite new faces, it's business as usual for UNC baseball in 4-1 win over Elon

By Twumasi Duah-Mensah | Feb. 24

For such a young, deep team, the Diamond Heels’ sense of their identity is very strong. And that identity won’t change just because there’s a new coach. Whether it's Fox or Forbes, it's still UNC.

UNC graduate guard Petra Holešínská (2) prepares to take a shot during a game against Clemson on Feb. 18, 2021. UNC beat Clemson 77- 64. Photo courtesy of Caleb Browder.

Sports

UNC women's hoops comes of age, keeps tourney hopes alive with important Clemson win

By Twumasi Duah-Mensah | Feb. 21

Everything the Tar Heels knew they could do was on display in their 77-64 win over the Tigers on Thursday. That win, according to ESPN’s Bracketology, bumps them into the Last Four In for the NCAA Tournament.

Press Conference, WCHL 1360. (Left to right): Unidentified man, UNC Athletic Director John Swofford, UNC Head Football Coach Mack Brown. In the Hugh Morton Photographs and Films #P0081, copyright, 1988-1994, North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library.

Sports

Column: Retiring ACC commissioner John Swofford changed UNC athletics, even after he left

By Twumasi Duah-Mensah | Feb. 8

Retiring ACC commissioner John Swofford’s ties to North Carolina are extensive. As a student at UNC, he was a Morehead-Cain Scholar and became the starting quarterback for the Tar Heels and switched to defensive back his senior year in 1971.

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Twumasi Duah-Mensah

UNC students find ways to replace March Madness traditions amid pandemic

UNC women’s basketball's first-round exit sums up its season — but not in a bad way

UNC women's basketball falls to Alabama, 80-71, in first round of NCAA Tournament

'Keep getting better': UNC women's hoops prepared for NCAA run despite young roster

No. 1 UNC women's lacrosse displays versatility in 21-9 win over No. 10 Boston College

Former UNC athletic director John Swofford talks ACC commissioner retirement and more

UNC women's basketball 'growing up at the right time' after win over Virginia Tech

Despite new faces, it's business as usual for UNC baseball in 4-1 win over Elon

UNC women's hoops comes of age, keeps tourney hopes alive with important Clemson win

Column: Retiring ACC commissioner John Swofford changed UNC athletics, even after he left

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