The North Carolina Tar Heels lack the quality wins needed to make the NCAA Tournament. Joe Lunardi moved UNC to his "First Four Out" in bracketology.

After genuinely consistent selections in the NET era, the committee's decision to include both Texas and North Carolina has stumped our resident Bracketologist.

It's the most wonderful time of the year for ESPN's Joe Lunardi. That's because he's in the lab updating his bracket for the 2025 NCAA Tournament. There were a handful of notable results on Friday that could impact this year's tournament.

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 got into the NCAA Tournament by the skin of its teeth. But make no mistake -- the Tar Heels deserve the berth.

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.

It's going to be an extremely tense Selection Sunday for Hubert Davis and the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program. The Tar Heels are one of the biggest bubble teams heading into the Selection Show on Sunday night.

Joe Lunardi's updated Saturday afternoon bracket projections are out, with a day to go before Selection Sunday.