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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — No. 2 seed North Carolina (25-10) vs. No. 15 seed Lipscomb (23-9)
First round, West Region; Charlotte, North Carolina; approximately 2:45 p.m. EDT on Friday
BOTTOM LINE: The Tar Heels open their pursuit to repeat as national champions when they face Lipscomb, which is in its first NCAA Tournament.
FRIENDLY SETTING: UNC is 33-1 in NCAA games played in its home state, with the only loss coming in 1979. That includes an 11-0 record in NCAA games played in Charlotte, located about 2½ hours southwest of the Chapel Hill campus.
JOHNSON'S BACK: Pittsburgh graduate transfer Cameron Johnson is nursing a balky back from an injury suffered in UNC's trip to the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title game. The starting wing said Thursday he's been getting treatment but went through a morning practice and expects to be ready Friday.
QUICK PACE: Expect plenty of points. The Bisons average 82.6 points and shoot 45.6 percent while cracking 100 points three times, including 108 in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament title game against Florida Gulf Coast. The Tar Heels average 82 points and shoot 46 percent.
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