Jimmy Dykes furious over Joe Lunardi Bracketology update with UNC over Texas: 'There's just no way'

With Boise State’s victory over San Diego State on Friday, the NCAA tournament bubble got much more interesting. That win came after both Texas and North Carolina lost, and ESPN’s Joe Lunardi projected the Tar Heels to be in over the Longhorns in his up-to-date Bracketology.

SEC Network’s Jimmy Dykes didn’t understand the logic, though. He compared the two resumes to make his point and argued the math isn’t there.

Dykes specifically noted the disparity in Quadrant 1 games. North Carolina has a 1-11 record in those matchups while Texas is 7-10. With that in mind, he said he expected to see the Longhorns in the field while the Tar Heels miss out.

“There’s just no way,” Dykes said at the end of Alabama vs. Kentucky. “There’s no way that that will hold up. North Carolina has one Quad 1 win, and 12 Quad 1 losses, if my math is right. You can’t get in just because you played 13 Quad 1 games. You have to beat somebody.

“Joe Lunardi’s great, and maybe he knows something I don’t. I don’t think that will hold up when that bracket’s released on Sunday. How can it?”

Dykes’ broadcast partner Karl Ravech also weighed in, saying Lunardi would present his case for why UNC should be in over Texas. However, he argued the metrics wouldn’t necessarily support it, although Dykes noted Lunardi is simply trying to project the committee’s decision.

“I guarantee you this, he’ll have a case that he will make, which you won’t agree with,” Ravech said. “And the numbers don’t really support it, so it’d be interesting to hear how he will justify it.”

Inside Texas and North Carolina’s resumes

Texas’ resume includes 17 Quadrant 1 games, and the Longhorns have a 7-10 record in such matchups. However, the non-conference strength of schedule ranks 142nd in college basketball, according to ESPN’s BPI. Although they have those seven Quadrant 1 wins and rank 38th in the NET rankings, that non-conference slate – coupled with 15 losses on the season – could be important when it comes time for selection.

As for North Carolina, the Tar Heels rank higher in the NET, checking in at No. 35. UNC’s 22-13 record is also better than Texas’. However, the Tar Heels only have one Quadrant 1 victory, and it came against UCLA in the early part of the non-conference slate.

North Carolina’s non-conference strength of schedule was among the best in the country this year, according to ESPN’s BPI. It ranked fifth in college basketball, which is a counter to the point about its resume this year.

Those comparisons are why Joe Lunardi said it will be important to fully break down Texas and North Carolina. It could take some time after Friday’s games.

“We’re going to have to take a little time and study North Carolina, study Texas, study Indiana and wait for Boise State later on,” Lunardi said after the UNC game. “Those were four of the teams I thought at the start of the day that were playing for two spots.

“And really, probably Texas and North Carolina is the toughest comparison – [UNC] a great schedule, not many wins against the field. Texas, not a good schedule, but plenty of wins. So it’s really a contrast. Do you like chocolate? Do you like vanilla? At this moment, though, I would not want to be North Carolina with a 1-12 record in Quad 1.”