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Bracketology predictions: UNC on verge of making wrong kind of NCAA Tournament history

By Scott Rogust

RALEIGH, NC - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels listens to official Pat Driscoll during the first half of the game against the NC State Wolfpack at PNC Arena on February 19, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels listens to official Pat Driscoll during the first half of the game against the NC State Wolfpack at PNC Arena on February 19, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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The UNC Tar Heels lost to the North Carolina State Wolfpack 77-69 on Sunday, and their NCAA tournament chances aren’t looking any better. Not a good look for their latest bracketology projections.

The NCAA Tournament is right around the corner, and on March 12, Selection Sunday will be taking place, where 68 teams will determine whether they will be a part of March Madness. For the North Carolina Tar Heels, their odds weren’t looking great heading into this weekend.

On Sunday, prior to UNC’s game against the NC State Wolfpack, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi unveiled his latest edition of “Bracketology with Joe Lunardi.” At the time, the Tar Heels were listed in the “First Four Out” group by Lunardi, specifically ranked 69th overall. Lunardi wrote that their matchup against the Wolfpack was, “the biggest regular-season game in recent memory for the Tar Heels, who must win to return to the right side of the bracket.”

Well, the Tar Heels didn’t help out their case, as they lost to the Wolfpack by the score of 77-69. With that, their chances of making the NCAA Tournament are looking even grimmer than before.

Bracketology: UNC’s loss to NC State pushing them further outside of NCAA Tournament picture

Tar Heels’ senior forward Armando Bacot secured a double-double by scoring 16 points (6-for-14 from field, 4-for-7 from free throw line) and grabbing 14 rebounds. Junior guard Caleb Love led the team with 23 points scored while shooting 7-for-17 from the field and 4-for-8 from the three-point line.

However, the Tar Heels watched as four players scored in double digits in Jarkel Joiner (29), D.J. Burns Jr. (18), Terquavion Smith (12), and Casey Morsell (12).

In case you needed further proof that this is bad news for the Tar Heels, Stadium basketball analyst Jeff Goodman points out that they are now 0-9 against Quadrant 1 teams. Not a single win in nine games. Goodman points out that UNC is in danger of becoming the first team ranked as the No. 1 team in the country in the preseason to miss out on the NCAA Tournament.

The Tar Heels have four games remaining on their schedule, which are the following:

  • Feb. 22 at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
  • Feb. 25 vs. No. 7 Virginia Cavaliers
  • Feb. 27 at Florida State Seminoles
  • March 4 vs. Duke Blue Devils

These games are must-win for the Tar Heels. If they lose one, their odds of making the NCAA Tournament will continue to fall.

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