Why did UNC basketball make the NCAA Tournament, First Four of March Madness?
UNC basketball will be a part of the First Four in Dayton to tip off the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament.
The 11th-seeded Tar Heels (22-13), who face No. 11 San Diego State (21-9) in Ohio, will need to send a thank-you card to Memphis (29-5).
Keith Gill, vice chair of NCAA selection committee, said Memphis beating UAB in the American Athletic Conference Tournament got UNC into the tournament as the last team to earn an at-large bid. Had Memphis lost, UNC would have been out.
Following the reveal of the 68-team Selection Show on CBS, Gill and Bubba Cunningham explained the selection process. Cunningham, UNC's athletics director, is the chair of the NCAA Division I men's basketball committee. Gill said Cunningham recused himself from discussions about the Tar Heels.
Cunningham was asked about UNC's situation by Seth Davis.
"Obviously, I'm going to defer that question to Keith," Cunningham said. "All the policies and procedures were followed. Keith can address exactly how North Carolina was discussed, because I was not in the room for any of that."
UNC, which lost to No. 1 Duke (31-3) in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament, is 36th in the NET rankings and 33rd in KenPom’s metrics. Ultimately, the Tar Heels’ 1-12 record in Quad 1 games wasn’t enough to keep them from earning a bid.
"As the vice chair, I managed all the conversations that we had about North Carolina," Gill said.
"We had quite a few. Our policies require the AD of any school to recuse themselves and actually leave the room for those discussions. They're not allowed to participate in any vote, as well. We followed those. Had lots of discussions about North Carolina. Saturday night, we took our final vote. We voted in four teams in the field on Saturday night. We had a contingency vote, and the contingency vote, that was the last team in the field."
Gill went on to say that contingency vote was "the last team in the field," based on the result of Memphis vs. UAB.
"If Memphis won that game, then that was going to free up a spot in the tournament," Gill said. "And that was going to be North Carolina. If UAB had won, then Memphis was going to be in the tournament, UAB would've been in the tournament and North Carolina would've been the first team out. That process played out today. Memphis won, and that put North Carolina in the field."
The Tar Heels beat UCLA, an NCAA Tournament team, in New York City and had one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the nation. The Tar Heels lacked wins against top-tier teams, but didn't have any bad losses, according to the metrics.
UNC played 10 teams inside the top 25 on KenPom, including games against three of the top seeds in March Madness – Duke, Auburn and Florida. The Tar Heels also passed the eye test by winning eight of their final 10 games.
Fifth-year guard RJ Davis, who helped the Heels get to the 2022 national championship game, will have one more March Madness experience. If the Tar Heels beat the Aztecs, they'll face No. 6 seed Ole Miss (22-11) in a round of 64 game in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Why did North Carolina make March Madness? Tar Heels can thank Memphis for NCAA berth
-
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 - 13h -
Where UNC basketball’s NCAA Tournament resume stands as March Madness arrives
UNC basketball is set to learn its March Madness fate. Here’s where the Tar Heels’ 2025 NCAA Tournament resume stands on Selection Sunday.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
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 - 12h -
Did Indiana make March Madness? Hoosiers miss out on 2025 NCAA Tournament
Did Indiana basketball get into March Madness on Sunday during the NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday bracket reveal show? Here's what to know:Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Did West Virginia make March Madness? Mountaineers miss out on 2025 men's NCAA Tournament
Did West Virginia basketball get into March Madness on Sunday during the NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday bracket reveal show? Here's what to know:Yahoo Sports - 12h -
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 - 2d -
UNC women’s basketball to face Oregon State to open March Madness in 2025 NCAA Tournament
UNC women's basketball has made its fifth straight NCAA Tournament field. See who the Tar Heels face, predictions, updates and more.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
March Madness 2025: Committee reveals official NCAA Tournament bracket seed list from 1-68
A look at how NCAA Men's Basketball Selection Committee ranked the entire tournament fieldCBS Sports - 9h -
NCAA tournament selection metrics used to build March Madness bracket, explained
The men's NCAA Tournament selection committee team sheets have seven metrics for building March Madness bracket. Here's a breakdown of each one.Yahoo Sports - 3d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Rodriguez takes a common sense approach to analytics
West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez believes that analytics have a place in college football. Rodriguez has learned some really beneficial things from looking at the analytics but he doesn’t ...Yahoo Sports - 7m -
Two ESPN experts pick Rams' addition of Davante Adams as the best move of NFL free agency
The Rams made a splash by signing Davante Adams and two ESPN experts say it's the best move any team has made in free agencyYahoo Sports - 11m -
Manchester City need reliable players and not ‘more’ players insists Pep Guardiola in transfer message
Pep Guardiola has sent a clear message of intent to Manchester City’s chief decision makers over the club’s strategy moving forward into the next campaign.City are set to undergo a major squad ove...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong for Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State
Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Lady Vols versus South Florida basketball TV channel, streaming in NCAA Tournament
A look at TV channel and streaming information for the Lady Vols versus South Florida basketball in the NCAA Tournament first round.Yahoo Sports - 16m
More in Sports
-
Rodriguez takes a common sense approach to analytics
West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez believes that analytics have a place in college football. Rodriguez has learned some really beneficial things from looking at the analytics but he doesn’t ...Yahoo Sports - 7m -
Two ESPN experts pick Rams' addition of Davante Adams as the best move of NFL free agency
The Rams made a splash by signing Davante Adams and two ESPN experts say it's the best move any team has made in free agencyYahoo Sports - 11m -
Manchester City need reliable players and not ‘more’ players insists Pep Guardiola in transfer message
Pep Guardiola has sent a clear message of intent to Manchester City’s chief decision makers over the club’s strategy moving forward into the next campaign.City are set to undergo a major squad ove...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Ronald Acuna Jr. says he'll be more careful this season -- but no one believes him
From 40/70 to 40/30? The Braves' 2023 NL MVP is rehabbing with a plan to be stronger -- and healthier.ESPN - 14m -
Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong for Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State
Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.Yahoo Sports - 15m