North Carolina Fighting for NCAA Tournament Spot

North Carolina has found its stride at just the right time, winning three straight games to rekindle hopes of an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. The Tar Heels, once on the outside looking in, have improved to 17-11 overall and 10-6 in ACC play, and they will look to build on their momentum when they visit Florida State on Monday in Tallahassee.

This recent three-game win streak over Syracuse, NC State, and Virginia comes after a 2-5 slump that appeared to put North Carolina’s postseason hopes in jeopardy. However, head coach Hubert Davis believes his team has turned a corner.

“I think our attention to detail has been more consistent. I think defensively we’ve been better,” Davis said. “Getting to the offensive glass has been a huge change for us.”

The Tar Heels have recorded double-digit offensive rebounds in four straight games, including 11 in their 81-66 win over Virginia on Saturday.

Another key to their turnaround has been their hot shooting from three-point range. North Carolina has hit 40 percent or better from deep in each of the last three games, including a season-high 56.3 percent (9-of-16) against Virginia.

Freshman guard Ian Jackson has been a difference-maker, shooting 10-for-15 from three during the winning streak while averaging 17 points per game.

Florida State Looking for Late-Season Consistency

Florida State has struggled with inconsistency this season, going 3-6 over its last nine games. However, all three wins have come since head coach Leonard Hamilton announced he will step down at the end of the season.

With a 16-11 overall record (7-9 ACC), the Seminoles are not in the NCAA Tournament picture, but they still have an opportunity to play spoiler.

“I’ve got 10 first-year players, five that are freshmen,” Hamilton said. “I’m hoping that we can find a way to have that end-of-the-season run that captivates the imagination of college basketball. Right now, we’ve been consistently inconsistent.”

One player Florida State has relied on heavily is senior guard Jamir Watkins, who has scored double figures in six straight games. Watkins, averaging 18.1 points per game, had a strong 23-point performance in FSU’s 89-81 loss to No. 25 Louisville on Saturday.

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Can North Carolina Keep Its Streak Alive?

With the Tar Heels pushing for an NCAA Tournament bid, this game carries major importance. Florida State, despite its struggles, has shown flashes of potential and could make things difficult at home.

Can North Carolina maintain its momentum, or will the Seminoles pull off an upset? The battle in Tallahassee could have big implications for both teams down the stretch.