The VCU Rams entered the NCAA Men’s Tournament as a No. 11 seed and found themselves down by 19 points to the No. 6-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels. The Rams put together a comeback for the ages.
In overtime, the Rams upset the Tar Heels 82-78 as Terrence Hill Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in the OT period.
College Basketball World Reacts to North Carolina’s Upset Loss to VCU
With many people from across college basketball watching, the Tar Heels and head coach Hubert Davis were sent home early. No dancing for North Carolina this season, at least not in an NCAA championship game.
Jon Rothstein, a college basketball insider for CBS Sports, posted his thoughts on X after the surprising result.
“VCU didn’t own a win this season over a team that earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament,” Rothstein wrote. “It just erased a 19-point deficit to come back and beat North Carolina approximately four hours from its campus. Anarchy? Nope. Just College Basketball.”
VCU didn’t own a win this season over a team that earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
It just erased a 19-point deficit to come back and beat North Carolina approximately four hours from its campus.
Anarchy?
Nope. Just College Basketball.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 20, 2026
ESPN college basketball insider Jeff Borzello posted a clip from the VCU-North Carolina game and shared his observations of watching the Tar Heels go one-and-done in the tournament.
“FINAL: No. 11 VCU 82, No. 6 North Carolina 78,” Borzello wrote. “In overtime. VCU comes back from down 19 in the second half to upset the Tar Heels. Terrence Hill Jr. was SENSATIONAL — 34 points, game-winning 3-pointer. Catastrophic collapse by UNC. MADNESS.”
FINAL: No. 11 VCU 82, No. 6 North Carolina 78. In overtime.
VCU comes back from down 19 in the second half to upset the Tar Heels. Terrence Hill Jr. was SENSATIONAL — 34 points, game-winning 3-pointer.
Catastrophic collapse by UNC.
MADNESS. pic.twitter.com/FmZfDGTElq
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 20, 2026
The Field of 68’s account on X simply posted three words while sharing a video clip: “MAJOR. ONIONS. ALERT.”
MAJOR. ONIONS. ALERT. pic.twitter.com/scEyPP5BMR
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 20, 2026
Tar Heel Nation’s account on X posted that they were ready to see Davis get the heave-ho out of North Carolina.
“I don’t care what else is going on,” the account posted. “If UNC Athletics is still serious about basketball, get Hubert Davis out of here. You can be mad at me if you want to be. Literally ran your players down up almost 20 and lost.”
I don’t care what else is going on. If UNC Athletics is still serious about basketball, get Hubert Davis out of here.
You can be mad at me if you want to be. Literally ran your players down up almost 20 and lost.
— Tar Heel Nation (@UNC_TarHeelFan) March 20, 2026
When the Tar Heels played on Thursday, Caleb Wilson, UNC’s leader in scoring and rebounds, was ruled out for the season due to a thumb injury.
After watching the Tar Heels get sent home, Billy Reinhardt, a credentialed NBA media member, already is looking forward to seeing Wilson at the 2026 NBA Draft.
Reinhardt posted on X, “UNC eliminated in the R64 without Caleb Wilson. Caleb Wilson, we will see you at Barclays Center for the NBA Draft in June.”
UNC eliminated in the R64 without Caleb Wilson.
Caleb Wilson, we will see you at Barclays Center for the NBA Draft in June.
— Billy Reinhardt (@BillyReinhardt) March 20, 2026
Hill finished with 34 points, 20 in the second half and overtime, to lead VCU in scoring. For North Carolina, Henri Veesaar led the Tar Heels with 26 points and 10 rebounds.
Finishing their season with a 24-9 record, North Carolina went 0-3 as the season came to an end for them.
Now, Tar Heel Nation might turn its collective eyes toward what the school might do regarding Davis. But on Thursday night, VCU was celebrating a major upset and a trip to the second round.
The Rams either will play No. 14 seed Penn or No. 3 seed Illinois in the second round on Saturday.
