The weekend results could set up a scary Senior Night.
Carolina got a big break when medical protocol allowed the Tar Heels to play Louisville after the Cardinals COVID complications had left them idle for 18 days during which they practiced only nine times.
The 99-54 blowout was clearly a by-product of the Tar Heels playing one of their best games of the season and the ‘Ville being out of physical and basketball shape. The second game of ESPN’s doubleheader was far better and portends an interesting scenario.
After Duke lost star freshman Jalen Johnson, who left the team to prep for the NBA draft, the Blue Devils looked far more cohesive in upsetting seventh-ranked Virginia at Cameron for their third straight win with four games left in the regular season.
Carolina is hanging on to the NCAA tournament bubble, and Duke is on the outside looking in with an 8-6 ACC record but only 10-8 overall. The Blue Devils play Syracuse tonight and Louisville Saturday at home and by running the table could finish 12-6 and 14-8.
Running the table means Duke beating the Tar Heels on Garrison Brooks’ Senior Night on March 6. With four games left, three in the ACC, Carolina just might be playing for an NCAA bid that night. That’s how big Duke’s win over Virginia was.
At this point, it is unlikely that both blue bloods will join Florida State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville and Clemson, all projected for the Big Dance right now. Syracuse could still play its way in by defeating Duke and UNC next Monday night in the Carrier Dome.
Carolina should beat outside foe Marquette Wednesday night to raise its overall record to 15-7. But the Heels conference mark of 8-5 needs to improve, and their last three ACC games start with FSU at home Saturday. That could be the Big Dance-clincher.
The Seminoles are the best team in the ACC and getting better, so another loss to them is more than possible. Carolina will wind up with fewer league games than Duke; the rematch with the Dukies did not look to have NCAA implications a week ago. It does right now.
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