Iowa women’s basketball: Swift start carries Hawkeyes to key road win over Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The first Iowa women’s basketball wave was damaging enough, stinging Michigan early with a barrage of buckets that had the Wolverines wobbling.
The second wave had the home team flattened beyond repair.
Together, relentless first-half runs from Sydney Affolter and Lucy Olsen catapulted the Hawkeyes to an instant hefty cushion that held up throughout a few turbulent second-half moments. Iowa’s final product was a crisp 79-66 win Wednesday night inside the Crisler Center, one that wipes away recent frustration while creating a key confidence boost in this final affair before March.
More:Iowa women’s basketball vs. Michigan score: Recap, highlights of Hawkeyes’ win over Wolverines
“It was nice that it wasn’t a close game. Like, we actually beat them this time,” said Olsen, who delivered 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting. “Didn’t decide it on one or two possessions, which is always good. It was nice. We hate losing. Those were some tough ones we lost (to Ohio State and UCLA). So I’m happy we bounced back.”
For everything Iowa (19-9, 9-8 Big Ten Conference) showed in near top-10 upsets last week against the Buckeyes and Bruins, the offensive potency wasn’t exactly there. Shots splashing home with better regularity sat at the top of Wednesday’s checklist.
The Hawkeyes didn’t wait around to produce.
Affolter took charge with an aggressive opening quarter, pouring home 14 of her career-high 24 points in the first frame as Iowa grabbed momentum immediately. Almost all of Affolter’s production arrived in a 104-second stretch late in the quarter, where the senior guard drained three treys and sandwiched in a fastbreak layup for an emphatic 11-point surge.
Tone, set.
“Just being able to get this win means a lot,” said Affolter, who added 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double in Iowa’s last six games. “It gives us a lot of confidence coming from those games playing against really tough teams. But it doesn’t matter unless we get the win. So I’m happy we could do that today.”
When the first-quarter horn sounded on Affolter’s riveting run, Olsen hadn’t even fired a shot yet. Oh but her act was coming.
Iowa’s senior point guard, down to just a handful of games remaining in her decorated collegiate career, picked out Wednesday’s second quarter as the one she liked. Michigan (19-9, 10-7) offered little resistance once Olsen got rolling. She single-handedly outscored the Wolverines with 16 second-quarter points, 12 of them coming on four treys that delivered one dagger after another.
More:Leistikow: Inside Lucy Olsen’s emotional, unforgettable year with Iowa women’s basketball
A robust 49-32 intermission lead inevitably led to a small second-half letdown, but Iowa kept the concern sporadic. Michigan climbed within six twice late in the third quarter as the Hawkeyes’ strong shooting came back to reality just a bit. But Iowa stiffened up and kept the drama at a minimum. The Hawkeyes’ lead never dipped below double digits over the game’s final six minutes.
There were still plenty of positives in the second half. An extended Ava Heiden cameo saw the freshman center deliver six points in six quality minutes, a productive sign with the postseason up next. She was one of many Hawkeyes to get right across the board. Thirteen points from Hannah Stuelke arrived despite the junior forward being under the weather, which prevented her from doing much in shootaround.
“It’s really matchup-specific,” said Iowa coach Jan Jensen. “This particular game, they started like a guard on Hannah. So we countered that with Ava. Because, you know, maybe against Wisconsin, they’ve got Serah Williams. Little bit more athletic, if we need that. It depends on the matchups.
“Hannah’s playing great at times. Addi’s playing great at times. Ava is a freshman. She’s been playing, and then we’ve been learning and growing. But I think that’s the beauty of being part of this Hawkeye culture. Everyone is disappointed if they don’t get in, but they stay the course. And then when they get their time, they’re ready. And I thought Ava played a great game tonight.”
It was a strong response for Iowa after a deflating week of painful misses. The offensive fireworks shown early offer additional confidence the Hawkeyes will put a winning product on the floor more often than not the rest of the way.
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
WBB PREVIEW – AT MICHIGAN
The Hawkeyes will hit the road to face Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Tip-off inside the Crisler Center is set for 6 p.m. (CT) and will air BTN+ and the Hawkeye Radio Network.
The Hawkeyes will hit the road to face Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Tip-off inside the Crisler Center is set for 6 p.m. (CT) and will air BTN+ and the Hawkeye Radio Network.
FOLLOW LIVE
Radio: Games air on the Hawkeye Radio Network with Rob Brooks (play-by-play) and Kathryn Reynolds (color) on the call. The network includes more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and include portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Hawkeye Radio Network includes a 30-minute pregame show.
Streaming: Wednesday’s game will air on BTN+ (subscription required).
PROGRAM QUICK HITS
» Iowa was the first program in the Big Ten conference to compete in back-to-back National Championships.
» Iowa tied Purdue (1998-99) and Maryland (2014-15) for most wins in B1G history in 2023-24. (34)
» Iowa has been ranked in the national attendance top 10 each of the past five seasons with fans (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019).
» The Hawkeyes won 15+ games inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in four out of the last six seasons, which is the best six-year stretch in program history.
» Iowa won four of the last six Big Ten Tournament titles (2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024).
» Over the last two seasons, Iowa has won 65 games which was the best two year stretch in program history.
» Iowa has earned eight straight 20-win seasons, which is the second longest streak in program history. (1984-94)
» The Hawkeyes are 126-20 in Iowa City dating back to Nov. 11, 2016.
» In Big Ten play, Iowa is 61-18 over the last four years.
» The Hawkeyes return eight letterwinners and welcome six newcomers to the 2024-25 roster.
» Iowa has the longest active streak in the nation scoring at least 80 points per game in four consecutive seasons.
» Five Hawkeyes drafted have been into the WNBA since 2019, following Kathleen Doyle, Megan Gustafson, Monika Czinano, Kate Martin, and Caitlin Clark.
» Jan Jensen became Iowa’s sixth head coach in program history on May 13, 2024.
» Jensen owns a 18-9 (.667) record and a 8-8 (.500) conference mark at Iowa.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
» The Wolverines knocked off Penn State on Saturday, 78-68, and the win marked the 10th Big Ten victory for UM this season.
» Michigan is 5-1 in their last six contests with the only loss coming to Maryland on the road.
» The Maize and Blue have four scorers averaging double figures in Olivia Olson (16.3 ppg), Syla Swords (15.7 ppg), Jordan Hobbs (13.3 ppg) and Mila Holloway
(10.1 ppg).
SERIES HISTORY
» Iowa leads all-time series, 55-20.
» The Hawkeyes have won four straight against UM dating back to Feb. 27, 2022.
WHAT’S TRENDING
» Iowa’s last three out of four victories have come against Q1 opponents.
» The Hawkeyes are 5-0 in Big Ten action when netting 80+ points this season.
» UI has won eight games this season scoring 75 or less which is the most in a season since 2018-19. (12)
» Over the last eight games, Lucy Olsen is averaging 22.6 ppg, 5.2 apg, 3.8 rpg and is shooting 45 percent from three. (19-42)
» The Hawkeyes are 9-2 when Olsen records six or more dimes.
» Sydney Affolter has reached double digits 11 times this year and in six out of the last seven games.
» Against Nebraska, Olsen put together her best game as a Hawkeye registering 32 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. She became the second Hawkeye since 2009 to record 30+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds in a single game. (Caitlin Clark)
» Over the last eight games, Affolter is shooting 56 percent from 3-point range. (14-25)
» Affolter is the 11th Hawkeye since 2009 to grab 15+ rebounds in a single game, she has done it twice this season.
» Olsen is one rebound from 500 in her career.
DID YOU KNOW?
» Jensen has coached 809 games at the University of Iowa as an assistant and head coach which is a program record.
» Olsen is the only player in the Big Ten to average 15+ ppg and 5+ apg.
» Olsen is also 1-of-2 active Big Ten players to eclipse 500+ assists in their career.
» Stuelke put together one of the most prolific performances in Iowa WBB history against PSU on Feb. 8, 2024. She set the Carver-Hawkeye Arena record for points (47), field goals (17), field goal attempts (20), and free throw attempts (21). The next week, Caitlin Clark broke her arena record with 49 points against Michigan on Feb. 15, 2024.
» McCabe became the second Hawkeye since 2009 to shoot better than 40% from 3-point range and make a minimum of 20 (McKenna Warnock).
» McCabe became the 21st Hawkeye in program history to knock down 100 career treys.
» Stuelke became the 44th Hawkeye to record 1,000 career points.
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team downed Michigan, 79-66, on Wednesday night inside the Crisler Center. The Hawkeyes improved to 19-9 overall and 9-8 in conference play.
Pre-sale for the event will begin Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. (CT) for Kinnick Society Gold and Kinnick Society I-Club level donors and Iowa women’s basketball season ticket holders. General public ticket sales will begin Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. (CT), subject to availability.
The University of Iowa Women’s Basketball team fell to No. 3 UCLA, 67-65, on Sunday afternoon inside a sold-out Carver Hawkeye Arena.
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| OPPONENT | Iowa at Michigan |
| LOCATION | Crisler Center – Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| DATE | Wednesday, Feb. 26 |
| TIP-OFF | 6 p.m. (CT) |
| RADIO | Hawkeye Radio Network |
| TELEVISION | BTN+ |
Game Thread: Iowa faced with final road opportunity in 2025 season
IOWA CITY, Iowa– It’s the final road opportunity for the Hawkeyes this season as they look to knock off Michigan. The Wolverines have been a solid Big Ten team this season and it’ll take a strong effort from Jan Jensen and company if they want to add to their NCAA Tournament resume. Iowa is a 1.5 point underdog tonight per DraftKings.
Ahead of tonight’s game, you can read our full preview by clicking here.
Iowa leads all-time series, 55-20. The Hawkeyes have won four straight against UM dating back to Feb. 27, 2022. The Wolverines knocked off Penn State on Saturday, 78-68, and the win marked the 10th Big Ten victory for UM this season. Michigan is 5-1 in their last six contests with the only loss coming to Maryland on the road.
The Maize and Blue have four scorers averaging double figures in Olivia Olson (16.3 ppg), Syla Swords (15.7 ppg), Jordan Hobbs (13.3 ppg) and Mila Holloway
(10.1 ppg).
Michigan is the only team nationally to have a pair of freshmen averaging at least 15.0 points per game. Olivia Olson (16.3 ppg) ranks sixth nationally in scoring by a freshman, with Syla Swords (15.7 ppg) coming in at No. 11. There are only 13 freshmen averaging at least 15 points per game in the country.
Here is our official game thread that will have score updates, analysis, discussion and much more. Tonight’s game will be on BTN+ (subscription required) and will be broadcasted at 6.
SALE: You can get an annual membership for 30% off. Take advantage now and be among the first people to know everything going on regarding Iowa football, men’s and women’s basketball, recruiting and much, much, more! Click Here
Spring ball is a month away, but it’s never too early to take a look at each position for the Hawkeyes as it approaches.
Here is a link to our previous previews.
QUARTERBACKS
Today, we’re going to take a look at the running back position for Iowa.
Iowa will lose two big pieces to its running back room this season as Kaleb Johnson is going through the 2025 NFL Draft process and looks to be one of the first backs selected as he had a breakout year for the Hawkeyes in 2024. Earlier this week, the Hawkeyes lost running backs coach Ladell Betts to the NFL as he took a job with the New York Giants.
Iowa will return every scholarship back from last year’s room outside of Johnson, and also brings in a true freshman early enrollee. This position group is one of the more underrated intriguing ones heading into this spring given the losses of Johnson and Betts.
Let’s dive into the running backs room.
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Starter: Kamari Moulton
Backup: Jaziun Patterson
Third-String: Terrell Washington Jr. or Xavier Williams or Brevin Doll
Depth: Max White, Nathan McNeil, Braeden Jackson
Iowa will lose one of the best running backs the program has ever seen as Kaleb Johnson declared for the 2025 NFL Draft after an incredible 2024 campaign. An experienced offensive line and a run scheme put together by Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester opened things up for Johnson to be the talent that he was and produce at a high level.
Here are just a few of Johnson’s achievements from his junior season, via HawkeyeSports.com.
Johnson has been named second-team All-America by the AP and AFCA, while he was a first-team choice by Walter Camp. Johnson was also voted Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten and finalist for the Doak Walker Award. He posted school single-season records in points (138), total touchdowns (23) and rushing scores (21). Johnson (6-foot, 225 pounds) rushed for 1,537 yards in 12 games, sixth-most in the country and third-most in program history. The native of Hamilton, Ohio, scored at least one touchdown in all 12 regular season games — the longest stretch in school history. Johnson had seven games in 2024 with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history. He declared for the NFL Draft earlier this month.
Johnson is a big loss for the Hawkeyes, but the time was right for him to go to the NFL as he could be drafted in the later first round or somewhere in the second and third rounds.
Along with Johnson, the Hawkeyes also lose running backs coach Ladell Betts to the NFL as Betts was hired by the New York Giants earlier this week to take over the running backs coach job. Betts has been with the Iowa program since 2021, and has played a key role in developing Johnson and the other backs in the room and is one of the best recruiters on the staff.
Betts had a lot of connections in the state of Florida as well as the Kansas City area, so it’s a tough loss for the Hawkeyes. That is going to be one of the big question marks going into this spring as Iowa looks to replace Betts.
Iowa also is bringing in an early enrollee in three-star running back Nathan McNeil. We’ll dive into McNeil later in the article, but he is the type of running back that Iowa has been looking for given he can be an option in both the backfield and outwide as a receiver.
What does the run game look like without Kaleb Johnson?
Throughout the last couple of seasons, the Hawkeyes have used a running back by committee approach.
Johnson had 62 percent of Iowa’s 425 carries amongst he, Kamari Moulton, and Jaziun Patterson, who were part of the feature backs last season. It felt like a lot more, but Johnson’s production was also much higher than these three for most of the season and Iowa was able to ride with Johnson for most of the snaps in key spots.
Johnson’s presence is going to be missed as the Hawkeyes had a go-to option, and now it’ll be interesting to see who develops the most for Iowa in the backfield.
We saw Iowa’s run game take a big step forward last season in the first year under Lester. Yes, it helped that Iowa had an experienced offensive line and Johnson was able to stay healthy, but Iowa averaged 5.1 rushing yards per carry as a team compared to 3.4 yards per carry the previous season.
Iowa averaged just under 200 rushing yards per game last season compared to 116 in 2023, and the Hawkeyes were able to find production on the ground on a consistent basis, for the most part, for the first time in a number of years.
How does that look this season?
We saw glimpses of what Moulton and Patterson could do in the Music City Bowl against Missouri. Moulton is a scat back type who can break off for big runs and get to the second level. Patterson is a hard runner who will put his head down and go between the tacklers. They add a bit of a different flavor to the backfield and that is something that could work in Iowa City, but the Hawkeyes will be without a proven big play threat in Johnson.
It’ll also look different given that Iowa has a new quarterback in Mark Gronowski, who is more of a run threat than Iowa has had in recent years. Gronowski’s teams at SDSU were able to run the ball effectively as he was also a threat to make plays with his feet and the presence of Gronowski should help the Hawkeyes be a more consistent running team again in 2025.
Who replaces Ladell Betts?
It’s late in the coaching cycle, but Betts made the decision go to go to the NFL a month before spring ball starts. That gives Iowa time to hire a new running backs coach, though it’s not as much time as Kirk Ferentz and company would prefer.
There are a few names that we think would make sense for the opening, and you can read about them here.
Betts’ playing experience and NFL background helped him thrive at Iowa. We’ve said before, he was also a good recruiter, and had a good eye for under the radar talent. Moulton and Patterson’s only committable power-five offer at the times of their commitment was Iowa, and both are in-line to get a lot of snaps for the Hawkeyes this fall. Same goes for Xavier Williams as he is in the conversation to get more snaps this fall, too, as a redshirt freshman, and his only power-five offer came from Iowa.
It’ll be interesting to see what kind of direction Iowa decides to go for this position coach. Do the Hawkeyes go with an inexperienced college coach like Betts with an NFL background, does Iowa go and hire a big name, or does the staff decide on going in-house and moving a current coach into that position?
It’d be nice to have a running backs coach in place before spring ball, but Ferentz wants to find the right fit.
Who takes the No. 3 spot?
Last year, it was Jaziun Patterson, but who takes the spot this season?
In the bowl game against Missouri, we saw Iowa use Terrell Washington Jr. in both the backfield and in the slot. Methink that’s going to be the route that Iowa goes this fall with Moulton and Patterson at the top, but Xavier Williams and Brevin Doll could have something to say.
Williams was one of Iowa’s biggest risers in fall camp last year as he showed his ability to break tackles and get extra yardage and be a consistent runner in the backfield with his 6-foot, 225-pound build, as he looks like a classic Big Ten running back.
Doll is a speedster who has bulked up and has shown he can make plays in the backfield and also with his hands. Doll has been known for his speed and playmaking ability and could be an elusive option down the line for the Hawkeyes.
Washington may have the in considering he was the No. 3 option for Iowa in the bowl game, but Williams and Doll are also going to get their chances to compete this spring for the third running back slot.
Iowa has two running backs in the 2025 class with Nathan McNeil on scholarship and Braeden Jackson enrolling in the summer as a preferred walk-on.
McNeil was an under the radar get for the Hawkeyes as he only had committable offers from Rhode Island and Arkansas State, while Iowa State, Michigan State, and Houston were interested in him.
McNeil was a late-bloomer in the 2025 class as he showed out in his senior season for Wiregrass Ranch down in the Sunshine State. He is listed at 5-foot-11, 195-pounds, and is more of a developmental back, but getting early work in the spring is going to benefit him.
Once again, he fits what Iowa is looking for in backs with the ability to play both in the backfield and also in the slot as a pass-catcher if need be.
Here is what 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins wrote about McNeil.
“Late-blooming running back that started to find his groove as a senior while facing a higher level of competition down in the Sunshine State. Not a ton of third-party verified information available, but is believed to be hovering right around 5-foot-11,195 pounds midway through 12th-grade campaign and should only add more bulk in the coming years. A naturally powerful runner with promising vision that can make defenders miss in tight quarters and extend plays with his balance and strength. More of a short-stepper with encouraging wiggle that lacks true breakaway speed, but has the foot quickness to beat defenders out to the perimeter. Has been featured heavily as a pass catcher and ran routes from a slot posting, which suggests that he should eventually offer some three-down versatility on Saturdays. Overall, should be viewed as a developmental ball carrier that’s starting to play his best football as he embarks on his collegiate career.”
There were glimpses of promise with Moulton and Patterson in the Music City Bowl.
Moulton had 14 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown while Patterson had nine carries for 74 yards. How can these two step up in a bigger role? We have been talking about both of them for a while, but this is the year where the Hawkeyes are going to need to get the most out of them.
Moulton has been praised a lot by the Iowa coaching staff and behind the scenes. Patterson has struggled with consistency throughout his career, and that’s the big area that Johnson fixed when he took off in his junior season.
Kirk Ferentz always says that when Iowa has a good run game, then it has a good chance of being a potent offense. Sure, the passing game was missing last season, but a capable run game with a veteran quarterback could really open things up for the Hawkeyes on the offensive end as they try to piece things together under Lester.
Iowa may not the big play threat that it had with Johnson, but I think depth is going to play a big role this season, especially if Moulton, Patterson, Washington, and the others can take a leap forward as there could be a more running back by committee approach this fall in Iowa City.
Can Lester and co. make it a successful year two with the running back room? Spring ball will give us an indicator of that.
The NCAA Tournament is rapidly approaching, and a handful of major programs, including North Carolina and Iowa, have had abysmal seasons against Quad 1 competition. Four power conference (ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, SEC) teams are winless against Quad 1 competition in seven or more tries, while another four have just one win in 10+ losses as March Madness promises to deliver once again in 2025.
The ACC has endured arguably its worst season in modern history, and some of its proudest programs made this list. Duke leads all ACC teams with six wins against Quad 1 competition, but its 6-3 record is just 15th-best in the nation. Five ACC teams rank in the bottom 20 nationally (364 teams).
Quad 1 wins are determined based on game location and the opponent’s NET ranking: Home No. 1-30, Neutral No. 1-50 and Away No. 1-75. The NET ranking replaced RPI before the 2018-19 season as the primary sorting tool for evaluating teams. Virginia had the worst Quad 1 record of any NCAA Tournament team last season at 2-7 (.222).
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Here are the teams with the worst Quad 1 records in college basketball as March Madness approaches (minimum, seven Quad 1 games):
Quad 1 Record: 1-14 | Overall Record: 11-17
It’s hard to believe Lamont Paris had South Carolina as high as No. 11 in the AP poll last season before a late-season stumble ended with a blowout loss to Oregon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It’s all been downhill since. The Gamecocks dropped to 1-14 against Quad 1 opponents with a 101-71 loss at Missouri on Tuesday night. Paris and Co. suffered a historic 13-game losing streak to open SEC play.
Quad 1 Record: 1-11 | Overall Record: 11-17
It’s been a brutal season for Colorado. The Buffaloes started the season 4-0 and entered Big 12 play at 9-2 but have completely spiraled over the last two months. Ten of Colorado’s 11 Quad I losses have come by double digits, including a 28-point loss against Iowa State and a 20-point beatdown at Arizona State. Tad Boyle and Co. will finish the season below .500 for the first time since 2014-15.
Quad 1 Record: 0-8 | Overall Record: 11-16
A year removed from a Final Four berth, NC State will not only miss the NCAA Tournament but is poised to miss the ACC Tournament as well. The Wolfpack endured a brutal nine-game losing streak during ACC play and has lost its last two Quad 1 games by 49 combined points. NC State is staring down its second losing season under Kevin Keatts in the last four seasons and is on pace for its second-worst finish in the last 33 seasons, trailing only the 2021-22 season, which featured a slightly tougher strength of schedule.
Quad 1 Record: 0-8 | Overall Record: 11-16
Adrian Autry put together a 20-12 season in 2023-24, but Syracuse has sunk to a historic low in his second season at the helm. Barring a miracle, the Orange will finish the year with a losing record for just the second time since 1968-69. Syracuse lost its first two Quad 1 games by four and five points but has lost its last six by double-digits. The Orange has also stumbled to a miserable 1-6 record against Quad 2 opponents.
Quad 1 Record: 0-7 | Overall Record: 6-21
Miami will be in full rebuild mode this offseason. Legendary coach Jim Larranaga retired in December and interim Bill Courtney has led the Hurricanes to a 2-13 record in his absence. The Hurricanes have a win-loss percentage of .222, which is on pace to be the worst in program history. Miami is coming off a 17-point loss at home to Duke and is an underdog in its final three games of the regular season. Should the Hurricanes lose out, they will match a program-record 24 losses set in 1991-92.
Quad 1 Record: 1-11 | Overall Record: 14-14
As a handful of traditional football SEC powers have gained prominence on the college basketball court in recent years, LSU has struggled to keep up under coach Matt McMahon. The Tigers are 45-49 under McMahon and haven’t sniffed the NCAA Tournament during his three-year tenure. LSU’s lone Quad 1 win this season came in a three-point victory at Oklahoma, which has since dipped to No. 60 in the NET rankings.
Quad 1 Record: 1-11 | Overall Record: 15-13
Iowa started the season 5-0 but got a reality check with an eight-point loss to Utah State on Nov. 22, the first of nine-straight losses against Quad 1 losses for the Hawkeyes, who snapped the skid with a 85-73 win at Rutgers on Feb. 12. Iowa is poised to miss the NCAA Tournament for a second-straight season after three consecutive March Madness appearances under Fran McCaffery, highlighted by a No. 2 seed in 2021. Iowa will finish with a losing record in conference play for just the second time in the last 10 seasons.
Quad 1 Record: 1-10 | Overall Record: 18-11
North Carolina’s Quad 1 struggles have been well-documented and have marred a sparkling 17-1 record against Quad 2-4 opponents. The Tar Heels are riding a four-game win streak into their final three games of the regular season and still have a shot at an NCAA Tournament berth. The concern is that UNC only has one Quad 1 game remaining in the regular season, and its against rival Duke, which blew out the Tar Heels, 87-70, at Cameron Indoor on Feb. 1.
This article originates on 247Sports.
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