North Carolina

‘This team was special.’ How to buy a commemorative poster celebrating UNC basketball

North Carolina’s Brady Manek (45) reacts after a three-point basket to give the Tar Heels a 28-22 lead over Kansas during the first half of the NCAA Championship game on Monday, April 4, 2022 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La.
North Carolina’s Brady Manek (45) reacts after a three-point basket to give the Tar Heels a 28-22 lead over Kansas during the first half of the NCAA Championship game on Monday, April 4, 2022 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La. rwillett@newsobserver.com

This season, the North Carolina Tar Heels and first-year head coach Hubert Davis delighted UNC fans and surprised the basketball world.

The Tar Heels came together at just the right moment, going from “on the bubble” to being one of the last two teams standing in the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship title game.

And while the Tar Heels fell short of winning the whole shebang, losing the title game to the Kansas Jayhawks, the team holds a special place in fans’ hearts.

Armando Bacot. Caleb Love. Leaky Black. R.J. Davis and Brady Manek are among those names forever tied to this season, which included two victories over rival Duke University.

Manek, celebrating one of his 3-pointers in the April 4 title game, graces the cover of The News & Observer’s commemorative edition.

“This team was special,” Manek said, summing up the season.

The cover can be bought as a poster for $24.95. The pre-order price is $19.95. Go to pediment.com and search for UNC poster, or go directly to the link here.

Read Next
The News & Observer front page celebrating North Carolina Men’s Basketball season. North Carolina’s Brady Manek (45) reacts after a three-point basket to give the Tar Heels a 28-22 lead over Kansas during the first half of the NCAA Championship game on Monday, April 4, 2022 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La.
The News & Observer front page celebrating North Carolina Men’s Basketball season. North Carolina’s Brady Manek (45) reacts after a three-point basket to give the Tar Heels a 28-22 lead over Kansas during the first half of the NCAA Championship game on Monday, April 4, 2022 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 10:13 AM.

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Jessica Banov
The News & Observer
Jessica Banov is a news editor and audience growth specialist at The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. She was part of the team from The N&O and The Charlotte Observer that was named a 2025 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Breaking News for coverage of Hurricane Helene. She also serves as The N&O’s intern program coordinator. 
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