They were the last team into the field of 68 — and the first to send a message. North Carolina’s controversial March Madness selection was met with side-eyes and mockery, with critics even sarcastically pointing to their grounded NCAA-provided charter flight as a sign they didn’t belong. But once the ball tipped in Dayton, the Tar Heels let their game do the talking. In just 10 minutes, they built a 20-point lead and dismantled San Diego State 95-68, turning whispers of doubt into stunned silence.

Before Selection Sunday, the Tar Heels looked nowhere near like a team headed into the NCAA tournament. Their season had ended with a 22-13 record that moved between moments of brilliance and bouts of inconsistency. Their February 8 matchup against Pittsburgh further exposed a glaring recurring issue. It all boiled down to the fact that they could not even defend themselves against a scenario they had already lost to once.

Questions were being blown at them left and right, and when they finally did secure a spot, Hubert Davis took great pride in his team for fielding criticism for a month and a half. However, that did not stop the controversies. Analysts like Jon Rothstein called their inclusion one of the biggest miscarriages of justice he had witnessed in his years covering college basketball. He pointed out that North Carolina had a 1-12 record against Quad 1 opponents and also suffered a Quad 3 defeat—something that Indiana, a team left out of the tournament in favor of UNC, did not have.

After the win, in the First Four against the Aztecs, Davis was asked whether, with that pressure lifted, the team had played more freely and loosely. And his response was all business:

“No, I don’t think it was a weight on us to try to get into the NCAA Tournament,” Davis said. “My communication with them is to always focus on us. It’s not the noise on the outside in terms of comments and critics. Focusing on our preparation, our practice, and our play. I consistently send that message in a number of different ways because that’s the only thing that we have control over. So why waste time doing anything else?”

That focus showed on the court. RJ Davis put on a shooting clinic, scoring 26 points and going a perfect 6-for-6 from 3-point range, tying Caleb Love’s program record for an NCAA Tournament game. Davis’ long three at the halftime buzzer stretched UNC’s lead to 47-23 — a 24-point cushion that essentially ended the game before the second half even started.

UNC’s 14 made three-pointers were the most they’ve ever hit in an NCAA Tournament game, and they shot a blistering 58.3% from the range. Seth Trimble added 16 points, and the Tar Heels’ defense held San Diego State to just 39.7% shooting from the field. The Aztecs, who led the nation in field goal percentage defense coming into the game, had no answer for UNC’s pace and shooting.

“We hear the noise but we don’t really pay attention to it,” RJ Davis said post-game. “We stay within ourselves and I think coach Davis, he sets a good example for us in order to play at this level.” Davis further explained how coach Davis always uses the example of horses wearing blinders whenever the voices get too much. “That’s to avoid any distraction that doesn’t allow them to be their best in the race so I think that reference sits well with the team.“

On Monday in a press conference, Davis had given everyone a glimpse of how he uses the blinders himself. “I don’t have any thoughts, and I’m not on social media,” Davis said. “In regards to those comments, that would be negligent on my part to comment on something I’ve never read or never heard. I didn’t listen to Bracketology. I didn’t listen after our name was selected on CBS. I didn’t listen to the telecasts. I haven’t listened to anybody’s comments in regards to selections, seedings. I know that we’re really excited to be a part of this. We’re looking forward to tomorrow night.”

The win hence wasn’t just about advancing. It was a statement. North Carolina isn’t here to make up the numbers — they’re here to compete. Up next is a showdown with No. 6 seed Mississippi in Milwaukee on Friday. If they play like they did against San Diego State, the Tar Heels might not be done shocking the field.

Hubert Davis’ squad heard the noise — they just let their game do the talking. Now the question is whether they can keep the momentum rolling against a gritty Ole Miss squad.

Hubert Davis’ offense vs. Ole Miss’ defense: Who’ll break first?

North Carolina and Ole Miss come into this matchup with contrasting identities. According to KenPom, UNC holds the edge offensively with an offensive rating (ORTG) of 119.8 — ranking 19th in the NCAA. Ole Miss, meanwhile, isn’t far behind at 117.9 (31st). But where the Rebels stand out is on the other side of the ball. Ole Miss has a defensive rating (DRTG) of 95.7 — a rock-solid 25th in the nation — while UNC’s defense has been more inconsistent, ranking 52nd with a DRTG of 99.2.

Ole Miss has also faced a tougher road to get here. Their strength of schedule is ranked 8th in the nation at +15.84 — a clear edge over North Carolina’s 12.26 (still respectable, but not as grueling). That kind of battle-hardened experience could make a difference in a tight game.

North Carolina has been the more productive team offensively, averaging 80.8 points per game (PPG) (according to Espn.com) compared to Ole Miss’ 77.2 PPG. The Tar Heels are though more efficient in certain terms, shooting 47.6% from the field versus the Rebels’ 44.2%.

From deep, both teams are closely matched. UNC drains 7.9 threes per game at a 35.3% clip, while Ole Miss hits 8.2 per game at 34.1%. But where UNC separates itself is on the boards. The Tar Heels average 36.7 rebounds per game (including 9.8 offensive boards), while Ole Miss averages 33.1. Second-chance points could be a major factor in deciding this one.

At the free throw line, it’s a virtual toss-up. UNC shoots 73.7%, while Ole Miss is at 73.8% — but UNC gets to the line more frequently, averaging 21 attempts per game compared to Ole Miss’ 21.4. If this game comes down to late-game free throws, both teams are capable of closing it out.

• RJ Davis (UNC) has been the heart of the Tar Heels’ offense, averaging 17.0 PPG while shooting 40.9% from the field and a blistering 88.5% from the line. Davis’ ability to create his own shot and control the tempo could be the difference-maker.
• S. Pedulla (Ole Miss) leads the Rebels with 14.9 PPG on 43.4% shooting. He’s a crafty scorer who can hurt UNC from the perimeter — and if the Tar Heels’ defense gives him space, Pedulla could take over.

This matchup feels like a classic March Madness battle between offense and defense. North Carolina’s scoring depth and rebounding advantage give them the edge, but Ole Miss’ stingy defense and strength of schedule make them a dangerous opponent. If RJ Davis gets hot early, the Tar Heels could put this one away — but if Ole Miss can keep the pace slow and win the battle on the boards, they’ll have a real shot at pulling the upset.