March 19, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format | Pre-NCAA Tournament Press Conference Quotes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Third-seeded North Carolina (27-6) opens play in the NCAA Tournament Oklahoma City Region Saturday when the Tar Heels face 14th-seeded UCF at The McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn., at noon. Carolina, an at-large qualifier from the Atlantic Coast Conference, is coming of a 75-69 win over South Dakota on Sunday. UCF, the automatic qualifier from Conference USA, is making its first NCAA appearance since 1999 after defeating Southern Miss in overtime, 65-54, in the C-USA title game on March 8. Carolina is ranked No. 11 in both the AP poll and the coaches' poll. UCF is unranked.

AT A GLANCE
Records: North Carolina 27-6, UCF 17-16
Rankings: North Carolina is ranked No. 11 in both the AP poll and the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll. UCF is unranked.
TV: ESPN2. Dave O'Brien (play-by-play) and Nancy Lieberman (analyst) have the call.
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network, a division of Learfield Communications. Brad Heller (play-by-play) and Jan Boxill (analyst) have the call.
On The Web: TarHeelBlue.com (UNC), UCFAthletics.com (UCF)

UCF SERIES NOTES
• North Carolina is 1-0 all-time against UCF.
• The Tar Heels defeated the Knights, 99-51, on Nov. 28, 1987 in Orlando.

POTENTIAL SECOND ROUND MATCHUPS
• The winner of the UNC-UCF matchup will meet the winner of Purdue-Charlotte.
• North Carolina is 4-1 all-time against Purdue and 2-0 all-time against Charlotte.
• The Tar Heels have faced Purdue in the NCAA Tournament four times, making the Boilermakers their most common NCAA Tournament opponent.  UNC has defeated Purdue in the tournament three times - 89-74 in the 1994 Final Four in Richmond, Va., 70-68 in the 2006 Cleveland Region semifinal and 84-72 in the 2007 Dallas Regional final.  Purude defeated UNC, 82-59, in the 1999 Midwest Region semifinal in Normal, Ill. Each time the two schools have met in the tournament, the winner has advanced at least to the Final Four.
• UNC and Charlotte have never met in the NCAA Tournament.

CAROLINA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
• UNC enters the tournament as a No. 3 seed for the fourth time in school history. The Tar Heels were also a No. 3 seed in 1994, 1995 and 2003, winning the NCAA title as a No. 3 in 1994.
• Carolina is 14-3 all-time in NCAA first round games, with its last loss coming to Middle Tennessee in 2004.
• The Tar Heels are 20-18 all-time in NCAA Tournament games played away from Chapel Hill.
• Carolina is 36-15 in NCAA Tournament play in 16 previous appearances under Sylvia Hatchell.
• UNC has an all-time NCAA record of 38-19 in 20 overall appearances.

STREAKS
• Carolina has won six of its last eight games against all competition and 16 of 17 against non-conference opponents.
• UCF has won six games in a row and 11 of 14 since starting the season 6-13.