Matt Bowers – författare

One Fantastic Ride is a behind-the-scenes portrait of the unforgettable journey to the University of North Carolina’s 2009 basketball national championship, the program’s fifth NCAA Tournament title. Adam Lucas, Steve Kirschner, and Matt Bowers were with the Tar Heels every step of the way, interviewing coaches, players, and staff.As the 2008–09 season opened, national pundits widely considered the Tar Heels the hands-down favorite to win the title. But injuries to key players, surprising midseason losses, and formidable ACC competition made the ride bumpier than expected. In the crucial last month of the season, however, a veteran team drew on their experience — and subtle adjustments by coaches and players — to achieve the goal they’d set for themselves after their disappointing defeat in the 2008 Final Four.More than just a season-in-the-life of a perennially excellent program, this book captures the crowning achievement of a senior class that exemplified the proud tradition of Carolina Basketball, both on and off the court. They became the most decorated class in UNC Basketball history while enjoying every aspect of their Tar Heel experience.With “Thoughts for the Day” taken directly from Carolina Basketball practice plans and more than 200 color photographs, this book is a unique keepsake for fans everywhere. Full of insights from players and coaches, One Fantastic Ride takes an intimate look at how the Tar Heels pulled it all together to come out on top.

This is the story of a national championship that was a year in the making.Redemption: Carolina Basketball’s 2016–2017 Journey from Heartbreak to History is a behind-the-scenes look at the Tar Heels'' ride to the 2017 national title. Featuring never-before-published, exclusive photographs that will take readers from the practice court and game action to the team bus and locker room, this book is the most complete chronicle of a UNC national championship ever made. In addition to the full-color images, the book also includes interviews with the players and coaches that can only be found here, a foreword by head coach Roy Williams, and exciting new stories from Adam Lucas, Steve Kirschner, and Matt Bowers, who accompanied the team every step of the way.Much more than a detailed account of Carolina’s 33 victories, Redemption describes the amazing journey of one of UNC’s most inspiring championships, from heartbreak in Houston to the storybook finish in Phoenix. Here readers can get the team’s perspective on what propelled them to a title and find out what moments the players and coaches considered most important, both on and off the court. The result is a must-have book for Tar Heel fans everywhere.

When Hubert Davis was named head men's basketball coach at the University of North Carolina in April 2021, history had already been made, as Davis became the program's first Black head coach. But after two difficult seasons, it was hard to imagine how quickly a new staff, a new playing style, and a new roster blending established players with prominent transfers and talented freshmen would be able to change the story—except within the fabled Smith Center locker room and practice gyms, where photos of the New Orleans Superdome helped players and staff focus on the possible.In words and photos full of behind-the-scenes moments, this book reveals how belief in the program's rich traditions and in one another enabled the 2021-2022 Tar Heels to achieve what at times seemed impossible, writing a thrilling new chapter in the story of Carolina basketball. From Davis's remarkable work to build a new staff and roster to the ups and downs of the conference season to the amazing run through March to the pinnacle of the college game, the story takes fans through one of the most dramatic years in program history.

When Hubert Davis was named head men''s basketball coach at the University of North Carolina in April 2021, history had already been made, as Davis became the program''s first Black head coach. But after two difficult seasons, it was hard to imagine how quickly a new staff, a new playing style, and a new roster blending established players with prominent transfers and talented freshmen would be able to change the story—except within the fabled Smith Center locker room and practice gyms, where photos of the New Orleans Superdome helped players and staff focus on the possible.In words and photos full of behind-the-scenes moments, this book reveals how belief in the program''s rich traditions and in one another enabled the 2021-2022 Tar Heels to achieve what at times seemed impossible, writing a thrilling new chapter in the story of Carolina basketball. From Davis''s remarkable work to build a new staff and roster to the ups and downs of the conference season to the amazing run through March to the pinnacle of the college game, the story takes fans through one of the most dramatic years in program history.

This is the story of a national championship that was a year in the making.Redemption: Carolina Basketball’s 2016–2017 Journey from Heartbreak to History is a behind-the-scenes look at the Tar Heels'' ride to the 2017 national title. Featuring never-before-published, exclusive photographs that will take readers from the practice court and game action to the team bus and locker room, this book is the most complete chronicle of a UNC national championship ever made. In addition to the full-color images, the book also includes interviews with the players and coaches that can only be found here, a foreword by head coach Roy Williams, and exciting new stories from Adam Lucas, Steve Kirschner, and Matt Bowers, who accompanied the team every step of the way.Much more than a detailed account of Carolina’s 33 victories, Redemption describes the amazing journey of one of UNC’s most inspiring championships, from heartbreak in Houston to the storybook finish in Phoenix. Here readers can get the team’s perspective on what propelled them to a title and find out what moments the players and coaches considered most important, both on and off the court. The result is a must-have book for Tar Heel fans everywhere.

When Hubert Davis was named head mens basketball coach at the University of North Carolina in April 2021, history had already been made, as Davis became the programs first Black head coach. But after two difficult seasons, it was hard to imagine how quickly a new staff, a new playing style, and a new roster blending established players with prominent transfers and talented freshmen would be able to change the storyexcept within the fabled Smith Center locker room and practice gyms, where photos of the New Orleans Superdome helped players and staff focus on the possible.In words and photos full of behind-the-scenes moments, this book reveals how belief in the programs rich traditions and in one another enabled the 2021-2022 Tar Heels to achieve what at times seemed impossible, writing a thrilling new chapter in the story of Carolina basketball. From Daviss remarkable work to build a new staff and roster to the ups and downs of the conference season to the amazing run through March to the pinnacle of the college game, the story takes fans through one of the most dramatic years in program history.

One Fantastic Ride is a behind-the-scenes portrait of the unforgettable journey to the University of North Carolina’s 2009 basketball national championship, the program’s fifth NCAA Tournament title. Adam Lucas, Steve Kirschner, and Matt Bowers were with the Tar Heels every step of the way, interviewing coaches, players, and staff.As the 2008–09 season opened, national pundits widely considered the Tar Heels the hands-down favorite to win the title. But injuries to key players, surprising midseason losses, and formidable ACC competition made the ride bumpier than expected. In the crucial last month of the season, however, a veteran team drew on their experience — and subtle adjustments by coaches and players — to achieve the goal they’d set for themselves after their disappointing defeat in the 2008 Final Four.More than just a season-in-the-life of a perennially excellent program, this book captures the crowning achievement of a senior class that exemplified the proud tradition of Carolina Basketball, both on and off the court. They became the most decorated class in UNC Basketball history while enjoying every aspect of their Tar Heel experience.With “Thoughts for the Day” taken directly from Carolina Basketball practice plans and more than 200 color photographs, this book is a unique keepsake for fans everywhere. Full of insights from players and coaches, One Fantastic Ride takes an intimate look at how the Tar Heels pulled it all together to come out on top.