Latest 2026 bracketology projects UNC basketball to face familiar foe in NCAA Tournament
The North Carolina Tar Heels' basketball program is looking to avoid what happened in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
After barely getting into the tournament, UNC beat San Diego State in the first four before falling to Ole Miss in the opening round. Season-long issues then resurfaced in the Tar Heels' loss to the Rebels and this past offseason saw an overhaul of the roster.
In Joe Lunardi's latest round of 2026 bracketology, UNC earns a six seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. North Carolina is projected to a familiar opponent, 11-seed San Diego State, who advances via winning a First Four matchup.
If this actual matchup takes place, Lunardi will cement himself as the top bracketologist in college basketball history (not that he already isn't). Lunardi might anger fans occasionally, but he's pretty accurate.
Whereas the Tar Heels carried a guard-heavy roster last year, their upcoming roster will be post-heavy. UNC will carry 7-footers Henri Veesaar and Ivan Matlekovic at center, plus 6'11" Jarin Stevenson and 6'9" Caleb Wilson at power forward.
Senior Seth Trimble and Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans will hold down the North Carolina backcourt, with freshman Derek Dixon and Virginia Tech transfer Jaydon Young behind them.
If the Tar Heels make a deep run into the NCAA Tournament, Hubert Davis won't have to worry about his job security. UNC's roster is much deeper this coming season, despite plenty of new players, but that depth needs to be proven during non-conference gameplay.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
And then there were 6: Browns signing Tyler Huntley due to injuries at quarterback, AP source says
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns' crowded quarterback competition will add one more due to injuries. The Browns are signing Tyler Huntley, a person close to the situation said Monday night. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move has not been announced. The Browns will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday to take part in joint workouts with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday and a preseason game Friday night. Huntley will become the the sixth quarterback on the Browns roster. Joe Flacco is in the lead to start the Sept. 7 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, but faces competition from Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Deshaun Watson is on the physically unable to perform list, but was listed fifth on the first depth chart released on Monday. Watson is expected to miss the entire season due to two Achilles injuries. However, the Browns are lacking healthy QBs at the moment. Pickett and Gabriel are dealing with hamstring injuries while Sanders sat out the Aug. 2 practice due to a sore arm. Pickett and Gabriel participated in individual drills Monday, but are questionable to do any team drills the rest of the week. Coach Kevin Stefanski would like to have Flacco go in the joint practice but sit him out of the preseason game. Barring any other injuries, that would make Sanders and Huntley the quarterbacks for Friday night's game. 'Injuries are a part of this game. They're frustrating from the standpoint of when you lose a guy for a good amount of time you feel, that's tough on the players. But the dealing with injuries, adjusting because injuries, that's just part of the game," Stefanski said before Monday's practice. Huntley was with the Browns during the preseason last year, completing 37 of 51 passes for 322 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions and a 92.1 passer rating before being released. He signed with Baltimore's practice squad before being claimed by the Miami Dolphins before Week 3. Huntley started five games for the Dolphins, including Week 17 at Cleveland when he was 22 of 26 for 225 yards and a touchdown in Miami's 20-3 victory. In five NFL seasons with Baltimore and Miami, Huntley has appeared in 25 games and made 14 starts. ___ AP NFL: Joe Reedy, The Associated Press
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
And then there were 6: Browns signing Tyler Huntley due to injuries at quarterback, AP source says
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns' crowded quarterback competition will add one more due to injuries. The Browns are signing Tyler Huntley, a person close to the situation said Monday night. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move has not been announced. The Browns will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday to take part in joint workouts with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday and a preseason game Friday night. Huntley will become the the sixth quarterback on the Browns roster. Joe Flacco is in the lead to start the Sept. 7 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, but faces competition from Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Deshaun Watson is on the physically unable to perform list, but was listed fifth on the first depth chart released on Monday. Watson is expected to miss the entire season due to two Achilles injuries. However, the Browns are lacking healthy QBs at the moment. Pickett and Gabriel are dealing with hamstring injuries while Sanders sat out the Aug. 2 practice due to a sore arm. Pickett and Gabriel participated in individual drills Monday, but are questionable to do any team drills the rest of the week. Coach Kevin Stefanski would like to have Flacco go in the joint practice but sit him out of the preseason game. Barring any other injuries, that would make Sanders and Huntley the quarterbacks for Friday night's game. 'Injuries are a part of this game. They're frustrating from the standpoint of when you lose a guy for a good amount of time you feel, that's tough on the players. But the dealing with injuries, adjusting because injuries, that's just part of the game," Stefanski said before Monday's practice. Huntley was with the Browns during the preseason last year, completing 37 of 51 passes for 322 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions and a 92.1 passer rating before being released. He signed with Baltimore's practice squad before being claimed by the Miami Dolphins before Week 3. Huntley started five games for the Dolphins, including Week 17 at Cleveland when he was 22 of 26 for 225 yards and a touchdown in Miami's 20-3 victory. In five NFL seasons with Baltimore and Miami, Huntley has appeared in 25 games and made 14 starts. ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
And then there were 6: Browns signing Tyler Huntley due to injuries at quarterback, AP source says
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns' crowded quarterback competition will add one more due to injuries. The Browns are signing Tyler Huntley, a person close to the situation said Monday night. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move has not been announced. The Browns will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday to take part in joint workouts with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday and a preseason game Friday night. Huntley will become the the sixth quarterback on the Browns roster. Joe Flacco is in the lead to start the Sept. 7 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, but faces competition from Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Deshaun Watson is on the physically unable to perform list, but was listed fifth on the first depth chart released on Monday. Watson is expected to miss the entire season due to two Achilles injuries. However, the Browns are lacking healthy QBs at the moment. Pickett and Gabriel are dealing with hamstring injuries while Sanders sat out the Aug. 2 practice due to a sore arm. Pickett and Gabriel participated in individual drills Monday, but are questionable to do any team drills the rest of the week. Coach Kevin Stefanski would like to have Flacco go in the joint practice but sit him out of the preseason game. Barring any other injuries, that would make Sanders and Huntley the quarterbacks for Friday night's game. 'Injuries are a part of this game. They're frustrating from the standpoint of when you lose a guy for a good amount of time you feel, that's tough on the players. But the dealing with injuries, adjusting because injuries, that's just part of the game,' Stefanski said before Monday's practice. Huntley was with the Browns during the preseason last year, completing 37 of 51 passes for 322 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions and a 92.1 passer rating before being released. He signed with Baltimore's practice squad before being claimed by the Miami Dolphins before Week 3. Huntley started five games for the Dolphins, including Week 17 at Cleveland when he was 22 of 26 for 225 yards and a touchdown in Miami's 20-3 victory. In five NFL seasons with Baltimore and Miami, Huntley has appeared in 25 games and made 14 starts. ___ AP NFL:
