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UNC Basketball Drops One Bracketology Spot Despite Blowout Win

The UNC basketball team now sits three notches outside the projected NCAA Tournament field.
Matt Giles|
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UNC basketball | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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North Carolina Tar Heels

Before fourth-year head coach Hubert Davis and his Tar Heels (19-11, 12-6 ACC) hosted the Miami Hurricanes (6-23, 2-16 ACC) on Saturday afternoon, UNC basketball checked in second among the "First Four Out" in ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi's forecasted March Madness bracket.

ALSO READ: One UNC Feat Unseen Since Hubert Davis Was Freshman

The Tar Heels defeated the Hurricanes, 92-73, in the Dean E. Smith Center, marking UNC's fifth straight win and fourth in a row by a double-digit margin. Consequently, they climbed from No. 45 to No. 42 in Sunday's updated NCAA NET Rankings, a metric used for Selection Sunday in two weeks.

Nevertheless, in Lunardi's latest bracketology notes on Sunday, he has UNC down one spot to No. 3 among teams projected to miss out on an at-large NCAA Tournament invite at this late juncture in the regular season.

As things stand, Lunardi foresees only three ACC programs reaching the Big Dance: No. 1 seed Duke, No. 5 seed Clemson, and No. 7 seed Louisville. Meanwhile, Wake Forest and SMU are the top two among his "Next Four Out" group.

UNC basketball is now gearing up for a road clash versus the Virginia Tech Hokies (13-16 8-10 ACC) at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPNU).

ALSO READ: Tar Heels Enter Fray for Heralded In-State Five-Star Prep

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball and football news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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