- Matchup: VCU Rams vs North Carolina Tar Heels
- Event Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
- Venue: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
- Broadcast: TNT
- Betting Odds: VCU (+3)
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
The North Carolina Tar Heels (24-8) are set to compete against the VCU Rams (27-7) on Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. VCU enters this matchup as 3-point underdogs, with an over/under of 152 points.
In their previous game, the VCU Rams overcame Dayton, securing a 70-62 victory. The Rams committed 18 fouls, matching Dayton’s total. From long distance, VCU made 7 of 21 attempts, while Dayton converted 9 of 17 free throws, achieving a 52.9% success rate. Dayton grabbed 37 rebounds (7 offensive, 30 defensive) but was unable to register a block. The Rams managed 12 assists and 9 steals, forcing 11 turnovers. Defensively, VCU allowed 43.4% shooting, with Dayton converting 23 of 53 attempts. Regarding rebounds, VCU secured 33 total boards, with 6 offensive. At the free-throw line, they achieved 68.4% efficiency, hitting 13 of 19 attempts. Overall, the Rams recorded a 40.4% field goal percentage, netting 23 of 57 shots and converting 11 of 24 from beyond the arc.
A standout player in that game was Nyk Lewis, contributing 17 points on 5 of 10 shooting, logging 33 minutes, and grabbing 11 rebounds, finishing with a field goal percentage of 50.0% and providing 1 assist.
VCU heads into this contest with a season record of 27-7. They average 10.5 turnovers per game and commit 17.3 personal fouls. The team collects 36.7 rebounds per game and has a season total of 479 assists, ranking 127th nationally. With a 36.7% success rate from three-point range (317 of 864), they also excel at the free-throw line, hitting 73.9% of their attempts. The Rams score an average of 81.6 points per game (58th in the country) with a shooting percentage of 46.0% from the field.
Defensively, the Rams force 11.9 turnovers per game while averaging 20.1 personal fouls. They rank 192nd nationally in assists allowed with a total of 435 given up this season. VCU’s opponents shoot at 43.1% (864 of 2,004) against them, and they yield an average of 34.3 rebounds per game. They permit 33.1% shooting from beyond the arc and rank 113th in Division 1 for points allowed per game (71.5).
In their last matchup, the North Carolina Tar Heels narrowly lost 80-79 to Clemson. They recorded 26 defensive rebounds and 8 offensive, totaling 34 boards. The Tar Heels committed 10 turnovers but managed 3 steals. With Clemson committing 16 fouls, North Carolina had 17 attempts from the free-throw line, converting 10 for a percentage of 58.8%. The Tar Heels sank 11 of 30 three-point attempts (36.7%) and finished the game shooting 29 of 61 from the floor (47.5%). Defensively, they allowed Clemson to connect on 27 of 55 attempts (49.1%) and 9 of 19 from beyond the arc (47.4%), plus allowing 17 of 23 free throws (73.9%). On the boards, North Carolina permitted Clemson to collect 28 rebounds, with 3 on the offensive end.
Henri Veesaar was a key player for the Tar Heels, scoring 28 points in 36 minutes, also dishing out 2 assists. He shot 62.5%, converting 10 of 16 attempts, and grabbed 17 rebounds.
North Carolina currently holds a 24-8 record this season. They average 14.6 fouls per game and shoot 68.4% from the free-throw line. The team averages 16.0 assists per game (66th in the nation) while committing 9.7 turnovers. North Carolina has scored a total of 2,553 points this season (79.8 points per game) while collecting 38.0 rebounds per game. Offensively, they have a shooting percentage of 47.3% from the field, placing 61st nationally.
The North Carolina defense is currently ranked 109th in D-1 for points allowed per game at 71.3. They force 9.4 turnovers per game and allow opponents to shoot 41.8% from the field (55th in D-1). The Tar Heels give up 34.5% on three-point attempts (257 of 746), and opponents hit 70.1% of their free throws. They yield an average of 12.7 assists and 34.2 rebounds per game, ranking 120th and 170th in collegiate basketball, respectively.
Who will claim victory in tonight’s NCAA game against the spread?
Prediction: Take VCU (+3)
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
