North Carolina’s 25-year-old sixth-year senior Cormac Ryan poured in a career-high 31 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor as the No. 7 Tar Heels completed their season sweep of No. 9 Duke, 84–79 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
With the victory, North Carolina clinched the ACC’s regular season title for the first time since 2017. Carolina’s season sweep of Duke was especially dominant this season, as the Tar Heels trailed for a mere 16 seconds total in its two matchups with the Blue Devils.
“Somebody check on Cormac he’s sick in the head,” North Carolina star big man Armando Bacot posted on X after the game.
Ryan had ice water in his veins all night, hitting six of his eight three point attempts. His teammate Harrison Ingram was asked what he thought of Ryan’s performance.
“Same amount of points as how old he is,” Ingram joked of his 25-year-old teammate.
Ryan was seen taunting the “Cameron Crazies” throughout the game, incessantly talking trash after each big-time shot that he made. When asked what sparked his reactions toward the crowd after the game, Ryan kept it simple.
“That’s just who I am. I can’t control it.”
— Josh Graham (@JoshGrahamShow) March 10, 2024
Cormac Ryan on shushing — and having some words for — the Cameron Crazies throughout his 31-point performance against Duke. pic.twitter.com/UW4GU4nURL
“That’s just who I am. I can’t control it,” Ryan said. “I love playing in these environments. I love being in front of the fire. I love it. I know these guys love it too. That’s what makes us such a connected group is that we just share in that.”
Ryan and the Tar Heels enter the ACC tournament as the conference’s top seed. With a strong finish in the conference tournament, culminating with an ACC title, North Carolina will have an outside chance at capturing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, which begins in just over a week.
