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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels among top teams in early 2023 Bracketology

By Nick Delahanty

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 02: Leaky Black #1 of the North Carolina Tar Heels moves the ball against the Duke Blue Devils during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 2, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 02: Leaky Black #1 of the North Carolina Tar Heels moves the ball against the Duke Blue Devils during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 2, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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After being considered a “bubble team” for most of the 2021-2022 season, the UNC basketball program is seeded rather nicely in the early 2022-2023 Bracketology rankings.

Serious question: does Joe Lunardi ever take a break?!

The ESPN college basketball analyst is already looking ahead to the 2022-2023 season, as he’s officially released his first 2023 NCAA Tournament Bracketology rankings for the new season.

For most of the 2021-2022 season, the UNC basketball program was considered a “bubble team,” as there were some analysts (cough, Jerry Palm) that didn’t even think that the Tar Heels belonged in the tournament field!

light. Must Read. 2024 five-star shooting guard talks Tar Heels

Of course, the Tar Heels proved everyone wrong, making their tremendous run to the national title game. That run, along with the players who are already set to return to the program next season, has helped pave the way for a very favorable seeding from Lunardi.

At the current moment, Lunardi views North Carolina as a No. 2 seed. He has the Tar Heels placed in the East Region (which will be held in New York) and has them as the top-rated school coming out of the ACC.

To save you some trouble, we’re sure you’re wondering where Duke is rated. They are just below the Tar Heels, as Lunardi views them as a No. 3 seed coming out of the South Region.

Lunardi has North Carolina taking on No. 15 seed Vermont in the opening round of next year’s tournament. If the bracket breaks down without any major upsets, Lunardi has created a scenario in which the Tar Heels would have a rematch with No. 1 seed Baylor in the Elite Eight.

Of course, a lot will change from now until next March. However, after a year of stressing as to whether or not the Tar Heels would make the tournament, it would be nice to see them perform up to their expectations next season and show that they are easily among one of the top 68 programs in the entire country.

Next. Cam Johnson named Sixth Man of the Year Award finalist. dark

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