Orange, white and cerulean blue NCAA March Madness logos adorn Carmichael Arena. The logos are everywhere. They're on the railings behind the baseline, the table lining the court and the oversized blow-up sign sitting outside the student entrance.
North Carolina's practice court doesn't look like it usually does. It's covered in black carpet, featuring an elevated stage set against a backdrop with even more March Madness logos.
But peeking through the black curtains of the temporary scene is that particular shade of light blue to remind the Tar Heels that they are home.
North Carolina is hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at Carmichael Arena, marking the first time since 2015 that postseason basketball will be played at the historic site. No. 6 seed West Virginia, No. 14 seed Oregon St. and No. 11 Columbia joined No. 3 seed UNC.
Graduate forward Alyssa Ustby has spent her entire career at UNC. She has wanted to host in March for years.
After Ustby and sophomore guard Reniya Kelly suffered injuries toward the end of the season, doubt persisted surrounding whether North Carolina would earn a top-four seed. But its 27 overall wins and 13 in ACC play — the most in head coach Courtney Banghart’s tenure — earned the team one of the 16 first-round hosting sites.
“All of us girls have been working really hard all season,” Ustby said. “So it’s just something that we’re honored to be able to give back to the community because we have so many great fans in Carmichael that continue to support us every single game.”
The Tar Heels are 12-4 at home this season, and 22-1 all-time in NCAA tournament games in Chapel Hill.
