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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels earn 8 seed in 2021 NCAA Tournament

By Zack Pearson

Mar 6, 2021; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels bench reacts toward the end of the game at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2021; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels bench reacts toward the end of the game at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2020-21 college basketball season has been one unlike any other due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty of games on a week-to-week basis. While games were cancelled during the year, the conference tournaments are officially over and it’s time for the real madness to begin.

Following the conclusion of the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis, the selection committee officially revealed the bracket for the 68-team field with their annual special on CBS.

For the North Carolina Tar Heels, they have officially earned an 8-seed in the South region after going 18-10 overall and 10-6 in conference play. UNC will match up against No. 9 Wisconsin on Friday, with the time still to be determined.

The South Region is a tough one that includes No. 1 seeded Baylor, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Arkansas and No. 4 Purdue. Villanova as a No. 5 seed is also an interesting team to watch.

Check out the bracket below:

The Tar Heels have won three of their last four games entering the tournament, including beating Duke and winning their first two games in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Their lone loss in this four-game stretch was a tight one to Florida State in the ACC semifinal on Friday.

Getting a No. 8 seed is actually not terrible for a Tar Heels team that had its struggles this season, although UNC wanted a No. 7 seed.  Just a month ago they found themselves on the bubble and needed to take advantage of some games on their schedule. That included beating Louisville and Florida State on back-to-back Saturdays, and then wrapping it up with a big home win over Duke.

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With UNC playing better of late and showing signs of improvement, they could be a tough out in the tournament. Especially if their bigs continue to dominate, and the guards get better here in March. More importantly, these players are getting some NCAA Tournament experience, which could be huge for future seasons.

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For more on the UNC Basketball program and the upcoming 2021 NCAA Tournament, please make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel.

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