3 reasons why the ACC Tournament bracket doesn't help the UNC basketball program

In their quest to make the NCAA Tournament field, the UNC basketball program is running out of opportunities to prove they belong in the field.
Mar 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA;  Duke Blue Devils guard Sion James (14) with the ball as North Carolina Tar Heels guard Elliot Cadeau (3) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Mar 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Sion James (14) with the ball as North Carolina Tar Heels guard Elliot Cadeau (3) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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Can't dodge Duke before the finals

The lone Quad 1 opportunity the UNC basketball program would have on the top-half of the bracket is a third meeting with rival Duke in the semifinals on Friday night.

Based on how the first two meetings went, the Blue Devils showed they are the better team this season (as painful as that is to type).

Sure, North Carolina hung around with Duke on Saturday night, and, quite frankly, gave them a game for a good stretch. However, this group hasn't proved that they can do that for 40 consecutive minutes, which indicates that the outcome of a third meeting would likely remain the same.

Of course, anything is possible, and let's remember: it's very tough to beat the same team three times in a single season. The goal for the Tar Heels is to win their first two games to get to the semifinals and let the rest play out from there.