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TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — North Carolina’s players locked arms and kicked in unison as the band played the school fight song in an otherwise-deflated McKale Center. The kick line broke apart, turning in a mosh pit of dancing, the small contingent of fans in power blue roaring in approval.
Courtney Banghart’s rebuilding project has been fast-tracked — and it sure feels sweet.
Kennedy Todd-Williams scored 19 points, Deja Kelly added 15 and North Carolina overwhelmed Arizona 63-45 Monday night to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in seven years.
Banghart left Princeton to take over a North Carolina program fighting through a tumultuous period after Sylvia Hatchell resigned in 2019.
She quickly molded the Tar Heels back into a national power, taking them to the NCAA Tournament in her second season.
Seeded fifth in the Greensboro Region this year, the Tar Heels (25-6) needed a big fourth quarter to beat in Stephen F. Austin in their opener on Saturday, but smothered Arizona from the start. North Carolina went on a 15-0 run to lead by nine at halftime, then stretched it 20 with a dominating third quarter.
The Tar Heels held Arizona (22-7) to 29% shooting, including 7 from 27 from 3, to earn a spot in the regional semifinals Friday against No. 1 overall seed South Carolina.=
No. 4 Arizona had a disjointed start for the second straight NCAA Tournament game at McKale Center. Unlike their comeback against UNLV, the Wildcats had no answer for the Tar Heels.
Arizona went through long scoring droughts in each half and had nothing left to mount a comeback, following up last year’s run to the national title game with a second-round dud in front of 8,333 fans.
Senior Sam Thomas led Arizona with 15 points.
The Wildcats were…
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