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The North Carolina Tar Heels squeaked into the NCAA Tournament, grabbing an 11-seed and a spot in the play-in game against San Diego State.

Why it matters: North Carolina's appearance in the tournament was not a given, with many experts pointing to their weak showing against elite teams this season.

Here's which North Carolina schools will be competing in the NCAA Tournament:

Men's tournament

???? Duke: Duke earned the No. 1 seed in the East Region and will take on the winner of American versus Mount St. Mary's in the No. 16 play-in game.

???? UNC: The No. 11 Tar Heels will play No. 11 San Diego State in Dayton on Tuesday. The winner of that game will go on to play No. 6 Ole Miss in the South Region in Milwaukee on Friday.

???? UNC-Wilmington: The Seahawks got the No. 14 seed in the West Region and will play No. 3 Texas Tech in Wichita, Kansas, on Thursday.

???? High Point: High Point got the No. 13 seed in the Midwest Region and will play No. 4 Purdue in Rhode Island on Thursday.

Women's tournament

North Carolina schools were also well represented in the women's NCAA Tournament, and the Triangle's three ACC schools will get to host their opening games.

???? N.C. State: The Wolfpack got the No. 2 seed in Region 1 and will host No. 15 Vermont in Raleigh on Saturday.

???? Duke: The Blue Devils received the No. 2 seed in Region 2 and will welcome No. 15 Lehigh to Durham on Friday.

???? UNC: The Tar Heels will be the No. 3 in Region 2 and play No. 14 Oregon State in Chapel Hill.

???? UNC-Greensboro: The No. 16 Spartans will travel to Los Angeles to play No. 1 Southern California in Region 4.

???? High Point: The No. 16 Panthers will pay No. 16 William & Mary in the play-in game for Region 3 for a chance to take on No. 1 Texas.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- All three Triangle teams were named top 16 seeds in the women's basketball tournament, NCAA revealed Sunday.

This means all of them are staying home the first weekend of the tournament. It's also the first time all three teams earned Top 3 seeds in NCAA Tournament history.

Duke

Having won the ACC Championship, the Blue Devils (26-7) earned the No. 8 overall seed and No. 2 seed in the Birmingham 2 regional.

Duke will face Lehigh in the first round on Friday in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

NC State

The Wolfpack (26-6) received the No. 6 overall seed and No. 2 seed in the Spokane 1 regional. This comes after a ACC title game appearance and ACC co-regular season title.

NC State will face Vermont in the first round Saturday inside Reynolds Coliseum. If the team advances, the Pack will face the winner of Michigan State-Harvard matchup.

UNC

Tar Heels (27-7) earned the No. 9 overall seed and No. 3 seed in the Birmingham 2 regional.

North Carolina entered the ACC Tournament sitting on the bubble of a No. 3 and 4 seed. A four-point win over Florida State in Greensboro secured a spot in the No. 3 seed.

The team will face Oregon State in the first round on Saturday in Carmichael Arena.

SEE ALSO | UCLA, South Carolina, USC, Texas top seeded for Women's March Madness

South Carolina

The Gamecocks were among the No. 1 seeds, alongside Southern California and Texas.

UCLA was awarded the top overall seed after having one of the best seasons in school history. They had two losses on the season, both of which came to the USC Trojans.

One of UCLA's wins this season came over South Carolina. The Gamecocks' coach, Dawn Staley, felt her team should have gotten the top seed and with it the extra day of rest if they advance to the Final Four.

"I mean I'm a little bit surprised because we manufactured our schedule and put ourselves in position to be the No. 1 overall seed," she said. "Do the blind test and put our resume against any other team in the field, you'd pick us. It's plain and simple."

Unlike last year, when the Gamecocks finished off an undefeated season with a national title, this team has three losses heading into March Madness.

"Two key factors between UCLA and South Carolina. One was the head-to-head matchup," NCAA selection committee chair Derita Dawkins said. "The other was one of our criteria is competitive in losses and South Carolina suffered a 29-point loss to UConn. Those were the two key differences in those resumes."

Staley's team is looking to be the first team to repeat as champion since UConn won four straight from 2013-16.

Tournament sites

The top 16 seeds in the 68-team field will host first- and second-round games, with the regional rounds being played at two neutral sites for the third straight year. Spokane, Washington, will host half of the Sweet 16 and Birmingham, Alabama, will host the other eight teams.

The Final Four will be played in Tampa, Florida, on April 4, and the championship game on April 6.

Associated Press' Doug Feinberg contributed to this report.

Report a correction or typo

Copyright © 2025 ABC11-WTVD-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved - The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A new study found that three cities in North Carolina are among the happiest in the nation.

The study from WalletHub, a personal finance website, said Raleigh is the happiest city in North Carolina, coming in at No. 22 on the list, followed by Durham and Charlotte, ranked at No. 29 and No. 52, respectively.

Of the 182 total cities ranked, Winston-Salem came in at No. 110, Greensboro at No. 116 and Fayetteville at No. 150.

The WalletHub ranking comes just weeks after Hers, a health and wellness company, named Raleigh the 10th healthiest city in the nation, The Charlotte Observer reported. (Conversely, Hers ranked Charlotte the No. 10 least healthy city in the U.S.)

“Raleigh, North Carolina is the only Southern city to make it in the top 10 best cities for healthy living,” Hers writer Lauren Ward wrote in June. “The tech-centric city ranked particularly well for sleep, walkability, and access to psychologists and psychiatrists.”

That’s not the only time the capital city has earned attention for its focus on health. The U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Places to Retire ranking recently named Raleigh the sixth-best city to retire, the Observer reported.

A recent study from personal finance website SmartAsset found that a North Carolina household needed to earn $47,198 to $141,608 to be considered middle class in 2023, the Observer reported — but for a few cities in North Carolina, those numbers are higher.

▪ To be considered middle class in Raleigh in 2023, households needed to earn $57,534 to $172,618, putting it at No. 1 in the state in terms of highest middle-class income range.

▪ Charlotte ranked second on the list of N.C. cities, with a 2023 middle-class income range of $53,715 to $161,162.

▪ Durham came in at No. 3, with an income range of $53,371 to $160,128.

However, the middle-class income range in a couple of cities was lower than the state average in 2023. Households in Greensboro needed to earn $41,161 to $123,494 to be considered middle class in 2023, for example, and those in Winston-Salem needed to earn $39,455 to $118,378.

Here are the 10 happiest cities in America, according to WalletHub:

“The ideal city provides conditions that foster good mental and physical health, like reasonable work hours, short commutes, good weather and caring neighbors,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, according to the study.

To determine the happiest places in America, WalletHub compared 182 of the largest cities in the U.S. across three metrics: emotional and physical well-being, income and unemployment, and community and environment. Here’s some of what was included in each of those metrics:

Inspired by a story from The Kansas City Star.

Have a question about your community you’d like answered? Or maybe a tip or story idea you’d like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.

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March 14, 2025 11:28 AM

This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 11:02 AM.

When it comes to the fastest-growing metro in North Carolina, the coast is where you want to look.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

If you're looking for the North Carolina city where growth is on fire, you don't need to worry about Raleigh or Charlotte.

When it comes to the fastest-growing metro in the state, the coast is where you want to look. Wilmington is among the top 10 metro areas for population growth between 2020 and 2024, according to new numbers out of the U.S. Census Bureau. The city in New Hanover County grew by more than 13 percent over the period.

That is a higher rate than Raleigh at 10 percent and Charlotte at 8 percent. And it's a reflection of the coastal region's rapid ascent as a destination spot and economic engine. Retirees, young professionals and families are flocking to the coast, particularly the wider Wilmington area, and companies are taking notice.

The three-county region of Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick is now a thriving hub of residential construction and commercial investments with no signs of a slowdown ahead — barring a global economic crunch, of course.

The Wilmington metro, which includes Leland, had a population of 480,522 in 2024, up from around 425,000 in 2020 when the pandemic set off a wave of migration across the country. Many people on the move ended up on the North Carolina coast, which saw incredible growth in wealth based on federal tax data.

In the Census data, another notable city in the state was Burlington, which grew by more than 6.6 percent over the four-year span to 183,000 people — about the same size as Cary. That was a slightly higher rate than the Durham-Chapel Hill metro.

Ahead of Wilmington on the list is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with a nearly 17 percent growth rate. Metros in Florida dominate the top 10, including the top spot, which went to retirement destination The Villages. The area had a nearly 19 percent growth rate and a population of around 155,000.

Raleigh's growth doesn't appear to be losing steam.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS:

Raleigh's growth doesn't appear to be losing steam as the Triangle region remains one of the most attractive places in the country to live and do business.

The Raleigh-Cary metro area grew by about 2.6 percent between 2023 and 2024, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, which show the area's population is now above 1.562 million.

The growth has been rapid. The Raleigh region's population was below 1.42 million in 2020, representing a more than 10 percent jump in four years.

In-migration has played a key role in fueling the boom. The Triangle and much of North Carolina have become destination spots for everyone from college graduates to young professionals, families and retirees. And companies big and small have followed suit by relocating or expanding here, making the region one of the top economic powerhouses in the country.

Likewise, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro grew by 6.6 percent between 2020 and 2024. The area now has a population of more than 620,000.

The Charlotte metro saw its population jump by more than 8 percent over the four-year span to nearly 2.9 million. The area grew by 2.2 percent between 2023 and 2024.

But Raleigh's growth didn't quite crack the top 10 metros nationwide for 2023-24. The fastest-growing area was Ocala, Florida, northwest of Orlando with a 4 percent growth rate. At No. 10 was Spartanburg, South Carolina, with a rate of 2.7 percent.

Florida has four metros in the top 10 while South Carolina and Texas each have two.

Top 10 fastest-growing metros in the U.S. by percent change

RALEIGH, N.C. —

The March Madness craziness is upon us as the NCAA Tournament action will soon get underway.

Raleigh will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament Division I Men’s Basketball, which will be held at the Lenovo Center.

Here's a tournament guide featuring tournament details, buying tickets, directions, parking, food options, and a lot more.

When is the Tournament in Raleigh?

The first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament Division I Men’s Basketball will be held on March 21 and 23.

GAME SESSIONS

FRIDAY, MARCH 21:

Session 1 - Doors Open @ 10:45 a.m.12:15 p.m.: (8) Baylor vs. (9) Mississippi State2:50 p.m.: (1) Duke vs. (16) TBD

Session 2 - Doors Open @ TBD6:50 p.m.: (1) Florida vs. (16) Norfolk St.9:25 p.m.: (8) UConn vs. (9) Oklahoma

SUNDAY, MARCH 23

Session 3 - Doors Open at TBDGame times TBD following Friday's games

Tournament Bracket

Tickets

There are several ticket options for the NCAA Tournament Division I Men’s Basketball Championship games at the Lenovo Center.

Make sure to select the Raleigh area when viewing tickets at the links below.

TICKETMASTER | SEATGEEK | VIVID SEATS | STUBHUB |

Is cash accepted?

No. Lenovo Center transactions for tickets, parking, concessions, and retail are cashless.

Tailgating Policy

Tailgating on site is permitted. Vehicles must occupy only one parking space. Use of grills must follow Open Fires Prohibited guidelines.

Parking Passes

Parking Fees vary for select events. Lenovo Center now offers the opportunity to purchase advance parking passes. This allows you to arrive, scan your mobile pass, and park with ease.

General Parking Directions

To enter the Lenovo Center Parking Lots from I-40 or Wade Avenue, exit Edwards Mill Road. Travel South to Edwards Mill Road. The main Lenovo Center entrance is on your left.

►Check out the general parking map.

►Traffic at capacity redirect ingress map

Directions to Lenovo Center

Find directions below to the Lenovo Center.

Greensboro, Durham, Chapel Hill

Fayetteville, Lumberton, South Carolina

Goldsboro, Kinston

Wilmington, Jacksonville

Wilson, Greenville

Charlotte, Kannapolis, Salisbury

Richmond, Petersburg, Virginia Area

Food Options

There are lots of food options.

Some options also include the Ledge Lounge and the Arena Club Restaurant.

Ledge Lounge

Arena Club Restaurant

See below for a few options.

Located at the Sec. 301 stand, or Sec. 110 cart, Alpaca Peruvian Chicken offerings include fresh salads and bowls, yuca fries, desserts, horchata, and more.

The BBQ Lab features brisket and smoked turkey with homemade side dishes. Located in the Priority Lounges at Section 105 and 120, this offering is available to Priority Lounge and Club Level ticketholders. BBQ Lab sauces will be available at all BBQ Sandwich carts.

With stands at Sections 114 and 318, Buffalo Brothers offers fresh baked personal pizzas, chicken wings ft. signature sauces, draft beers, and non-alcoholic beverages. Pizzas will also be available in the Club Level lounges.

Chick-fil-A offers additional menu items at the new Section 109 stand. Carts offering sandwiches and drinks are available at Sections 120 and 325.

Gonza Tacos Y Tequila features fresh tacos and more at the Section 112 stand and Section 130 cart. The local taco hot-spot offers tacos, nachos and quesadillas.

Shake Shack, located by Section 123, offers 100% all-natural Angus beef burgers, a portobello burger, flat-top Vienna beef dogs, french fries, and spun-fresh frozen custard shakes.

NEW! Shake Shack offers a shake-only cart near Section 332.

Stop by at Section 329 to enjoy Primo Hoagies with fresh-baked bread, filled with high-quality meats and cheeses, fresh vegetables, and more.

Visit the Carvery cart at Section 120 for fresh carved sandwiches and chips.

Enjoy our in-house North Carolina pulled BBQ sandwich with slaw, BBQ Nachos, and BBQ Lab sauces. Carts are located at Sections 107, 123, 305, and 326.

Swing by Sections 126 or 314 for a 'quick stop' variety of beverages, snacks, candy, and specialty items such as Cheerwine Slushies (Section 126 only), Sabra Hummus, Health & Beauty convenience items and more.

Carts at Sections 105, 120, and 306 serve grilled Italian Sausages and Bratwurst with sautéed sweet peppers and onions.

Raising the Steak at Section 123 serves freshly prepared steak sandwiches with onions and provolone cheese on a sub roll.

Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.

Bag Policy

Carolina Hurricanes + NC State Bag Policy:

Items not allowed in Lenovo Center

Game Day Merch

When it comes to representing the best teams, you gotta rep the best! Here's where you can buy some new threads for game day.

Click on the links below to find merch to buy for your team.

FANATICS | RALLY HOUSE | DICK'S SPORTING GOODS