Few games remaining in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, if any, will feature the top-end college talent of 8-seed North Carolina and 4-seed UCLA.
The Tar Heels (26-9) earned their Sweet 16 berth by demolishing 9-seed Marquette 95-63 and upsetting 1-seed Baylor 93-86 in overtime. UNC has had several heroic efforts in that two-game stretch, including from the likes of senior forward Brady Manek, who has averaged an absurd 27 points per game while totaling 16 rebounds through the NCAA Tournament. Manek’s stats would likely be even greater if he didn’t miss the final 10 minutes of the Baylor game after receiving a flagrant-2 foul. (Note: He is eligible to play vs. UCLA.)
Junior forward Armando Bacot has been instrumental in that stretch as well, averaging a double-double (16 points and 13 rebounds per game). Caleb Love (23 points vs. Marquette) and RJ Davis (30 points vs. Baylor) have also shown an ability to score in droves.
MORE: Watch UNC-UCLA game live on fuboTV (free trial)
UCLA’s (27-7) run to this point has not been as impressive as the Tar Heels: Upset-minded 13-seed Akron gave UCLA everything they had in the opening round. The Bruins escaped with a 57-53 victory. Mick Cronin’s unit — looking for a second-consecutive Final Four berth — turned around and handled its business against 5-seed Saint Mary’s beating the Gaels 72-56 in the second round.
The Bruins’ big players thus far in March Madness have included Tyger Campbell, who has scored 16 points in each of the first two NCAA Tournament games; Jules Bernard (12 points-per-game average); Johnny Juzang (11.5 ppg, 13 total assists); and Jaime Jaquez Jr., who has 15 points in each of the first two games. That said, Jaquez suffered an ankle injury in the win over the Gaels, and is currently listed as day-to-day for the Sweet 16 matchup. His availability could be a huge swinging factor in who emerges victorious.
Regardless, The Sporting News has you covered on how to tune in and watch the Sweet 16 matchup between UNC and UCLA:
TSN’s MARCH MADNESS HQ
Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Predictor tool
What channel is North Carolina vs. UCLA on today?
- TV Channel: CBS
- Live Stream: fuboTV, NCAA March Madness Live
Duke vs. Texas Tech will air on CBS. Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel will call the game from the booth; Jamie Erdahl will report from courtside at Wells Fargo Center
North Carolina vs. UCLA start time
- Date: Friday, March 25
- Time: 9:39 p.m. ET | 6:39 p.m. PT (approximately)
North Carolina vs. UCLA will tip off at approximately 9:39 ET at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia; tip-off could be influenced by the first CBS game of the night, 3-seed Purdue vs. 15-seed Saint Peter’s.
MORE: Baylor shows champion’s heart as record comeback vs. North Carolina falls just short
March Madness schedule 2022
Sweet 16
Thursday, March 24
| Game | Time | TV |
| No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 4 Arkansas | 7 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 11 Michigan | 7:15 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 Texas Tech | After Game 1 | CBS |
| No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 5 Houston | After Game 2 | TBS, Sling TV |
Friday, March 25
| Game | Time | TV |
| No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 15 Saint Peter’s | 7 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 4 Providence | 7:15 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 8 North Carolina | After Game 1 | CBS |
| No. 10 Miami vs. No. 11 Iowa State | After Game 2 | TBS, Sling TV |
Elite Eight
Saturday, March 26
Sunday, March 27
| Game | Time | TV |
| TBD vs. TBD | 2 p.m. | CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | CBS |
Final Four
Saturday, April 2
National championship
Monday, April 4
| Game | Time | TV |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |