Perhaps the biggest shock after the men's basketball brackets for the 2025 NCAA Tournament was revealed on Sunday was that the North Carolina Tar Heels were considered one of the “first four” teams to play San Diego State and decide who will be 11th in the Southern Region.
There are major conditions that are not very satisfied with the decision made by the Select Committee.
Social media exploded in backlash after Tar Heel was named as the last team of 68, with support for its vitriol.
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North Carolina's Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis will be making a spectral center response in the second half. (Image of Bob Donnan-Immagn)
UNC was only 1-12 in one quadrant game despite the program's historic pedigree. The Select Committee has decided as the team ranked in the top 30 net (NCAA evaluation tools) (NCAA evaluation tools).
Baba Cunningham, Tar Heels Athletic Director, who also chairs the NCAA Tournament Select Committee, explained the process of advancing to UNC.
“Obviously, I'm going to postpone it to (associate committee chair) Keith (Gill),” Cunningham replied after UNC came in and was asked about it wasn't a conflict of interest. “But all the policies and procedures were followed. Keith can handle exactly how North Carolina was discussed, as I wasn't in that room.”
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“Our policy requires that school ads reject themselves and actually leave the room for those discussions. And they are not allowed to participate in the vote as well. …We voted on four teams on the field on Saturday night.
“An accidental vote, it was the last team on the field. And it was based on the Memphis Oub. If Memphis wins that game, it's going to unlock the tournament spot and it's going to be North Carolina.”
North Carolina's Tar Heels Guard Sestrimble shot will be defended by Duke Blue Devils Guard Theon James in the second half of the Spectrum Center. (Image of Bob Donnan-Immagn)
Despite the responses about why UNC came in, social media commenters weren't wasted time seeing the Tar Heels decision.
“It's probably the worst team ever to get a big bid,” said one X commenter.
Another added, “How did this happen?”
He explained, “1-12 vs. Q1.” “NC State was the best net team ever in 2019 with 33 nets. The reason for this was a 3-9 Q1 record.”
But it wasn't a complete repulsion. Because some have nurtured the Tar Heels' recent game against some of the best teams in the country.
“Like it or not, last month's Tarheels is one of the nation's top 30-40 teams based on current format,” one commenter said. “If you want the biggest quality in a tournament, that's not easy.”
Another one is, “Why are you so angry at UNC having to participate in the NCAA tournament? They were 33rd (Kenpom's rating) and 36th on the net.
UNC finished 22-13, 13-7 overall in ACC play, bounced by the one-seeded Duke Blue Devils in the semi-finals, while winning two games in the ACC tournament.
North Carolina's Tar Heels Guard Sestrimble (Image of Bob Donnan-Immagn)
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Meanwhile, teams like Indiana, West Virginia, Boise State University and Irvine, California, and others, despite having competitive resumes, didn't all appear.
Every year, Bubble teams are heartbroken when names are not called during selection shows. It's a shame about the game, but ultimately the decision is final.
The Tar Heels will play the Aztecs on Tuesday night to decide who the No. 11 seed will be against No. 6 Ole Miss in the South Region.
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