Despite North Carolina losing to a Cooper Flagg-less Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi still has the Tar Heels in the Field of 68 in his latest Bracketology update. Just barely -- as the last of the “Last Four In” while Lunardi has Texas among the “First Four Out.”

North Carolina will have a very stressful 40 or so hours as they await their NCAA Tournament fate. With the chance to really put a stamp on their resume and leave little doubt, the Tar Heels fell short against Duke due to a late-game blunder.

No team with just one Quad 1 win has made the tournament with more than six losses since the term quadrant was introduced in 2017. (NC State got a bid in 2023 with a 1-6 Quad 1 record.) Before that, a team's schedule was divided into four buckets like it is now,

The North Carolina Tar Heels' NCAA Tournament chances hang by a thread after their ACC Tournament semifinals loss to the Duke Blue Devils.

North Carolina men's basketball on Friday night cost itself a chance at an ACC championship—and potentially a ticket to the NCAA tournament. Once trailing rival Duke by 24 points, the Tar Heels stormed back in the second half and had a chance to take the lead with 4.

North Carolina just blew its shot at the ACC Tournament championship game in perhaps the worst way possible. With just 4.1 seconds left in the semifinal matchup against No. 1 seed Duke on Friday, UNC was called for a lane violation on a potential game-tying free throw.