For a few minutes, it looked like the Tar Heels were going to validate their critics. They committed turnovers on four of their first six possessions against a San Diego State defense ranked 13th in the country on KenPom. UNC's offense should have been good enough to hang with that unit, but it was a bad beginning.

The magic of March Madness centers around the man or men who rise to the occasion, often unexpectedly, to dash dreams, bust brackets and deliver in drama-filled moments. In 2022, for instance, Kansas' fifth-leading scorer — Remy Martin!

The winner of UNC vs. San Diego State will go on to face No. 6 Ole Miss on Friday, March 21. UNC finished the season with a 22-13 overall record and sixth-place standings in a competitive conference. San Diego State finished 21-9 and fifth in the Mountain West Conference.

Cooper Flagg came into the college ranks as one of the most hyped prospects in recent history, and that hype has only intensified throughout the season. With all the attention the Duke freshman has garnered comes plenty of NIL opportunities.