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North Carolina made historical past — the improper form — in its loss to Duke on Saturday and can probably make extra — additionally the improper form — subsequent week as soon as the NCAA Event discipline is ready.
The Tar Heels misplaced for the twelfth time this season, giving this system probably the most losses by an Related Press preseason No. 1 workforce within the preseason ballot’s 61-year historical past.
That is not even the worst of it. Choice Sunday will come round on March 12 and until North Carolina goes on a miraculous run within the ACC match, it’s extremely probably that the Tar Heels will the primary AP preseason No. 1 workforce to fail to qualify for the NCAA Event. Per ESPN’s Bracketology, North Carolina is on the bubble as a “First 4 Out” workforce.
North Carolina enters the ACC match because the convention’s No. 7 seed and can play both Boston School (15-16) or Louisville (4-27) on Wednesday. Due to each groups’ 2022-23 struggles, a win for the Tar Heels nonetheless will not transfer the needle a lot in relation to their match possibilities. A loss, in the meantime, would nail North Carolina’s coffin outright.
The workforce may doubtlessly get a recreation in opposition to the convention’s No. 2 seed — Virginia (23-6) — within the quarterfinals, the place a win would clearly assist issues. North Carolina beat the Cavaliers 71-63 on Feb. 25, for what it’s price.
A rematch with Duke would solely occur if each groups attain the ACC Championship Recreation. That is loads to ask for a North Carolina squad which has repeatedly did not get off the bottom this season. In Saturday’s house loss to Duke, the Tar Heels fell by a 62-57 rating, the second of two low-scoring video games between the fierce rivals through the present marketing campaign.
For his or her half, the Blue Devils avenged (by levels) their Ultimate 4 loss to UNC final spring by sweeping the season collection whereas holding North Carolina below 60 factors in each video games.
It is the primary time the Tar Heels failed to attain 60 factors in each regular-season video games in opposition to Duke for the reason that 2009-10 season. North Carolina is now in peril of ending a narrative by no means advised earlier than.
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