North Carolina dropped the ball again and again, repeatedly blowing opportunities to prove it belonged in the NCAA Tournament.
Still, the selection committee gave the Tar Heels another mulligan.
Despite a disastrous 1-12 mark in Quad 1 games, North Carolina was given the final at-large invitation to the Big Dance, as an 11-seed — the program’s lowest in NCAA Tournament history — and will meet 11-seed San Diego State in Tuesday’s First Four in Dayton.
The controversial choice of the basketball blue blood drew greater scrutiny since North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham served as the committee chair.
However, Cunningham was required to leave the room during all discussions involving the Tar Heels.
“As vice-chair, I managed all the conversations we had about North Carolina, and we had quite a few,” said Keith Gill, the Sun Belt conference commissioner. “Our policies require the AD of any room to recuse themselves and actually leave the room for those discussions and they’re not allowed to participate in the end vote.”
North Carolina and coach Hubert Davis got a controversial March Madness bid. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Ranked ninth entering the season, North Carolina (22-13) closed with eight wins in its final 10 games, but none came against NCAA Tournament participants.
Three losses to non-tournament teams weren’t enough to keep the Tar Heels out of the dance for the second time in three years.
Texas (19-15) was also named as one of the final selections despite tying for the most losses by an at-large team in NCAA Tournament history, cementing their case with seven Quad 1 wins.
The Post has you covered with a printable NCAA bracket featuring the full 68-team March Madness 2025 field.
The inconsistent metrics produced no greater ire than in West Virginia (19-13), Indiana (19-13), Boise State (24-10) and Ohio State (17-15).
The Mountaineers, who had six Quad 1 wins, were the first team out, according to Cunningham.
“They had an outstanding year, but unfortunately knowing Tucker DeVries was hurt, player availability is something that we talk about quite a bit,” the North Carolina athletic director said.
Tar Heels guard Drake Powell (9) with a dunk against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half at Spectrum Center. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
The issue with that reasoning is that West Virginia’s senior guard hasn’t played since December.
Without him, the Mountaineers earned wins over 3-seed Iowa State and 7-seed Kansas, following earlier wins over 8-seed Gonzaga and 4-seed Arizona.
North Carolina’s edge in analytics — 15 spots higher than West Virginia in the NET and 20 spots higher on kenpom.com — may have pushed the Tar Heels across the finish line.
Cunningham couldn’t confirm.
He wasn’t in the room.
North Carolina dropped the ball again and again, repeatedly blowing opportunities to prove it belonged in the NCAA Tournament.
Still, the selection committee gave the Tar Heels another mulligan.
Despite a disastrous 1-12 mark in Quad 1 games, North Carolina was given the final at-large invitation to the Big Dance, as an 11-seed — the program’s lowest in NCAA Tournament history — and will meet 11-seed San Diego State in Tuesday’s First Four in Dayton.
The controversial choice of the basketball blue blood drew greater scrutiny since North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham served as the committee chair.
However, Cunningham was required to leave the room during all discussions involving the Tar Heels.
“As vice-chair, I managed all the conversations we had about North Carolina, and we had quite a few,” said Keith Gill, the Sun Belt conference commissioner. “Our policies require the AD of any room to recuse themselves and actually leave the room for those discussions and they’re not allowed to participate in the end vote.”
North Carolina and coach Hubert Davis got a controversial March Madness bid. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Ranked ninth entering the season, North Carolina (22-13) closed with eight wins in its final 10 games, but none came against NCAA Tournament participants.
Three losses to non-tournament teams weren’t enough to keep the Tar Heels out of the dance for the second time in three years.
Texas (19-15) was also named as one of the final selections despite tying for the most losses by an at-large team in NCAA Tournament history, cementing their case with seven Quad 1 wins.
The Post has you covered with a printable NCAA bracket featuring the full 68-team March Madness 2025 field.
The inconsistent metrics produced no greater ire than in West Virginia (19-13), Indiana (19-13), Boise State (24-10) and Ohio State (17-15).
The Mountaineers, who had six Quad 1 wins, were the first team out, according to Cunningham.
“They had an outstanding year, but unfortunately knowing Tucker DeVries was hurt, player availability is something that we talk about quite a bit,” the North Carolina athletic director said.
Tar Heels guard Drake Powell (9) with a dunk against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half at Spectrum Center. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
The issue with that reasoning is that West Virginia’s senior guard hasn’t played since December.
Without him, the Mountaineers earned wins over 3-seed Iowa State and 7-seed Kansas, following earlier wins over 8-seed Gonzaga and 4-seed Arizona.
North Carolina’s edge in analytics — 15 spots higher than West Virginia in the NET and 20 spots higher on kenpom.com — may have pushed the Tar Heels across the finish line.
Cunningham couldn’t confirm.
He wasn’t in the room.
