Joe Lunardi Declares His "First Team Out" Quickly  

Categories Categories By Amar Singh By Amar Singh

Times are running out for North Carolina to qualify for the men's NCAA championship.

[{"selector":"#anim-97fd0855-56b6-4058-a6a4-be2f391b66a9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.90624987200394%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3aa7db65-c7b0-4bb0-92a4-0c08da282e9d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1b0e2c3-de8d-49b5-86cc-13f3949fb2a7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86b2071d-eef4-4279-9eb9-993fbca542a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.31788%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9de618e-1c5f-420c-81b2-19b9aabb41ca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-661dd9e9-e026-4700-8556-79b3373c8337","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(90.78947%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-faba5fa6-e7c0-404e-b7fd-07322391ddf6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58816947-77fc-4880-ba87-82d0e36a19ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(77.63158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credit/Google Image Credit/Google

[{"selector":"#anim-6fef4ee1-baf7-43c8-a072-ba25a7b703c7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.735655481246514%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-540752a0-851b-44fa-80bc-1e60f3c5e7b0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a19e400f-a503-446e-ad69-019d7b79db2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf7e646f-c5e3-4529-870f-67d5ceab2ed6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.31788%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-adede843-9356-4728-9f78-657ccd6d4e88","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f7c15166-72ac-45bb-ba14-77488744327e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(90.78947%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-19c8da22-d474-4090-8ca3-cac6ec8c5513","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdffb5a3-45c0-478b-8039-70754f436e1a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(77.63158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The top-ranked team coming into the season dropped to 16-11 after Sunday's defeat by NC State. The Tar Heels are at significant risk of not being invited to March Madness after losing five of their last six games. Image Credit/Google Image Credit/Google

The "first squad out" of the tourney, according to ESPN's Joe Lunardi's most recent Bracketology breakdown, was UNC.

[{"selector":"#anim-bf6ba016-d218-45b0-b622-6d2cb1508bce [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-20.703124822227696%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40d6c961-9b33-4f16-9176-b4226ece1b2f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78072ac1-404b-49dc-af04-9a277f5e8f0e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05feb05e-8ec6-4619-817e-9c191e19f565","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.31788%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-452976f8-20e8-4ce8-963a-1d739e0d5fb5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62c26161-ec28-4975-9f05-04fd2f20b48d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(90.78947%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a674bc77-d42b-48d1-b075-cc54a2387f2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6f34705-0392-48d2-81b1-5c918472357b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(77.63158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credit/Google Image Credit/Google

"The Tar Heels lost the latest 'save their season' game at NC State on Sunday and now carry the burden of an 0-9 Quadrant 1 record into the final two weeks of the schedule," Lunardi wrote.

[{"selector":"#anim-2a24f811-4211-4085-83af-021906009b0d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.179687404002955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e1bfd5e-ed86-44a7-8f39-2c9872d9bc09","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0302b59-9603-4774-9f58-eb92d1830e3b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b7b4be8-37fa-4b7d-abc0-71938c04aac1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.31788%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a18d7d8-03b6-443a-a23b-eb80b1fbda8b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fabcc92a-988f-4ed0-8870-1320fe85d0b2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(90.78947%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab36a134-56f2-4f23-b5c5-c52895467843","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed9b6e21-2060-4e06-b40d-65f928564a96","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(77.63158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credit/Google Image Credit/Google

"UNC sits as 'First Team Out' in this latest bracket update, which is probably generous, and is running out of time to do anything about it."

[{"selector":"#anim-953c6b01-921a-4f3a-8b4e-16476464fdfa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-366c7cbe-913f-45c6-8347-a893a7060882","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d7af46d-0713-4fd3-8414-ca2475bd5737","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d574cac6-ec93-4cab-8719-df53ae1711c4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.31788%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f02ed2c-bc91-4b57-8209-866b1ef17432","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f7c18363-720e-4733-b205-6d6db8eecc7c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(90.78947%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ac5966f-a658-4ab5-96ef-9ee5aef81612","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0952a15-8d06-470a-846d-b6f3b1d1e5c8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(77.63158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credit/Google Image Credit/Google

In order for the Tar Heels to be given an at-large berth, according to Lunardi, they must most likely win "at least three" of their final four contests.

[{"selector":"#anim-61fde4e1-a835-4d52-95a6-2464240278d5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(32.5273436439766%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fdefdaff-616d-42fe-9133-4d3923070083","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76fd1436-7cdf-4724-80a6-21c197868c89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee093a39-b51a-4f2d-b668-871cb7449926","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.31788%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee6ff4a5-15c7-45cd-8176-b0c7bfc5ef54","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b3a44f8-f77d-4e52-9b13-e2482b28b161","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(90.78947%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bbdd976b-09b9-439c-a4f3-e9a1bd17507e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-981da7aa-2735-4c53-9937-1c777412cf19","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(77.63158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credit/Google Image Credit/Google

No preseason No. 1 has ever missed the NCAA tourney, but UNC has a tie for the most defeats of any of them. The five ACC teams in Lunardi's classification do not include the Tar Heels.

[{"selector":"#anim-5fb420ae-f5a7-4fc4-b7bf-dc64f87aee7e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.257324105020174%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e51fb4e5-e3d4-451f-bdf1-fe7dab6d1648","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d25d1ed-354b-4984-a301-4918e081f54d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d182573b-17d0-40cb-adea-296f7b434ca2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.31788%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-494e6e4b-161f-4141-9a70-8e72ad4f2427","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cfbadd66-16e3-47dd-bcd6-f6fbf09af6fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(90.78947%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-751607a6-9bf1-4293-85c4-aad5129a8588","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-acf7dee5-b46a-4761-908f-e03f43fda69d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(77.63158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credit/Google Image Credit/Google

Switch-Pitcher In College Baseball Gains Trending

[{"selector":"#anim-56dbe6ec-c76d-4c90-ab2e-b30205f7764d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8347657a-d630-4e75-b133-417424bec4e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09a3fa64-b50b-43d6-9280-409ad7405fed","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a54a403c-f6cd-4896-bdf8-da34852c162d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.31788%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf37829b-5064-4fed-b7c1-7c0dd2f4a782","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c522a54b-1486-4436-a649-350315bf1b6d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(90.78947%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ac4a3c5-22d6-43f1-990d-574806faa9a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b1281d0-0c12-4a0a-9217-148ced08ec8e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(77.63158%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credit/Google Image Credit/Google Learn more