Get to know UNC's first-round opponent: Wagner
Posted March 18, 2024 9:30 a.m. EDT
Updated March 21, 2024 5:15 p.m. EDT
Charlotte, N.C. — North Carolina earned a No. 1 seed and will play the Wagner Seahawks.
Wagner moved on to the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament after defeating the Howard Bison in the First Four, 71-68, Tuesday night in Dayton, Ohio..
The Tar Heels will play the Seahawks around 2:45 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in the West Regional at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. The first-round game airs on CBS.
"They're extremely well-coached," UNC coach Hubert Davis said of Wagner. "It's a team that is very confident. They can really shoot. They're outstanding defensively. They're excited about the opportunity to play us."
It marks North Carolina’s first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 2019.
North Carolina (27-7, 17-3 ACC) lost 84-76 on Saturday night in the ACC Tournament championship game to NC State. Entering the conference title game, North Carolina had won eight games in a row.
UNC last played at the Spectrum Center on Dec. 20 in a 81-69 win against Oklahoma in the Jumpman Invitational.
"It's great to be able to have two home games in a place that we all love and are familiar with," said center Armando Bacot.
Wagner Seahawks
Wagner (16-15, 7-9 NEC) is due to make its second NCAA Tournament in program history. The Seahawks beat 54-47 in the NEC title on Tuesday night in North Andover, Massachusetts.
Wagner last made the NCAA Tournament as a 15 seed in 2003, when the Seahawks got eliminated in the first round by Pittsburgh.
"Yesterday, I thought they did a good job of getting out in transition," Bacot said of Wagner's win on Tuesday night. "In the halfcourt, they definitely play slow. It's kind of like playing against UVA where every possession matters."
This season marks head coach Donald Copeland’s second year with the program.
Junior guard Melvin Council Jr. leads the team in scoring (14.6 points per game) and rebounding (5.7 rebounds per game).
Wagner was 0-2 in Quad 1 games in the 2023-24 season.
