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The Tar Heels are going dancing, but the college basketball world seemed more than shocked by the news — and wondering if perhaps some favoritism may have been involved.
While North Carolina was predicted to be on the bubble – at best – to make the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels were selected to compete in March Madness this year ahead of some teams that fans believed were more deserving.
To add to the matter, the tournament selection committee was chaired by North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham, creating more anger among college hoops fans.
“Whether North Carolina should be in or not is a good debate. Their AD is the chairman of the selection committee but cannot be in the room when the Tar Heels are discussed,” ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla tweeted. “But it’s human nature that it doesn’t hurt UNC’s chances when other members of the committee have spent so much time with him. Not criticizing it but just pointing it out.”
Some noted how Cunningham also benefits finanically from the Tar Heels making the tournament and even more if they make a long run.
Cunningham’s contract calls for him to receive a one month (8.33 percent) bonus of his yearly salary — which is $814,868 — should North Carolina make the tournament, per Inside Carolina.
That would total $67,905.67.
It also includes bonuses maxed at $100,000 should the Tar Heels in the national title, while he’ll reportedly reach $75,000 for a Final Four run and $50,000 for a Sweet 16 bid.
Former Indiana coach Dan Dakich railed against the financial aspect while citing a monetary figure that seemingly combines Cunngingham’s salary and longtime incentive compensation.
“This is simply a ridiculous conflict – Bubba Cunningham gets over $104,000 for UNC making the NCAA Tournament and HE’S THE HEAD OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE!!!” he posted.
The Cunningham factor adds to an already controversial pick when based just on resume.
The Tar Heels went 22-13 but tallied just one win against Quad 1 opponents.
They entered Selection Sunday with a NET Ranking of 36, sat 33rd in KenPom and they had the 42nd-ranked strength of schedule.
“All we hear is talk about the importance of QUAD 1 wins – UNC in Quad 1 tough games was 1-12 .Don’t you have to win a couple . @UNC_Basketball passes my eye test but I don’t want to hear the committee talk about how vital QUAD 1 wins are . Obviously not for all teams I feel @WVUhoops got a raw deal,” legendary college basketball analyst Dick Vitale commented on X.
“UNC’s athletic director is chair of the selection committee. The Tar Heels are gifted a spot, and West Virginia gets screwed as a result. Fun stuff,” another person commented on social media.
“I’m sorry but North Carolina is in?? Their AD is the Chair of the Selection Committee….. That’s wrong imo,” a third person commented.
“North Carolina getting into the tournament is awful. I’m sorry,” another user chimed in.
During an interview on the CBS broadcast of the NCAA Tournament selection show, Cunningham and selection committee vice chair Keith Gill both said that the North Carolina AD was not part of the conversations about the Tar Heels making the tournament.
“As the vice chair, I managed all the conversations that we had about North Carolina, and we had quite a few,” Gill said. “Our policies require the AD of any school to recuse themselves and actually leave the room for those discussions. And they’re not allowed to participate in any vote as well.”
Gill also revealed during that interview that North Carolina wouldn’t have made the big dance had Memphis lost the AAC championship game.
The 11th-seeded Tar Heels will face fellow No. 11 seed San Diego State in the First Four matchup on Tuesday at 9:10 p.m. ET, with the winner facing No. 6 Ole Miss in the East regional.
“Saturday night, we took our final vote. We voted in four teams in the field on Saturday night, and we had a contingency vote. The contingency vote — that was the last team in the field. And it was based on Memphis and UAB,” he said. “If Memphis won that game, then that was gonna free up a spot in the tournament and that was gonna be North Carolina. If UAB had won, then Memphis was gonna be in the tournament, UAB would have been in the tournament and North Carolina would’ve been the first team out.”
