CBB Fans Sound Off On UNC Getting Final Bid in 2025 March Madness Bracket

The North Carolina Tar Heels made the 2025 NCAA tournament by the skin of their proverbial teeth on Sunday, and it was a controversial decision.

UNC got in with the final at-large bid and had a solid 22-13 record on the season, but just a 1-12 record against Quad 1 opponents. According to Jordan Mendoza of USA Today, "Nevada in 2019, Syracuse in 2021 and North Carolina State in 2023 all got at-large bids with just one Quad 1 win" since the NET rankings were introduced before the 2018-19 season.

So it's rare, but not completely unprecedented. That didn't stop the reaction being mostly shock, and anger, at UNC's inclusion in the tournament:

North Carolina's NET ranking (36) was higher than the first four teams let out of the field, and half of its Quad 1 losses were by single-digit points. Should quality losses really count when deciding a team's March Madness credentials, however? Especially when the quality wins are almost entirely lacking?

The NCAA selection committee doesn't have an easy job, but it's tough to find a truly legitimate argument for including North Carolina. Just ask social media.