Video: NCAA Selection Committee Explains UNC Making 2025 Men's March Madness Bracket

Following the unveiling of the 68-team field for the NCAA men's basketball tournament on Sunday, many were surprised by the inclusion of UNC following the team's disappointing regular season.

Selection committee member Keith Gill explained the decision to include UNC, telling CBS that UAB's loss to Memphis in the AAC tournament championship on Sunday opened the door for the Tar Heels to make the tournament as one of the First Four.

UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham, who is the head of the selection committee, was out of the room when the decision was made, saying, "All the policies and procedures were followed."

The Tar Heels went 22-13 and lost to rival Duke 74-71 in the ACC tournament semifinals on Friday in heartbreaking fashion when a lane violation wiped out a game-tying free throw. The team lost all three meetings against the Blue Devils this year, falling 87-70 on Feb. 1 and 82-69 on March 8.

Still, UNC remained optimistic that it would earn a spot in the NCAA tournament. The team went 9-3 since its first loss to Duke, so it hoped the selection committee would be impressed by its late-season surge.

"I think we've shown the last couple of weeks that we're a tournament team," RJ Davis said after the loss to Duke in the ACC tournament. "Look at the trajectory of our whole season, the way we dealt with adversity and our perseverance, especially these last couple weeks. You couldn't ask for a better team that goes through all that adversity and criticism and still perseveres. I think that's a tournament team for you right there. That's what March is all about."

UNC will face San Diego State in its First Four matchup on Tuesday. The winner will earn the No. 11 seed in the South Region and take on No. 6 Ole Miss in the Round of 64.