North Carolina basketball makes NCAA Tournament field as last team in: Social media reacts
After days and weeks of wondering whether it would end up on the right side of the men's NCAA Tournament bubble, one of the most historically decorated teams in men’s college basketball heard its name called on Selection Sunday.
The fact it did, though, has generated some controversy.
North Carolina was among the most debated teams heading into the NCAA Tournament selection show, with 22 wins and the pedigree of being one of the sport’s blue bloods.
Coach Hubert Davis’ team ultimately didn’t have to wait long to learn its fate, with the Tar Heels’ name showing up on the 68-team bracket in the first region that was revealed on CBS’ selection show. North Carolina will head to Dayton, Ohio to take on fellow No. 11 seed San Diego State in the First Four, with the winner advancing to face No. 6 seed Ole Miss in the tournament’s first round.
It’s a silver lining for a North Carolina program that has suffered through a disappointing 2024-25 season. After coming into the season No. 10 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll after earning a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels limped to a 14-11 start, but caught fire to end the season, winning eight of their final 10 games, with the only two losses coming to No. 1 Duke.
Like many bubble teams, though, there were plenty of holes to find on their resume.
North Carolina went just 1-12 in Quadrant One games. While it stacked up some wins late in the final month of the season, none of its eight victories since Feb. 15 have come against a team ranked in the top 65 of the NCAA’s NET rankings.
Adding to whatever anger, frustration and shock there was over North Carolina’s making the field is that the chair of the NCAA Tournament selection committee was Tar Heels athletic director Bubba Cunningham. While it could understandably be viewed as a conflict of interest, Cunningham was unable to be in the room while North Carolina was being discussed.
This year marks the 19th time the Tar Heels have made the NCAA Tournament the past 21 times the event was held.
UNC basketball makes NCAA Tournament: Social media reactions
North Carolina is DANCING! #MarchMadness@UNC_Basketballpic.twitter.com/MUUa1N97k6
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2025
North Carolina went 1-12 in Q1 games this year.
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) March 16, 2025
They were considered to be on the bubble.
Their Athletic Director is the head of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee.
They made the tournament.
🤔 pic.twitter.com/gDwQWg2E9p
NORTH CAROLINA GOT IN? pic.twitter.com/oscqGnTbfE
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) March 16, 2025
America seeing North Carolina in pic.twitter.com/azJgh0nJD6
— Cyclone Dave (@CycloneDave69) March 16, 2025
Whether North Carolina should be in or not is a good debate. Their AD is the chairman of the selection committee but cannot be in the room when the Tar Heels are discussed. But it’s human nature that it doesn’t hurt UNC’s chances when other members of the committee have spent so…
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) March 16, 2025
Last year, teams like St. John's and Seton Hall didn't get in because they didn't have enough good wins. This year, North Carolina gets in despite having basically zero quality. It's a moving target. Too much inconsistency.
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) March 16, 2025
North Carolina’s AD who heads the selection committee putting them in the tourney pic.twitter.com/JbFF8K9JTR
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 16, 2025
North Carolina seeing they got in pic.twitter.com/j1u2Cg7zDT
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) March 16, 2025
North Carolina had eleven (11) opportunities to play teams that are in this tournament. It won one (1) time, in December. It has four losses to teams that didn't get in. Sure, put them in the field.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 16, 2025
North Carolina getting into the tournament is awful.
— Made For March (@madeformarch) March 16, 2025
I'm sorry.
North Carolina sneaking into the bracket pic.twitter.com/O7hY5yu6wg
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) March 16, 2025
NORTH CAROLINA IS IN. What a dreadful choice to include them. Just awful.
— Sean Paul (@SeanPaulCBB) March 16, 2025
You cant punish Louisville and give them an 8 seed for playing in a depleted ACC and at the same time let North Carolina in.
— Karl Townes (@Karl_Townes) March 16, 2025
Why does the Selection Committee even stress Quad 1 games if you can go 1-12 in Q1 games and still make it?
What a joke that North Carolina got in with only one quad one win. Ridiculous.
— Larry Glover Live (@larrygloverlive) March 16, 2025
Prior to this season, the Tar Heels had never received lower than a No. 8 seed to the NCAA Tournament.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UNC makes NCAA Tournament field as last team in: Social reactions
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