This is a huge weekend for Tar Heel sports, with six UNC teams still alive in the hunt for a national championship. With 28 sponsored Olympic sports, the university is making a powerful statement across the board—and five of those programs are currently competing in NCAA tournaments.
Baseball, ranked No. 2 in the country, kicks off a critical three-game series against NC State today to close out the regular season. Meanwhile, women’s golf punched its ticket to the NCAA Championship earlier this week. In the Learfield Director’s Cup standings, UNC sits third behind Michigan and Stanford as winter sports wrap up. With so many teams pushing deep into postseason play—and baseball poised for its own run—the Tar Heels could make up serious ground in the standings.
Women’s tennis, seeded No. 5 nationally, faces No. 4 Texas A&M in the NCAA Elite Eight on Friday. Men’s golf, ranked No. 9 and seeded second, is competing in the 16-team Texas A&M regional; the top five teams advance to the NCAA Championship starting May 29 in Carlsbad, California. Women’s golf, ranked No. 12, finished third in its own NCAA regional and advances to the national championship beginning Wednesday, May 22, also in Carlsbad.
Lacrosse fans have plenty to cheer for, too. The women’s team, a No. 2 seed, faces Stanford in a quarterfinal today at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU. The men’s team, a No. 3 seed, takes on No. 6 Syracuse in a quarterfinal Saturday at 2:30 p.m., also on ESPNU.
With the revenue sports winding down, it’s the Olympic sports that continue to deliver the energy, heart, and passion that make college sports so special. Will one of these six teams add to UNC’s storied legacy of 52 national champions? Enjoy the ride, Tar Heel fans. Go Heels.
