Joe Lunardi: North Carolina a one-seed regardless of ACC Championship result

North Carolina has plenty to play for in the ACC Championship game, wanting to cut down the nets in Washington DC. The program has not won the tournament title since 2016 and would be another box checked off for Hubert Davis. Playing in-state rival NC State certainly adds to the motivation as well.

However, there is a chance Saturday’s game may not mean much big picture. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi says no matter the result vs. NC State, North Carolina will see itself named a one-seed by the committee on Selection Sunday.

“North Carolina will be the fourth No. 1 seed regardless of the ACC Championship game result,” Lunardi said on Saturday night.

Heading into the conference tournaments, North Carolina was going to be competing with Tennessee for the final top seeds. Three programs already had spots locked down, with Houston, Purdue, and UConn all doing enough during the regular season.

At one point, Lunardi even said UNC winning it all in our nation’s capital would have not been enough. Tennessee winning the SEC Tournament would have broken the tie, especially if they had gotten a couple more Quad 1 wins.

“I think it would go in Tennessee’s favor,” Lunardi said. “Because their wins, presumably to get an SEC title, would be of higher quality than North Carolina’s. Particularly with Duke now out of the picture which would be the best win that Carolina could get. Tennessee could get a couple of that level. And then we’re assuming the committee takes into consideration a Sunday afternoon game. And frankly, there have been times where they have not.”

However, Tennessee lost in the quarterfinals to Mississippi State and was sent home early. North Carolina kept on winning and in Lunardi’s eyes, ended any discussion on who will be the fourth one-seed on Sunday evening.

Nothing is official until the bracket is revealed but it’s safe to assume North Carolina is heading out West for the NCAA Tournament. First and second-round games will be played in Charlotte and the Tar Heels will have two potential home games.

But when advancing to the second weekend, fans will have to travel all the way to Los Angeles. Part of the price of being the lowest one-seed, not getting a geographical advantage in the latter stages of the tournament.

North Carolina will take it though, especially if they can get a win against NC State and win the ACC Tournament.