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No. 21 WBB Faces Final Road Test, Visiting Virginia
February 25, 2026 | Women's Basketball
No. 21/19 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (23-6, 12-4 ACC)
Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (Dartmouth, 2000)
Record at North Carolina: 148-70Â (7th season)
Career Record: 402-173 (19th season)Â
VIRGINIA CAVALIERS (19-8, 11-5 ACC)
Head Coach: Amaka Agugua-Hamilton (Hofstra, 2005)
Record at UVA: 67-54 (4th season)
Career Record: 141-69 (7th season)
GAME COVERAGE
TV:Â ACC Network Extra
PxP:Â Jason Patterson
Analyst:Â Mack McCarthy
Radio:Â Tar Heel Sports Network, WCHL 97.9/1360
• Matt KrauseÂ
TIPPING OFF
• One final true road game remains for North Carolina Women's Basketball, as the Tar Heels head to Charlottesville and look to snap a two-game skid against Virginia.
• A win Thursday would give Carolina its 13th ACC-win for the second straight season; it would be the first time in school history that the Tar Heels have reached the mark in back-to-back seasons.
• The three-ball is flying for Carolina, as the Tar Heels have drained a Banghart-era best 123 triples in ACC action. Against Pitt, Carolina matched the program's best with 14 total threes against the Panthers. Five Tar Heels knocked down a three in the outing, with Laila Hull tallying a career-high five.
• Defense remains a big part of Carolina's game, holding 12 opponents to under 50 points this season. UNC leads the league in defensive field goal percentage, limiting opponents to 57.7 points per outing.
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SERIES NOTES...
In Chapel Hill: UNC leads 29-13
In Charlottesville: UVA leads 20-18
At Neutral Sites: UNC leads 12-3
Longest UNC Streak: 13 straight (3/9/03-1/16/08)
Longest UVA Streak: 14 straight (1/10/87-3/8/92)
Largest UNC Win: 34 (1/8/07 - in Chapel Hill)
Largest UVA Win: 49 (2/15/90 - in Charlottesville)
Most UNC Points: 100 (1/15/98 - in Chapel Hill)
Most UVA Points: 105 (1/15/98 - in Chapel Hill)
Last 10 Meetings: UNC leads 8-2
SCOUTING THE CAVALIERS
In year four under head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, the Cavaliers have tallied a season-best 19 wins in her tenure after knocking off No. 8 Louisville on the road this past weekend.
Boasting one of the best guards in the ACC, Kymora Johnson leads the league with 6.1 assists per game and with 2.89 triples per outing. The senior sits second in the league with 18.9 points per game.
As a team, the Cavaliers are strong around the rim and lead all ACC teams with 7.0 blocks per contest. The Hoos also lead all league foes with a rebounding margin of 10.4.
SERIES HISTORY VS. VIRGINIA
Despite Carolina owning the with an all-time series advantage of 59-36 overall, Virginia has picked up two straight victories over the Tar Heels.
The Tar Heels are on the hunt for their first win over UVA on its home floor since 2023, although the Cavaliers hold a 20-18 advantage in Charlottesville.
Under Banghart, Carolina is 7-2 against Virginia.
LAST TIME OUT
Youth was abundant in North Carolina's 78-50 win over Pitt in Chapel Hill on Sunday, with underclassmen shining.
Pacing the Tar Heels in scoring, Nyla Brooks added 18 points while Laila Hull exploded from three en route to a career-high 17 points.
Hull's five threes led Carolina to match the program single-game record with 14 total triples as a team.
Despite trailing by two at the end of the first quarter, Carolina made it rain with a 30-point second frame to take control and never look back.Â
Controlling the Panthers on defense, Ciera Toomey rejected her ACC-best four shots while Carolina held its 12th team of the season to 50 points or less.
WALK IN & TAKE OVER
Over the past two seasons, Carolina has gone into numerous rowdy road environments and come away with wins as the Tar Heels are 16-4 during the stretch on the road.
With nine road victories in 2024-25 and seven so far this season, the Tar Heels have notched seven-plus road wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.
Overall, Carolina has picked up seven or more road wins in 20 seasons, including this year.
A win at Virginia on Thursday would give Carolina eight road wins for the 10th time in school history.
POINTS COME AT A PREMIUM
When squaring off against Carolina, points are hard to come by, with its defense renowned as one of the best in the nation.
This season, the Tar Heels have limited 12 opponents to 50 points or less to rank No. 3 in a single-season in school history.
Banghart owns three of the five total seasons at Carolina in holding 10 or more opponents below the mark.
Opponents Held to 50 Points or Less
1.   2021-22    14 games
2.   2006-07    13 games
3.   2025-26    12 games
4.   2024-25    11 games
5.   1994-95    10 games
Carolina has thrived on the defensive end against ACC foes, holding league opponents under 50 points to match the program's best.
ACC Opponents Held to 50 Points or Less
1.    2025-26   5 games
    2021-22    5 games
3.   2022-23   3 games
    2003-04   3 games
THREES ON THREES ON THREES
When Carolina shoots from beyond the arc, there's a high chance it's going in. Against Kansas State and Pitt, the Tar Heels knocked down 14 made triples.
Against Pitt, the Tar Heels drained 14 triples for the second time this season and hit double-figure threes for the 12th game of the year.
The mark tied the program record, which had been previously set 12 times. Knocking down 14 triples against the Panthers marked the first time under Banghart in which Carolina reached the threshold.
This season, Carolina has knocked down 10-plus triples in 12 games, which sets the best in a single season in statistics available through 2002-03. It's also the first time the Tar Heels have drained 10-plus threes in 10 games or more.
One of the best three-point shooting teams nationally, Carolina ranks second in the ACC from beyond the arc at a 35.2% clip and also sits second with 8.2 triples per game.
Lanie Grant is a big factor in Carolina's success from deep, with the Tar Heel No. 2 overall in the ACC from beyond the arc at a 40.9% clip.Â
R E J E C T E D
All over the ball against Virginia Tech, Carolina swatted an ACC game-high eight shots against the Hokies.
Four Tar Heels recorded a block, with rookie Nyla Brooks a menace on the defensive end with three rejections.
The eight blocks were the most for Carolina against an ACC foe since January of 2024.
Ciera Toomey has rejected a team-high 48 blocks this year and is two rejections away from becoming the first Tar Heel with 50 or more since 2024. In ACC action, Toomey ranks No. 5 in the league with 1.75 rejections per outing.
BROOKS IS A BUCKET
There's no doubt that Nyla Brooks has made a splash in her rookie campaign, with the freshman averaging 8.5 points per game and having knocked down a total of 51 triples to date.
Brooks is the first freshman with 50 or more threes in her debut season since Stephanie Watts drained 76 triples in 2015-16.
DEFENSE IN OUR DNA
For any team going against the Tar Heels, there's a high chance that most of the shots won't go through the net.
This season, Carolina has held 17 opponents under 40% from the field and is undefeated while doing so.
In each of the last five seasons, the Tar Heels have held 15 or more opponents under to 40% from the field. In league action, Carolina has held 10 teams below the mark.
Overall, Carolina is holding its opponents to 36.4% from the field to lead the league.Â
EVERY ACC WIN MATTERS
Each game in ACC action is primed to be a battle, in which the Tar Heels have made sure to take advantage of.
A win on Sunday over Pitt gave Carolina is in its second-straight season with 12 or more ACC wins, the first time the Tar Heels have done so since the 2004-05 & 2005-06 seasons.
Previously, Carolina has picked up 12 or more ACC wins in 10 total seasons, including twice under Courtney Banghart.
Earning 11 wins marked another milestone for the program, as it reached its fifth straight season with the mark. The last time Carolina had five consecutive seasons with 11 ACC wins was a seven-year run from 2002 to 2008.
If Carolina were to defeat Virginia on Thursday, it would earn its 13th overall ACC win for the ninth time in school history and in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever.
FREE BASKETBALL
By knocking off Syracuse and Virginia Tech in overtime, Carolina has now come away with a win in extra time for the second year in-a-row.
Under Banghart, the Tar Heels have picked up five wins when extra time is needed.
The two wins in extra time match the most for Carolina since the 2017-18 season.
Four overtime games in a year is the most in a season for Carolina since 2000-01.
Luckily, the Tar Heels have not played in a double-overtime contest since December of 2014.
ANYONE'S NIGHT
It's no secret that the Tar Heels boast a balanced attack, with three averaging over 10.0 points per game.
With three players scoring in double-figures against Pitt, Carolina has had three or more double-figure scorers in 26 games this season. The mark ranks second overall in the ACC.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE NET
The metrics come into play more and more as we draw closer to March, with Carolina at 19 overall in the NET prior to Thursday's game in Charlottesville. Virginia provides another Quad 1 game opportunity.
The win at Virginia Tech gave Carolina its second Quad 1 win of the season, with both coming on the road.Â
The Tar Heels are 9-6 against teams in Quads 1 and 2.
BOUNCE BACK
This season, Carolina is 5-1 in its next game when coming off a loss.
Overall, the Tar Heels are 39-25 under Courtney Banghart off a loss and 29-12 since the start of the 2021-22 season.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
Scoring early and often against SMU, the 52-point victory set a new best as the largest margin of victory in an ACC game in program history.
The 94-point outing is now the most points scored against an ACC foe in the Courtney Banghart era and the most in a conference game since 2015.
Hitting 38 field goals at a 57.6% clip matched Carolina's highest mark of the season and is the best against an ACC opponent in the regular season since shooting 58.3% at Georgia Tech in 2006.
Dating back to the 2000 season, North Carolina has scored 90-plus points in an ACC game 31 times.
NYLA SQUARED
The rookie and the vet combo of Nyla Brooks and Nyla Harris make quite the pair as the two posted a combined 40 points in the win at Wake Forest.
This season, the Tar Heels are 8-1 when the freshman and the senior each score in double-figures.
LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, INDYA IS THERE
Always there when you need some help, Indya Nivar is tallying up the assists this season as the senior posted back-to-back games with a career-high tying seven dimes against Clemson and Wake Forest.
Nivar has already bested her previous season-career best with 68 assists as the senior hit 100 assists against the Demon Deacons. She is currently averaging 4.1 helpers per game in ACC action.
Dishing out five or more dimes in 11 games to date this season, Nivar is the first Tar Heel to do so since Alyssa Ustby during the 2023-24 season.
Nivar is the fifth Tar Heel in the Courtney Banghart era to eclipse 100 or more assists in a season.
Sitting at 111 total assists, Nivar is on track to become the first Tar Heel to dish out 120 or more assists since the 2019-20 season.
20-WINS SECURED
A win in Winston-Salem against Wake Forest gave Carolina its 34th 20-win season and its fifth straight.
A fifth consecutive 20-victory season matches Carolina's longest streak since the 2010-11 through the 2014-15 seasons.
THE JOURNEY TO 400
In her 19th season as a head coach, Courtney Banghart hit the 400-career win mark in the triumph over SMU.
Reaching the threshold, Banghart is now one of 52 active coaches in Division I women's basketball with 400 or more wins.
D-E-F-E-N-S-E, D-E-F-E-N-S-E
Good luck scoring against the Tar Heels, as Carolina has limited five ACC opponents to under 50 points in league action. It matches the most league teams held under 50 points in the Courtney Banghart era, last occurring during the 2021-22 season.
During Carolina's eight-game win streak during ACC play, the Tar Heels held two opponents under the 50-point mark. Â
As a team, the Tar Heels lead all ACC teams in limiting their opponents to 57.7 points per game and also lead the league in holding teams to 36.4% from the field.
Carolina held both Clemson and Georgia Tech to its ACC low in scoring.
PACK THE PAINT
Finding open shots on the inside has been key in Carolina's success in the recent stretch of conference play in a combined team effort.
Against Boston College and SMU, the Tar Heels posted their ACC-high with 52 points on the inside. Carolina has tallied 50+ points in the paint in five games this year, including three in league play.
Overall, this season, Carolina is averaging 36.3 points per game in the paint overall and 33.1 in ACC action.
DYNAMIC DUO
The pair of Nyla Harris and Lanie Grant has been electrifying throughout ACC play for Carolina, with the duo posting a combined 23.1 points per game in league play.
In the stretch, Harris scored a season-high 21 points against Syracuse and is shooting a hot clip of 56.1% from the floor. She's also averaging a smooth 7.5 rebounds per game.
Grant has been shooting lights out from beyond the arc, draining 34 threes at a clip of 41.5%. Against Syracuse, the sophomore drained a career-high five triples.
THRIVING IN THE THIRD
Coming out of the half, the Tar Heels love to make an impact in the third quarter. Carolina is averaging a quarter-best 21.0 points per game in the frame.
The Tar Heels have earned five come from behind wins this season when trailing at the half and can be attributed to its success in the third quarter.
This season, Carolina is 21-1 overall when leading through three.
STUFF THE STAT SHEET
As Carolina's leading distributor, Indya Nivar has racked up five or more assists in 11 games. The senior has matched her career-best twice with seven assists against Kansas State, Clemson and at Wake Forest.
This season, Nivar has tallied six games with at least five points, five rebounds, and five assists. Throughout her career, she's totaled eight games with the mark.
GOING STREAKING
Rattling off eight consecutive wins in conference play, the Tar Heels hit their stride to match the longest streak against ACC foes since 2023.
Under Banghart, the Tar Heels have ridden three streaks in conference play with five or more wins, the longest being eight straight against conference opponents during theÂ
2022-23 season.
Carolina has posted seven straight ACC wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
SHOOT YOUR SHOT
The three-ball has clearly been flying at a high rate for the Tar Heels, as Carolina has drained 123 total triples in ACC action to date. The total of triples marks a new ACC single-season best under Banghart.
Grant paces the Tar Heels against all foes with 54 total triples this season. In ACC action, the sophomore is shooting the three-ball at a blistering 41.5% clip.
MAKE 'EM MISS
Known for an aggressive defensive presence, the Tar Heels lead all ACC teams in conference play by holding their opponents to 34.8% from the field.
Against ACC foes, the Tar Heels have held 10 teams below 40% from the field. Carolina has held nine of its last 10 opponents below the threshold.Â
Prior to the win at Wake Forest, Carolina had held six straight opponents to under 40% from the field
In forcing four ACC teams under 30% shooting, Carolina has accomplished the feat for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
On the defensive end, Carolina has limited five teams to under 50 points. Through 16 conference games, the Tar Heels are holding teams to 58.76 points per game to rank second in the league.
1K CLUB
Scoring six points against Georgia Tech, Nyla Harris eclipsed the 1,000 career point threshold in Atlanta.
The senior is averaging 8.3 points per game throughout her career, and 10.9 in her lone season as a Tar Heel.
Against Syracuse, Harris came alive in the paint to score a career-high 21 points. Her presence was felt on the defensive side, with a season-high 11 rebounds.
This season, Harris boasts four double-doubles with three coming in ACC action.
She's scored 10 plus points in 12 out of 16 conference games.
DOMINATE THE GLASS
Not only did the Tar Heels grab a season-high 55 rebounds at Georgia Tech, but they also bullied the Yellow Jackets off the glass with a rebounding margin of +21. The Tar Heels bodied Pitt as well with 55 rebounds for another margin of +21.
Carolina's largest rebounding margin in an ACC game this season came against SMU at +30.
Ciera Toomey was dominant in Atlanta against Georgia Tech, collecting a career-high 15 rebounds. Her rebounds also marked the most in a single game by a Tar Heel this year.
Under Banghart, Carolina has tallied 50-plus rebounds against ACC foes in 14 total games.
11 out of 12 of Carolina's ACC wins have come when outrebounding its opponent. Overall, Carolina is 21-2 this season when outrebounding its opponents.
GRIT OVER QUIT
Points came at a premium in Carolina's victory at Georgia Tech, with the Tar Heels grinding away to earn the 54-46 victory. The same proved to be a factor in the 53-44 win over Clemson.
Under Banghart, the Tar Heels have won eight games when scoring under 55 points.
SECOND CHANCE - TAKEN
Taking advantage, Carolina tallied a season-high 21 second-chance points in the victory at Wake Forest.
The Tar Heels tallied 15+ second-chance points in the stretch against Miami, Florida State, and Georgia Tech for the longest stretch since December of 2023.
This season, Carolina is averaging 12.65 second-chance points per outing.
HERE COMES RK
With the third 20-point outing of her career, Reniya Kelly was unstoppable against Miami. The junior came out strong with nine points in the first quarter en route to a career-high 24 points.
Kelly was the first Tar Heel to eclipse the 20-point threshold in a game this season.Â
Hot from all over the floor, Kelly shot 9-of-14 from the field and knocked down four of five triples.
In ACC action, Kelly is currently averaging 9.4 points per game.
STEALS ON STEALS ON STEALS
Always having her eye on the ball, Indya Nivar has proven to be one of the most tenacious defenders in the nation.
Nivar currently ranks No. 28 overall nationally with a total of 74 steals and No. 41 with 2.64 steals per game. She's snagged three or more steals in 13 total games this season.
The senior is the first Tar Heel to snag 70 steals in a season since 2012-13.
KEEPING IT 100
Despite its past struggles from the charity stripe this season, Carolina locked in against Miami and Florida State to knock down all 10 and then nine of its free-throw attempts.
Carolina followed up its performance against the Hurricanes, shooting 9-of-9 from the charity stripe in Tallahassee. The Tar Heels have now shot perfectly from the line in five games under Banghart.
Both games set a new mark as the most attempted without a miss in a game during the Banghart era, marking the only such occurrence dating back to the 2002-03 season. Carolina has never shot 100% from the line in two straight games in a season, going back to 2002-03.
BATTLING ON THE BOARDSÂ
The rebounding battle is key to Carolina's success this season, as the Tar Heels are 21-2 when winning the boards.
In Carolina's 12 ACC wins, the Tar Heels have outrebounded their opponents by an average of +11.1 boards per game.
Overall, Carolina owns a rebounding margin of +7.9 this season.
CLICKING IN CONFERENCE
Scoring in double figures in the first four conference games, Nyla Harris rattled off a career-long streak in league action.
Harris was the first Tar Heel to start off league action riding a five-game double-digit scoring streak since Alyssa Ustby did so at the start of 2022-23 ACC play.
The senior forward has posted double-figures in 12 out of 16 conference games.
Currently, Harris is shooting 56.1% from the floor en route to 12.3 points per outing in ACC games.
WELCOMING NOELLE TO THE FOLD
After graduating early from Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, Ariz., Noelle Bofia has joined the Tar Heels for the Spring of 2026.
A four-star recruit and rated as the No. 52 overall prospect in the Class of 2026 by ESPN, Bofia is set to redshirt and practice with the Tar Heels this semester.
B A L A N C E
In any given game, any Tar Heel has the chance to shine with three currently averaging double-figures in scoring for Carolina.
So far this season, nine different Tar Heels have led in scoring in a game, with nine overall posting double-figure outings.
Lanie Grant has paced the Tar Heels as the leading scorer in 11 games.
SNEAK ATTACK
It's no secret that the Tar Heels love to defend, as UNC currently ranks No. 5 among ACC teams with an average of 9.3 steals per game.
Against Boston College, California, and Stanford, Carolina posted double-figure steals with an ACC game-high 12 steals against California. Nyla Harris led the Tar Heels with a career-high five swipes against the Bears.
PASS THE BALL
Dishing out the ball at a high rate, 24 assists at Boston College and against SMU marked a new season-high for UNC. Carolina has dished out 20 or more assists in eight games this season.
Lanie Grant dropped a new career-high with five assists at Boston College, while overall 11 Tar Heels dished out an assist in the road victory.
Against SMU, 10 Tar Heels dropped a helper with Elina Aarnisalo setting her season-high with five.
Overall, Carolina has dished out 15+ assists in 19 games this year. Indya Nivar currently paces Carolina with 3.96 dimes per game and has dished out five or more helpers in 11 games.
ALL HANDS IN
As all 14 Tar Heels entered the game against UNCW, Carolina's reserves made a strong impact against the Seahawks.
The Carolina bench posted 49 points against the Seahawks, the most in a game this season.
45 bench points against SMU set a Banghart era best against an ACC team.
Averaging 26.0 points per game from its reserves, Carolina ranks No. 2 in the ACC and No. 23 nationally in bench points per game.
20 out of 23 wins this season have come when the Tar Heel bench outscores their opponent.
COUGH IT UP
Forcing 20 or more turnovers in 10 games this season, Carolina is averaging 16.97 per game from its opponents to rank seventh overall in the ACC.
Last year, Carolina forced 13 teams to turn the ball over 20 or more times.Â
Currently, Carolina is averaging 18.13 points per game off opponent miscues.
The Tar Heels scored an ACC high 30 points against SMU due to Mustang turnovers.
LOCK DOWN DEFENSE
Aggressive defense is a focal point under head coach Courtney Banghart, and her teams have proven so.Â
In year seven of the Banghart era, the Tar Heels have held 53 opponents under the 50-point threshold. This season, UNC has kept 11 opponents under the mark.
The Tar Heels are 51-2 under Banghart when holding opponents to fewer than 50 points.
By limiting Boston College to 39 points, Carolina has now held 15 teams under Banghart below the 40-point threshold.
NO SHOTS HERE
Limiting SMU to a mere 12 made field goals marked the fewest allowed in a game by the Tar Heels this season.
Carolina limited UNCW to only four points in the fourth quarter, the lowest by any opponent in a quarter this year.Â
In the second quarter at Boston College, UNC held the Eagles to only five points, the fewest by an ACC team this season.
KEEPING ALL INVOLVED
Already proving to be one of Carolina's best offenses under Courtney Banghart, Carolina's scoring options are plentiful, as nine different Tar Heels have recorded double-figure games.
13 out of 23 of Carolina's wins this season have come when four or more Tar Heels record double-figures in scoring.Â
Indya Nivar paces this trend, scoring 10 or more points in 21 out of 28 games played this season.
GOING STREAKING
Riding a 34-game home win streak against unranked non-conference opponents, Carolina took care of business and earned wins.
During this streak, Carolina boasts a margin of victory of 38.3 points in the 34 consecutive wins dating back to 2019.
THRIVING IN PARADISE
Rattling off three wins in three days at the 2025 Cancun Challenge, North Carolina picked up its second straight multi-team event title and its fifth under Banghart.
Indya Nivar took home Cancun Challenge Tournament MVP honors, while Lanie Grant earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
HISTORY - WRITTEN
In a historic performance, Indya Nivar's triple-double of 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 steals marked the second triple-double in the rich history of Carolina women's basketball.
Nivar joins former teammate Alyssa Ustby as the only two Tar Heels to achieve the feat.
Her 10 steals also etched her name again in the Carolina record books, matching the program single-game record set by Pam Leake in 1985.Â
Nivar is the second ACC player to record a triple-double this season, and the 50th in the history of the conference.Â
By recording a triple-double with steals, Nivar is the fourth to accomplish the feat in the history of the league.
WINNING IS A TRADITION
Throughout the history of North Carolina women's basketball, it has boasted 34 20-win seasons.
A win over South Dakota State gave Carolina its 1,100th program victory. The Tar Heels became the 17th Division I women's program to reach the mark and the third in the ACC.
LET IT FLY
The three-ball has been good to the Tar Heels this season, as Carolina has knocked down 240 triples to date.
Last year, the Tar Heels set a new program record with a total of 269 made threes in 2024-25.
TAR HEELS AND NCAA TOURNAMENT FOES
Prepping for March all throughout November and December, Carolina is set to take on eight NCAA Tournament squads between its exhibition and the regular season during its non-conference slate.
- South Carolina - 2025 Final Four
- UCLA - 2025 Final Four
- Fairfield - 2025 First Round
- UNCG - 2025 First Round
- South Dakota State - 2025 Second Round
- Kansas State - 2025 Sweet 16
- Columbia - 2025 First Round
- Texas - 2025 Final Four
MILESTONE WATCH
• Courtney Banghart -Â
  - 148 wins at Carolina
  - 2 away from 150 - would be fastest coach in Carolina Women's basketball history to reach mark.
• Lanie Grant -Â
  - 96 career made threes.
  - 4 away from 100.
• Reniya Kelly -Â
  - 146 career assists.
  - 4 away from 150.
WHAT'S NEXT
The final game of the regular season is ahead, with a ranked test against No. 12 Duke from Carmichael Arena on Sunday.
The rivals square off for the second time this season on Sunday, with the Tar Heels and Blue Devils squaring off at noon ET on ESPN.
