Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament.

North Carolina sophomore Reggie Bullock was playing defense near Ohio's bench, with somewhere around 12 minutes left in regulation, when he overheard a Bobcats assistant coach say it: "They can't win without Kendall Marshall." And boy, that made him mad.
Source: espn.go.com

But what a future this program has, and what a long time this fan base has waited for this kind of optimism. N.C. State was good under Herb Sendek, good enough to reach the NCAA tournament five years in a row, but they never entered a season with the kind of optimism that should surround the Wolfpack in 2012-13. How optimistic? Top 10 in the preseason.
Source: cbssports.com

"I have bigger goals right now than just winning in the Sweet 16," the Tar Heels' most unlikely hero said. "This team is good enough to win the national championship." If that happens, it will be because of an assist from Stilman White - a much bigger one that can ever be reflected on a stat sheet.
Source: acc.blogs.starnewsonline.com

Whenever he hoisted up the next shot, half the building groaned (the Carolina blue half) and the other celebrated (that would be the Ohio cheering section). But now, here it was in the tense opening moments of overtime in Carolina's 73-65 victory, and guess who had the ball in his hands and turned into pure money? Harrison Barnes.
Source: stltoday.com

The run that revitalized N.C. State basketball came to an end Friday - early Saturday morning, actually - with a 60-57 loss to Kansas, but its impact will be felt for a long, long time.
Source: charlotteobserver.com

So where does the PassFir5t movement go from here? If UNC keeps winning with or without Marshall, you have to figure many more Tar Heel fans will be walking around with 5s on their wrists.
Source: spiraclebuzz.com

This first chapter has closed, but there could be more compelling ones ahead for Gottfried and the Wolfpack. Left for dead at the conclusion of a four-game losing streak in late February, N.C. State proved worthy of the big stage during its three-game stay in the NCAA tournament.
Source: fayobserver.com

As North Carolina's coach for 36 years, Smith retired in 1997 with college basketball's career record for victories at 879, a mark that since has been surpassed. His North Carolina teams won two NCAA Tournaments and appeared in 11 Final Fours. He also has been the background source of coaching transactions at North Carolina and his alma mater, Kansas.
Source: therepublic.com

Then he showed the Wolfpack how to compete. Then N.C. State played into the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament as a result, the best indication that Gottfried successfully has reconfigured the program. Basketball is back at N.C. State.
Source: rockymounttelegram.com

"For 15 years, Kansas was my favorite basketball program of all time, and my second favorite was North Carolina," Williams said. "Now my favorite basketball program of all time is North Carolina, and my second is Kansas. But the passion that the people have for basketball there is just unmatched."
Source: heraldsun.com

Marshall, despite admittedly still dealing with plenty of pain, placed his typical optimistic tone on his potential availability against Kansas in today's Midwest Regional final. While wiggling his fingers and thumb, he said his range of motion has improved...
Source: shelbystar.com

The future is so bright for the suddenly resurgent Wolfpack that even C.J. Williams - a player whose career officially ended with Friday's heartbreaking 60-57 loss to Kansas - was too excited to be down. "At a time like this you look back on what you've accomplished, not what happened in the end," Williams said.
Source: acc.blogs.starnewsonline.com