North Carolina's NCAA Tournament Bid Sparks Social Media Firestorm

The announcement of the 2025 NCAA Tournament men’s basketball bracket on Sunday threw a curveball, with the North Carolina Tar Heels landing as one of the "First Four" teams. They’ll face San Diego State to fight for the No. 11 seed in the South Region.

Fans and critics alike didn’t hold back their opinions on social media, dubbing UNC’s inclusion as one of the most questionable decisions in recent tournament history. The Tar Heels, despite their storied legacy, posted a dismal 1-12 record in Quadrant 1 games—a key metric used by the NCAA to evaluate team performance. For context, Quadrant 1 games are contests against highly-ranked opponents, either at home, on neutral grounds, or away.

UNC’s athletic director, Bubba Cunningham, who also chairs the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, addressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest. "Obviously, I’m going to defer that to [vice committee chair] Keith [Gill]," Cunningham stated, emphasizing that he had recused himself from discussions involving UNC. Gill backed this up, explaining that policies require athletic directors from affected schools to leave the room and abstain from voting on such decisions. According to Gill, UNC’s spot was finalized following Memphis’ win over UAB, which freed up a slot for the Tar Heels.

But social media didn’t take the explanation at face value. One commenter on X (formerly Twitter) called UNC “maybe the worst team ever to get an at-large bid.” Another asked the question on everyone’s mind: "How did this even happen??" Others pointed out UNC’s record compared unfavorably to past omissions, including NC State’s exclusion in 2019 despite a stronger resume.

Not everyone was critical, though. Some argued the Tar Heels have shown improvement over the past month, ranking among the top 30-40 teams in the country in terms of current form. "If you want the maximum quality in the tourney, it’s a no-brainer," one supporter argued.

UNC’s overall record of 22-13 and their 13-7 performance in ACC play were enough to edge out other bubble teams like Indiana, West Virginia, and Boise State. But those teams, left out despite competitive resumes, might have a bone to pick with the selection committee.

The Tar Heels now face a must-win game against the San Diego State Aztecs on Tuesday night. The winner will claim the No. 11 seed and move on to face No. 6 Ole Miss in the South Region. For UNC, a proud program with a massive fan base, the stakes couldn’t be higher.