Is it too early to start thinking about the NCAA Tournament next year? Some might say yes, but we say heck no and it looks like Joe Lunardi agrees. The ESPN insider just dropped his way-too-early bracketology for next season and he already has North Carolina and Michael Malone as a No. 9 seed.
UNC still in contact with NBA-bound center who Neoklis Avdalas can help land
That alone is disappointing, but it speaks to how there's still plenty of work to get done for Malone in filling out the roster. For this piece, though, that's not what we're highlighting. Instead, the first-round matchup for the Tar Heels per Lunardi's projection has Wisconsin on the other bench.
Why would this matter? Well, it's because the Badgers have suffered some disappointing early exits in recent years and fans are losing patience with Greg Gard. Gard's seat is heating up a bit and a first-round loss could spell the end of his time in Madison. That'd of course be nothing for UNC to worry about.
UNC's hard work to get back to the NCAA Tournament next season begins now
With the NCAA Tournament now expanding to 76 teams, this means there will be no excuses for powerhouse teams to not go dancing. Obviously, Malone is not going to be satisfied in just making the tourney, as he's going to want to make sure his team can go on a deep run in Year 1.
This past season, hearts were broken when the Tar Heels suffered the first-round loss, blowing a massive lead to VCU. That loss ended up being the final nail in the coffin for Hubert Davis' time in Chapel Hill, as he was fired not long after.
Could the same kind of fate be in store for Gard if he faces off against North Carolina next March? That's something that could definitely be in the cards, as the Heels will do everything possible to prevent another first-round exit from being posted.
Terrence Brown, Matt Able and others will be motivated to make sure that doesn't happen as well, which could spell trouble for Wisconsin and Gard. This past season, UW also lost in the first round, with High Point pulling off the stunner. That had plenty of people calling for Gard's job and if yet another loss in the opening round of the tourney gets here, it could lead to him being let go after first being hired for the permanent role way back in 2016.
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