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Reactions as North Carolina collapses in March Madness: 'Inexcusable for Hubert Davis'
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- Reactions as North Carolina collapses in March Madness: 'Inexcusable for Hubert Davis'
VCU basketball completed a 19-point comeback against No. 6 seed North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 19, winning its first March Madness game since 2016 in thrilling fashion.
The Rams, one of the stingiest mid-major teams of the 2010s, secured the sixth-largest comeback and biggest of the first round ever, in their upset of the Tar Heels , who were playing without star true freshman Caleb Wilson , a projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
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REQUIRED READING: March Madness live scores: Upsets, close calls, highlights from NCAA first round
VCU defeated North Carolina 82-78 in overtime behind Terrence Hill Jr.'s 34-point performance off the bench. He played 40 minutes in the game and also poured in five rebounds and five assists in the win, including a game-tying layup with 11 seconds left in the second half.
It's an impressive feat for VCU, who won the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament to earn an automatic bid before taking down North Carolina, all while being led by first-year coach Phil Martelli Jr., the son of former longtime St. Joe's coach Phil Martelli. VCU's former coach, Ryan Odom, left the program for Virginia last offseason.
VCU might not reach the Final Four in 2026 like it did in 2011, but the Rams did make first-round history nonetheless. Here's how social media reacted to VCU's comeback win:
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VCU beats North Carolina in comeback win: Social media reacts
Here are the best reactions to VCU's 82-78 win over North Carolina on March 19:
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UNC basketball reactions after March Madness collapse vs. VCU
