Jeremy Sochan picks up technical foul after getting tangled with Armando Bacot in Baylor-UNC

Emotions are undoubtedly running high in the NCAA Tournament. In the first half of Saturday’s game between top seeded Baylor and eighth-seeded North Carolina, Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan was assessed a dead ball technical foul after he got tied up with UNC center Armando Bacot.

Sochan drew a charge on Bacot, but as Sochan fell to the ground, he locked Bacot’s leg in between his on the ground. The technical foul ended up being a big swing for UNC, as the Tar Heels made each of the ensuing free throws and a made a three-point basket on the following possession.

The Tar Heels got off to a quick start, holding a 21-10 lead over the Bears at the under-12 media timeout. UNC guard RJ Davis went on a personal eight-point run for the Tar Heels, and Caleb Love and Brady Manek have also chipped in five early points.

The UNC-Baylor matchup is an intriguing matchup in the Round of 32

UNC defeated Marquette in the NCAA Tournament’s opening round, advancing to the Round of 32. Baylor picked up a victory over Norfolk State in round one. When asked to preview Saturday’s slate of games, ESPN College GameDay analyst LaPhonso Ellis pointed out UNC-Baylor as one of the best matchups on the day.

“For me, it’s Baylor-North Carolina,” responded Ellis, when asked which game is most intriguing. “You talk about a Baylor team that’s playing without Jonathon Tchamwa Tchatchoua — one of the best ball-screen defending bigs, and one of the best post-defending bigs in the country. They’re going to be going against Armando Bacot — who’s been absolutely sensational. Terrific offensive rebounder, plays with his back to the basket. And with Brady Manek — I feel like they’re a great inside-out duo. His ability to be able to knock down the three.

“I’m really fascinated to see how they’re going to defend those two bigs today.”

The first half has been back and forth, living up to the intrigue that Ellis predicted.