Joe Lunardi updates UNC, Texas bubble status for NCAA tournament: 'I would not want to be North Carolina'

Texas and North Carolina entered Friday fighting for their NCAA tournament lives. They were living on the bubble, needing wins to keep their hopes alive of making it to March Madness.

Both teams lost their respective games. Texas fell to Tennessee in the SEC tournament, and UNC dropped a heartbreaker to Duke after nearly erasing a 24-point second-half deficit. Now, they have to wait two days to see what happens on Selection Sunday – and ESPN’s Joe Lunardi updated where things stood after the Tar Heels’ loss.

Texas and North Carolina have vastly different resumes. But that’s what makes them tough to evaluate, especially compared to other bubble teams such as Indiana and Boise State. To Lunardi, though, UNC is in a tough spot heading into the selection show.

“I’ll tell you what, Taylor. I’m not an expert on lane violations that maybe decide NCAA tournament bids,” Lunardi said on the broadcast. “That’s a first for all of us. And 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. 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.”

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.

Suffice to say, there’s going to be plenty of intrigue come Selection Sunday. The NCAA tournament selection show is set for Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.