Despite not being considered likely champions, North Carolina is the most talked-about team in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Tar Heels have a storied history with six national championships, but this season was not one of their best, with a 22-13 record and a polarizing résumé. The team had a 1-12 record against top opponents in Quadrant 1 games, but went 8-0 in Quadrant 2 games and had a tough schedule ranked 25th in the nation. North Carolina’s fate rested on the selection committee, chaired by their athletic director Bubba Cunningham, who assured that he did not participate in discussions about the team’s selection.
The controversy arose when North Carolina was selected as the last team to make the bracket over teams like West Virginia, Ohio State, Boise State, and Indiana, who were left out. Questions were raised about whether North Carolina received an advantage due to their athletic director’s position. The selection committee’s vice-chair clarified that policies require the AD to recuse themselves from discussions and vote.
North Carolina secured their spot through a contingency vote that hinged on the outcome of a conference championship game. Despite the explanations, there was ongoing debate over the team’s worthiness for an at-large bid and the optics of Cunningham chairing the committee. Teams like West Virginia argued that they had better resumes than North Carolina, especially in games against top competition.
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