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_Basketball pic.twitter.com/MUUa1N97k6
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2025

North Carolina went 1-12 in Q1 games this year.

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
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) March 16, 2025

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.

I'm sorry.
— Made For March (@madeformarch) March 16, 2025

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.

Why does the Selection Committee even stress Quad 1 games if you can go 1-12 in Q1 games and still make it?
— Karl Townes (@Karl_Townes) March 16, 2025

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

Topics

NCAA tournament 2025: Selection committee chaired by North Carolina AD Bubba Cunningham explains how UNC made the field

North Carolina was the last team to make the field as a surprise to many who projected that the Tar Heels would miss the cut.
Yahoo Sports - 3h
Why North Carolina became the NCAA Tournament's most controversial team

North Carolina was among the "last four" into the NCAA Tournament despite going 1-12 vs. the top competition on their schedule.
NBC News - 1h
Michigan basketball earns No. 5 seed in men's NCAA Tournament: Social media reacts

Michigan earned a No. 5 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament despite beating No. 3 seed Wisconsin for the Big Ten championship. Here are social reactions:
Yahoo Sports - 3h
UNC basketball odds to make NCAA Tournament according to FanDuel

The North Carolina Tar Heels are a borderline NCAA Tournament team. FanDuel odds have UNC on the outside looking in, trailing Indiana and Xavier.
Yahoo Sports - 7h
Why did UNC basketball make the NCAA Tournament, First Four of March Madness?

UNC basketball was the last team in the 2025 NCAA Tournament field. After the Selection Show, a member of the selection committee explained why.
Yahoo Sports - 4h
Why did North Carolina make March Madness? NCAA selection committee vice chair Keith Gill explains

How did UNC make NCAA Tournament? NCAA Men's Basketball Vice Chair Keith Gill explains Tar Heels' inclusion in tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 4h
How social media reacted to Iowa basketball firing Fran McCaffery

Here's how Iowa basketball fans reacted across social media to the news that the Hawkeyes had fired head coach Fran McCaffery.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Fans and media explode reacting to Michigan basketball winning Big Ten championship

Social media exploded after Michigan basketball took down Wisconsin to win the Big Ten Tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 5h
Why Indiana basketball missed NCAA Tournament in favor of North Carolina

The selection committee was chaired by North Carolina's athletic director, who recused himself from discussion. Here's the explanation for the Hoosiers missing out.
Yahoo Sports - 4h
Early Sunday morning NCAA Tournament odds not favorable for UNC basketball

The North Carolina Tar Heels need to hope for a bracketology miracle to make the NCAA Tournament. Just look at Bart Torvik's Sunday TourneyCast.
Yahoo Sports - 12h
Social media reactions to Florida's SEC Tournament Quarterfinals win over Missouri

The Gator Nation reacts after Florida basketball's 95-81 win over the Missouri Tigers in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on Friday.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Social media reacts to Alabama's route of Kentucky in SEC Tournament quarterfinals

The Alabama Crimson Tide routed Kentucky on Friday night in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Here are some social media reactions to Alabama's win.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Bracketology: North Carolina, Texas see NCAA Tournament hopes come crashing down after brutal losses

The Tar Heels and Longhorns had every opportunity to make the field of 68 but likely won't now
CBS Sports - 1d
Social media reacts to Wisconsin basketball's win over Northwestern

Wisconsin returned to the win column emphatically on Thursday, defeating Northwestern 70-63 in the second round of the 2025 Big Ten Tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
North Carolina's surprise NCAA tournament berth stunned fans

The North Carolina Tarheels are going dancing, and fans are stunned.
Yahoo Sports - 5h
Several once-highly ranked teams enter conference tournament week in need of wins to make NCAA field

There are 14 teams that were in the preseason AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll that are no longer in the rankings this week
ABC News - 5d
North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament? Not after another wasted opportunity

North Carolina had a prime chance to strengthen its case for March Madness. Instead the Tar Heels crumbled again and should miss the NCAA Tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
UNC women's basketball makes sixth-straight NCAA Tournament with a high seed

The UNC women's basketball team makes its sixth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance as a Three Seed. UNC will host Oregon State on Saturday.
Yahoo Sports - 1h
Reacting to West Virginia being left OUT of the NCAA Tournament

© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Keenan Cummings and Wesley Shoemaker discuss WVU being excluded from the NCAA Tournament field. The Mountaineers finish as the first team out of the Field of 68 ...
Yahoo Sports - 3h
Aggie fans react to Texas A&M earning a 4-seed, taking on 13-seed Yale in March Madness

Selection Sunday has come, leading to social media reacting to 4-seed Texas A&M facing 13-seed Yale in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 1h
The best reactions to Michigan basketball stunning Maryland in Big Ten Tournament

After the stunning victory in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, social media exploded reacting to the Wolverines' victory.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Social Media reacts to Oklahoma Sooners' sweep of Arkansas Razorbacks

The Oklahoma Sooners earned a three-game sweep of Arkansas this weekend, and here's how social media reacted.
Yahoo Sports - 6h
North Carolina game-tying free throw vs. Duke waved off in final seconds after premature lane violation

North Carolina was heartbreakingly close to securing an NCAA Tournament berth
CBS Sports - 1d
Women’s basketball: Gophers left out of NCAA tournament field

Dawn Plitzuweit made her pitch for an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament for her team prior to the Gophers’ a few days before the Gophers started the Big Ten conference tournament. The Big Ten ...
Yahoo Sports - 2h
Your printable NCAA women's bracket 2025: Make your March Madness tournament picks

The 2025 NCAA women's basketball tournament field is set. Print your women's March Madness bracket and make picks here, see the schedule and more.
Yahoo Sports - 2h
Social media reacts to Alabama's loss vs. Florida in SEC Tournament semifinals

The Alabama Crimson Tide fell in the SEC Tournament semifinals Saturday against the Florida Gators. Here are some reactions to the game.
Yahoo Sports - 13h
Michigan State women's basketball draws Harvard in NCAA tournament

Spartans open against No. 10 seed Harvard in North Carolina.
Yahoo Sports - 3h
College basketball bubble watch, bracketology: Which teams will be sweating it on Selection Sunday?

Did North Carolina and Texas do enough in their conference tournaments?
Yahoo Sports - 1d
One analyst believes UNC basketball has over 80 percent chance for NCAA Tournament

The UNC basketball team has an 84.6 percent chance to make the NCAA Tournament, according to Bart Torvik's TourneyCast projections.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Top social media reactions to Florida basketball's blowout of Alabama in SEC Tournament

Take a look at the top reactions to Florida basketball's 104-82 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament Semifinals.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Bracketology Bubble Watch: North Carolina in action, Mountain West trio fight for NCAA Tournament lives

A look at the bubble teams in action during Thursday's conference tournaments, including a double-bubble game
CBS Sports - 3d
Oklahoma Sooners make NCAA Tournament for first time under Porter Moser

The Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team has made the NCAA Tournament for the first time under fourth-year head coach Porter Moser.
Yahoo Sports - 2h
Cal women secure No. 8 seed in NCAA Tournament

Cal is going (big) dancing. The Bears secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday as one of 68 teams to make the field following a 25-8 campaign and 12-6 showing in their first season in ...
Yahoo Sports - 1h
Will UNC basketball make the NCAA Tournament, March Madness bracket?

Following UNC basketball's loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament, the Tar Heels were asked about their chances of making the NCAA Tournament. Here's what they said:
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Duke vs. North Carolina odds, prediction: 2025 ACC Tournament semifinal picks, best bets from proven model

SportsLine's model just revealed its college basketball picks for the North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Duke Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament semifinals on Friday night
CBS Sports - 2d
Watch: Xavier reacts to NCAA tournament bid, First Four matchup with Texas

Xavier will face the Texas team that eliminated the Musketeers from the 2023 NCAA tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 4h
Florida basketball fans, media respond to Gators' SEC Tournament Finals win over Tennessee

After Florida basketball's 86-77 win over the Tennessee Volunteers in the SEC Tournament Finals, Gator Nation responded with elation on social media
Yahoo Sports - 7h
Social media reacts to Wisconsin's frustrating Big Ten Tournament title loss to Michigan

The Wisconsin Badgers fell to the Michigan Wolverines 59-53 in the Big Ten Tournament final on Sunday afternoon.
Yahoo Sports - 5h
Florida gets No. 1 seed in West Region, will open March Madness against Norfolk State

Florida is the No. 1 team in the West Region in its bid to erase last year's early NCAA Tournament exit. The Gators (30-4) will open against No. 16 Norfolk State in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a ...
Yahoo Sports - 4h