Despite not being a favorite to win the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, North Carolina Tar Heels were the most talked-about team after the bracket was unveiled. The Tar Heels, known for their rich history with six national championships, had a polarizing season with a 22-13 record and struggled against top opponents in “Quad 1” games. North Carolina did not win the ACC Tournament, relying on the NCAA selection committee, chaired by their athletic director, Bubba Cunningham, to determine their fate. The controversy arose when North Carolina was selected as the last team to make the bracket, leaving out teams like West Virginia, Ohio State, Boise State, and Indiana. Vice-chair Keith Gill assured that all policies for impartiality were followed, with Cunningham recusing himself from discussions involving North Carolina. North Carolina’s spot in the tournament hinged on a contingency vote based on the outcome of the American Athletic Conference championship game between Memphis and UAB. Memphis’ win secured North Carolina’s at-large bid, sparking debate over the team’s worthiness and the optics of their athletic director chairing the selection committee. Despite assurances, West Virginia’s athletic director called it a “terrible tragedy” that his team was left out when comparing their resume against teams like North Carolina that had a weaker record against “Quad 1” competition. Ultimately, North Carolina’s selection prompted discussions about the fairness of the selection process and the criteria used to determine which teams make the tournament.
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