It started off shaky, but UNC won their first game on the road against Lipscomb, 84-66.
Not many of us have seen Lipscomb play, so no one really knew too much what to expect despite Theo Pinson being the former teammate of Michael Buckland. Pinson stated that despite their familial relationship, the two didn’t stay in contact much so he’s going into the game just like his teammates, unexpected.
Lipscomb entered the game confident and the same was felt with their fans. This was their first NCAA tournament appearance and despite their loss, Lipscomb has everything to proud of this season including two wins against Belmont, a ASUN Conference championship and all five returning starters, Lipscomb has emerged as a new college basketball threat.
The best thing about the NCAA tournament is the exposure for smaller schools and players, who might not get major school recruitment, the chance to see mid-level colleges and their potential. Lipscomb, a private liberal arts university in Nashville, TN, is a strong program with a solid coach who seems dedicated to the success of his teammates and their future. You also can’t argue with 5 returning seniors who could possibly return the team to the tournament in 2019.
For a more in-depth recap, please check out the video with Quierra Luck and Vashti Hurt!