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Trip to Sweet 16 at stake when West Virginia and North Carolina meet in 2nd round of March Madness

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — West Virginia’s ball-hawking, full-court press defense stands between third-seeded North Carolina and a trip to the Sweet 16.

As the Tar Heels wrestle with how to exploit it, they are leaning on lessons learned during the thick of the regular season.

“Our kids have had to navigate a variety of pressures,” North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart said Sunday. “They’ve had to guard a variety of skill players. They’ve had to deal with a lot of different attacks.”

“I’m not as familiar with the Big 12, but I’m sure that’s what West Virginia gets to lean on too.