Mar 16, 2025 - News

UNC sneaks into the NCAA Tournament, Duke earns a No. 1 seed

Zachery Eanes

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 14: Caleb Foster #1 of the Duke Blue Devils brings the ball up court while guarded by Drake Powell #9 of the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half during the semifinal round of the ACC men's basketball tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2025 in Charlott — Duke's Caleb Foster, No. 1, guarded by UNC's Drake Powell, No. 9, during the semifinal round of the ACC men's basketball tournament. Photo: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

The North Carolina Tar Heels squeaked into the NCAA Tournament, grabbing an 11-seed and a spot in the play-in game against San Diego State.

Duke, the winners of the ACC Tournament, received a No. 1 seed in the East Region.

Why it matters: North Carolina's appearance in the tournament was not a given, with many experts pointing to their weak showing against elite teams this season.

Duke's No. 1 seed will mean they get to play in Raleigh on Friday against the winner of American versus Mount St. Mary's.

Here's which North Carolina schools will be competing in the NCAA Tournament:

Men's tournament

😈 Duke: Duke earned the No. 1 seed in the East Region and will take on the winner of American versus Mount St. Mary's in the No. 16 play-in game.

🐏 UNC: The No. 11 Tar Heels will play No. 11 San Diego State in Dayton on Tuesday. The winner of that game will go on to play No. 6 Ole Miss in the South Region in Milwaukee on Friday.

🌊 UNC-Wilmington: The Seahawks got the No. 14 seed in the West Region and will play No. 3 Texas Tech in Wichita, Kansas, on Thursday.

🟣 High Point: High Point got the No. 13 seed in the Midwest Region and will play No. 4 Purdue in Rhode Island on Thursday.

Women's tournament

North Carolina schools were also well represented in the women's NCAA Tournament, and the Triangle's three ACC schools will get to host their opening games.

🐺 N.C. State: The Wolfpack got the No. 2 seed in Region 1 and will host No. 15 Vermont in Raleigh on Saturday.

😈 Duke: The Blue Devils received the No. 2 seed in Region 2 and will welcome No. 15 Lehigh to Durham on Friday.

🐏 UNC: The Tar Heels will be the No. 3 in Region 2 and play No. 14 Oregon State in Chapel Hill.

🟡 UNC-Greensboro: The No. 16 Spartans will travel to Los Angeles to play No. 1 Southern California in Region 4.

🟣 High Point: The No. 16 Panthers will pay No. 16 William & Mary in the play-in game for Region 3 for a chance to take on No. 1 Texas.

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UNC sneaks into the NCAA Tournament, Duke earns a No. 1 seed

Men's tournament

Women's tournament

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