VCU beat writer Zach Joachim breaks down the matchup between the Rams and Tar Heels.Â
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VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answers questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answers questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU forward Michael Belle (8) points to a teammate during practice at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answers questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU forward Michael Belle (8) looks at his phone in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
A screen shows VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answering questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU forward Lazar Djokovic (17) answers questions from the media in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
As VCU's band, The Peppas, look on, Brandon Jennings dunks during a shootaround Wednesday in Greenville, South Carolina, in advance of the Rams' NCAA tournament opener against North Carolina on Thursday. VCU is seeking its first NCAA victory in 10 years.
- MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
Ascreen shows VCU’s Brandon Jennings answering questions from the press at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answers questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
From left, a screen shows VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr., Jadrian Tracey, Lazar Djokovic, and Brandon Jennings, answering questions from the press at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
A tv screen shows VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answering questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answers questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU guard Terrence Hill Jr. (6) looks to shoot the ball during practice at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson (8) answers questions from the media in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. UNC will take on VCU during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answers questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answers questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answers questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answers questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU guard Terrence Hill Jr. (6) answers questions from the media in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. speaks to VCU guard Tyrell Ward (15) during practice at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. VCU answers questions from the media at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson (8) answers questions from the media in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. UNC will take on VCU during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF,TIMES-DISPATCH
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) answers questions from the media in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. UNC will take on VCU during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF,TIMES-DISPATCH
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) answers questions from the media in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. UNC will take on VCU during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF,TIMES-DISPATCH
North Carolina forward Zayden High (1) looks at his phone in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. UNC will take on VCU during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF,TIMES-DISPATCH
North Carolina guard Luka Bogavac (44) answers questions from the media in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. UNC will take on VCU during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF,TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Terrence Hill Jr. (6) answers questions from the media in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF,TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU mascot, Rodney the Ram, and UNC mascot, Rameses, pose for a photo during practice at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF,TIMES-DISPATCH
From left, VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr., Jadrian Tracey, Lazar Djokovic, and Brandon Jennings, answer questions from the press at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
From left, VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr., Jadrian Tracey, Lazar Djokovic, and Brandon Jennings, answer questions from the press at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
North Carolina forward Zayden High (1) answers questions from the media in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. UNC will take on VCU during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF,TIMES-DISPATCH
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) answers questions from the media in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. UNC will take on VCU during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF,TIMES-DISPATCH
From left, VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr., Jadrian Tracey, Lazar Djokovic, and Brandon Jennings, answer questions from the press at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF,TIMES-DISPATCH
Photos: VCU Men's Basketball Prepares for NCAA Tournament
The VCU men's basketball team arrived at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., today ahead of tomorrow's NCAA Tournament game against North Carolina. The Rams, led by head coach Phil Martelli Jr., answered media questions before taking the court for an open practice.Â
From left, a screen shows VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr., Jadrian Tracey, Lazar Djokovic, and Brandon Jennings, answering questions from the press at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
From left, VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr., Jadrian Tracey, Lazar Djokovic, and Brandon Jennings, answer questions from the press at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
From left, VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr., Jadrian Tracey, Lazar Djokovic, and Brandon Jennings, answer questions from the press at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF
From left, VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr., Jadrian Tracey, Lazar Djokovic, and Brandon Jennings, answer questions from the press at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. VCU will take on North Carolina during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
- MIKE KROPF,TIMES-DISPATCH
