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North Carolina and VCU meet in opening round of NCAA Tournament

By The Associated Press

VCU Rams (27-7, 18-3 A-10) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (24-8, 12-7 ACC)

Greenville, South Carolina; Thursday, 6:50 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tar Heels -2.5; over/under is 151.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 21 North Carolina plays in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against VCU.

The Tar Heels are 12-7 against ACC opponents and 12-1 in non-conference play. North Carolina is third in the ACC with 25.7 defensive rebounds per game led by Caleb Wilson averaging 6.6.

The Rams’ record in A-10 action is 18-3. VCU averages 81.6 points and has outscored opponents by 10.1 points per game.

North Carolina averages 8.6 made 3-pointers per game, 1.8 more made shots than the 6.8 per game VCU gives up. VCU averages 9.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 more made shots on average than the 8.0 per game North Carolina gives up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Luka Bogavac averages 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Tar Heels, scoring 9.8 points while shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc. Wilson is averaging 19.9 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals over the past 10 games.

Terrence Hill Jr. is averaging 14.4 points for the Rams. Nyk Lewis is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Tar Heels: 6-4, averaging 72.4 points, 30.2 rebounds, 13.3 assists, 4.3 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 72.9 points per game.

Rams: 9-1, averaging 75.7 points, 33.4 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 6.6 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.0 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Cheryl Reeve steps away from the WNBA grind for a Hall of Fame induction

By The Associated Press
Cheryl Reeve is taking a break from her busy WNBA season to head to Knoxville this weekend and be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. She's only the second WNBA coach to enter the Hall of Fame, joining former Houston Comets coach Van Chancellor, who was inducted in 2001. “(I appreciate) the magnitude of this recognition of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the great work that has gone into this institution,” Reeve said. “To walk around and see the history of how much has been done years before I could ever have this opportunity to coach. Grateful to the WNBA because I think there was some consideration given schedule wise.” Reeve will be joined by WNBA greats Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne in this year's class. Parker and Delle Donne also will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame later this year. Other inductees include ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke, Kirkwood Community College coach Kim Muhl, Spanish star Amaya Valdemoro, French great Isabelle Fijalkowski and Clemson's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, Barbara Kennedy-Dixon.
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