Tar Heels look to make run in NCAA tournament, need to get by Albany, Delaware, West Virginia

North Carolina spent all season working to get back in the NCAA tournament after having to watch it last year.

Now that they're in, the third-seeded Tar Heels (28-6) plan to make the most of the invite.

North Carolina faces No. 14 seed Albany (27-3) on Sunday in a first-round game. The winner meets either No. 6 seed Delaware (30-3) or No. 11 seed West Virginia (17-13), who meet in Sunday's first game.

The Tar Heels went 20-11 last season but didn't make the tournament. Coach Sylvia Hatchell says the team was disappointed, but used the rejection "in a positive way" this season.

North Carolina finished tied for second in the Atlantic Coast Conference and now are poised to make their 24th appearance in the NCAA tournament.