UNC entered the ACC Tournament on the wrong side of the bubble. After a win over Boston College, what do the Tar Heels’ March Madness hopes look like?
The North Carolina Tar Heels entered the ACC Tournament as a No. 7 seed but on the wrong side of the bubble for March Madness. They were part of the First Four Out in ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology update. So when UNC took the floor on Thursday night for their Second Round matchup and first game of the conference tournament against Boston College, that was front of mind.
Much like at this time of the season a year ago, though, the Tar Heels looked like a hungry team knowing it needed to dominate to make a statement for the selection committee.
Even with star big man Armando Bacot injuring his ankle (and returning for the second half) late in the first half, UNC was able to ride a strong backcourt showing from Caleb Love and RJ Davis to earn a dominant victory that pushes them to the ACC Quarterfinals to face off with Virginia, who the Tar Heels beat in February.
But after the win over Boston College, how are the Tar Heels’ March Madness hopes looking?
Will UNC make March Madness? Latest Bracketology update after ACC Tournament win over Boston College
For both Lunardi and CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm, UNC entered this game among the First Four Out. But as Palm noted in his preview of Thursday’s bubble games, this was a key win to pick up for the Tar Heels because, as of now, the best thing North Carolina has going for it is that they have no Quad 3 or 4 losses, or bad losses as you might call them.
UNC won’t be in the field based on beating Boston College just yet, but it is a step in the right direction. Even better, the Heels got some help as well.
While Hubert Davis’ team was moving forward in the ACC bracket, another First Four Out team, Wisconsin, lost to Ohio State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. That should knock the Badgers out of the March Madness field of 68 and put the Tar Heels one step closer to being in.
Friday will be the biggest game, though. While making the final of the conference tournament would undeniably secure UNC’s place in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, beating Virginia and earning another Quad 1 win would potentially push them into the Last Four In, especially depending on what happens in other conference tourneys.
So the short of it is that North Carolina is not in the March Madness field yet. But beating Boston College, and doing so handily, while getting some help should increase their chances. The biggest help now, though, is simple: Keep winning.
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