North Carolina’s NCAA Tournament outlook suddenly feels far less secure.

The Tar Heels were already walking a tightrope in the ACC race, and injuries to Henri Veesaar and standout freshman Caleb Wilson have only tightened it. Their absence was glaring in Tuesday’s 82-58 loss to NC State, a performance that exposed just how thin UNC can look without its interior presence and versatile scoring.

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Despite the setback, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi still projects North Carolina as a No. 6 seed in his latest NCAA Tournament bracket. That slot would likely put the Tar Heels on a collision course with a powerhouse such as Kansas in the second round — hardly an ideal path through March Madness.

Ironically, UNC already beat Kansas earlier this season, knocking off the Jayhawks 87-74 in November. Wilson was electric in that game, finishing with 24 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals while shooting 9-of-11 from the field. His two-way impact has been central to Carolina’s success all year.

Now, that production is sidelined. Wilson is dealing with a fractured left hand, and while the program has not announced a definitive return date, there is optimism he could be back before the NCAA Tournament — even if it means playing through discomfort.

Veesaar’s status remains uncertain as well, leaving head coach Hubert Davis scrambling for answers in the frontcourt.

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The concern isn’t just health — it’s trajectory. North Carolina still has Duke, Louisville and Clemson looming on its schedule. A rough finish could easily slide the Tar Heels to a No. 7 or No. 8 seed, creating an even steeper climb in the bracket.

The ACC Tournament now looms large. If UNC wants to stabilize its seeding and regain momentum, it must weather the injury storm quickly. March is unforgiving — and Carolina’s margin for error is shrinking fast.