The final sprint to claim NCAA Tournament bids is in full swing as the countdown to Selection Sunday grows shorter with teams around the country using conference tournaments as a final opportunity to strut their stuff.

Before that colossal matchup between these college basketball blue bloods, the Tar Heels celebrated a big career achievement by North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis, who steered his team to a 68-59 quarterfinals victory on Thursday against the No. 4 seed Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

The North Carolina men’s basketball team believes it is an NCAA Tournament team. The Tar Heels (22-12) have won six of their last seven games and moved onto the right side of the bubble in most projections.

The No. 1 Duke Blue Devils play in the ACC Tournament against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Friday's game is the third meeting of the season between the two teams.

The No. 5 seed North Carolina Tar Heels and No. 1 seed Duke Blue Devils will battle in the ACC Tournament semifinals on Friday in their third matchup of the season—but this one should be a little different.

Analyzing Friday’s North Carolina vs. Duke odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

Ohio State’s out, Xavier’s in, Texas is alive, Vanderbilt should be fine and North Carolina is going to need serious help if it can’t help itself with one of the upsets of the season. Those are the Wednesday men’s basketball happenings that helped shape Thursday’s bracket,