The No. 1-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels are headed to the Elite Eight after winning big over the No. 4 Butler Bulldogs, 92-80. The Tar Heels advance to their second straight Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.
NCAA tournament bracket 2017: UNC cruises past Butler 92-80
The Tar Heels are headed to the Elite Eight.
UNC made it look easy for the most part against the Bulldogs on Friday night from FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn., getting out to a 22-12 lead with 12:08 left in the first half. The Bulldogs’ defense had no answer for the Tar Heels’ offense, and UNC went to the locker room with a 52-36 lead.
Things continued to go smoothly for UNC, but Butler did continue to try and battle back. With about six minutes to go in the second half, Butler was able to make it a 10-point game, but a couple of fouls (including an offensive foul) called on the Bulldogs allowed UNC to take back a comfortable lead. Butler then pulled within 11 with 1:29 to go, but UNC would end up winning by 12 when it was all said and done.
One of the biggest questions heading into this game was the health of Joel Berry II, who has been dealing with an ankle injury. But that ankle didn’t seem to bother him whatsoever, as the junior finished with 26 points on the night. UNC’s Justin Jackson finished with 24 points and five rebounds, as well.
There’s no question that UNC’s outing was a very positive one, especially after last Sunday’s slight scare against the No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks in the second round. The Tar Heels did exactly what they needed to do against the Bulldogs, and it won’t get any easier moving forward — they’ll face the winner of No. 3 UCLA and No. 2 Kentucky in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
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