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NBC Sports
18-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
North Carolina's Inclusion in Men's Basketball Tournament is an Optics Problem for the NCAA
Selection Sunday wouldn't be what it is without its snubs. Sure, we'd probably still all tune in to see the four No. 1 seeds and which potential Cinderella teams have the most advantageous matchups. But what we really want is to see which bubble teams sneak in and which ones get left out. Even in the least divisive years, there's usually at least one semi-debatable inclusion or a seeding issue that seems worth discussing. And then there are some years, like this one, that result in a full-blown controversy — one that could have been easily avoided. North Carolina was the very last team into the 68-team field despite its paltry 1-12 record in Quad 1 games, which were its most challenging games. More than 77 percent of bracketologists tracked by the Bracket Matrix had the Tar Heels on the outside looking in. Almost all of the bracketologists had West Virginia safely in the field, and the Mountaineers ended up as the first team out. The problem — the piece of the puzzle that turned an ordinary snub into a full-fledged controversy — was that the chairman of the selection committee was UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham. It's a terrible look, no matter what the NCAA and the involved parties say. Cunningham explained multiple times on Sunday that the policies and procedures of the Division I men's basketball committee prevent the athletic director of a school from being in the room while the group discusses his or her school. Cunningham said that was the case all week when this year's committee discussed North Carolina. He made the rounds for interviews on Sunday night alongside Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill, the vice chair of the committee, so Gill could answer questions about the Tar Heels' inclusion. I am sure Cunningham followed those rules. I am also sure everyone remaining in the room believed they were evaluating all the bubble teams fairly. But the optics mattered here, and they were bad. Optics matter when the NCAA relies on subjectivity and uses a closed-door selection process to determine its field. We, the public, have to believe that teams were chosen, seeded and bracketed fairly, and that each member of the committee did his or her job with integrity. Again, I have no doubt in my mind that everyone on this particular committee checked all of those boxes. But there's a reason conflicts of interest are often defined as being real or apparent. It's just as bad to give anyone the impression that someone is receiving favorable treatment. Cunningham was asked about these apparent conflicts of interest, not just for him in this isolated incident but also for other athletic directors and conference commissioners that serve on these types of committees. 'It weighed on me a lot,' Cunningham said. 'I will say that it also weighs on commissioners and it weighs on other ADs when it comes to seeding. With a commissioner that would have multiple teams that are under consideration, they're hoping their teams get in. It does weigh on you. You have a personal, professional responsibility at your institution. You're part of a committee of 12 that represent the membership. 'I think people recognize that and honor it. Quite honestly, I think you can sometimes say less in any setting because you want to make sure that you don't even get up to that line of integrity. I think that's just part of what we have to work through, the way the committee is designed.' That's the problem, though. And it's one that is easily avoidable — if the NCAA and its schools cared to change how they pick teams for their championship events, especially with one worth as much as March Madness is. The NCAA (and the College Football Playoff) should not have sitting athletic directors or current conference commissioners as members of their selection committees. I understand that these are prestigious assignments. I get that there are only so many retired players or coaches to fill out the roster. But we cannot and should not start the best week of the year with tinfoil hats on and pitchforks out. That's precisely what happens when you have apparent conflicts of interest. You always run this risk. And it doesn't help matters that the grandstanding governor of West Virginia called a press conference on Monday to call the snub of the Mountaineers (owners of six Quad 1 wins) a 'miscarriage of justice and robbery at the highest levels.' It doesn't help, either, that Cunningham's contract at North Carolina includes a bonus for NCAA basketball tournament participation — an extra $67,905 per team that qualifies. (The UNC women earned a No. 3 seed in the women's tournament, so Cunningham receives the same bonus tied to their inclusion as well.) On Monday, I asked NCAA president Charlie Baker what he made of the controversy and the larger topic of ADs and commissioners serving on these selection committees. He told me that there are always debates and discussions about the teams at the margins. 'It's been going on forever,' Baker told NBC Sports. 'It's actually one of the reasons why I think if we can come up with a way to make the math work and the geography and the logistics work on expanding the tournament from 68 to 76 (teams), I think it's a conversation worth having. 'The bigger we can make the field going in, the less likely it is that it's going to sting as much as it does (to be left out). It probably still will, I suppose, on some level, but it may sting less than it does today.' Baker brought up the exclusion of Indiana State and Seton Hall last year, the biggest snubs last Selection Sunday. 'It's inherent in the process,' Baker said, adding that the ground rules, procedures and policies involved in the selection committees underscore how seriously the members take their roles and responsibilities. And they do. I know plenty of administrators who have served on this very committee over the years. That's not the issue. The problem is what it looks like. It looks like a bunch of committee members did their buddy a solid by picking his team to make the field even though that team played poorly in all but one of their biggest games. It's very hard to gain the public's trust and, unfortunately, all too easy to lose it. What this all looks like is the concern — and I certainly hope the NCAA spends some time thinking seriously about how to fix it. Brad Thomas and Vaughn Dalzell analyze the West Region of the NCAA Tournament, both discussing why they like St. John's to advance to the Final Four over No. 1 seed Florida. Brad Thomas and Vaughn Dalzel weigh in on the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament, highlighting both Gonzaga and Clemson as teams that could surprise in March.
USA Today
16-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Bracket Matrix has UNC basketball in FINAL projections
Where Bracket Matrix has UNC basketball in FINAL projections The North Carolina Tar Heels will soon learn their fate in terms of the 2025 NCAA Tournament as Selection Sunday is finally here. After losing to Duke on Friday night, the Tar Heel's chances at making the tournament took a huge hit. Fast forward to today where the final mock brackets are coming in and it's not great news for the Tar Heels. Per Bracket Matrix, a site that takes numerous brackets and puts it into a consensus, the Tar Heels are likely not going to the NCAA Tournament. The site has North Carolina in 27 brackets but are listed as the third team out overall on average. That's not good. Now, Bracketologists do NOT pick who goes to the tournament as that is the selection committee so there might be hope for a surprise. But at this stage, I wouldn't get my hopes up for North Carolina and they have no one to blame except themselves. UNC's one Quad 1 win is the biggest blemish on their resume and in the end, it's likely going to cost them a spot in the field of 68 for next week. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Can Tennessee be No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament? Vols' chances after win vs Auburn
Tennessee has a proud men's basketball history, with more than two dozen NCAA Tournament appearances to its name. This year, though, the Vols could accomplish something they've never done before. With a 70-65 victory Saturday against Auburn in the semifinals of the men's SEC tournament in Nashville, Tennessee advanced to Sunday's conference championship game, where it will face off against either Florida or Alabama. REQUIRED READING: NCAA Tournament bubble gets major shakeup in Bracketology days before March Madness The win improved the Vols' record to 27-6 and, perhaps more than that, kept it in the conversation for what would be a historic feat for the program: earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, something that Tennessee has never done before. Where does coach Rick Barnes' team stand in that effort? Here's a closer look at the Vols' candidacy for a No. 1 seed: With the victory against Auburn, Tennessee kept its hopes of earning a spot on the top line of the NCAA Tournament bracket alive. Entering the day, the Vols were widely projected as a No. 2 seed, including by ESPN, CBS Sports and Fox Sports. USA TODAY Sports' latest bracketology also has them as a No. 2 seed, facing off against Robert Morris in the first round. Bracket Matrix, a website that compiles and averages the seeding of dozens of mock brackets, had Tennessee as the second No. 2 seed, behind Alabama. Saturday's triumph could change that. Tennessee now has 11 Quadrant One wins, tied for the fourth-most of any Division I team. It also doesn't have any bad losses that could thwart its hopes for a No. 1 seed, with no defeats outside of that first quadrant. The Vols came into the weekend as the No. 6 team in the NCAA's NET rankings. Auburn, at 28-5 and No. 2 in the latest NCAA NET rankings, is unlikely to fall from the No. 1 seed line after spending the majority of the season as the No. 1 team in the major national polls. Nor is Duke, which is 30-3 heading into Saturday's ACC championship game against Louisville. Even if the Blue Devils lose, the NCAA Tournament selection would likely take into account that they played without injured star Cooper Flagg, which would probably be enough to keep them as a No. 1 seed. If Houston, at 29-4 and No. 3 in the NET, beats Arizona in Saturday's Big 12 championship game, it will lock up a No. 1 seed, as well. If the Cougars lose, it could open up an opportunity for the Vols or another SEC team. Tennessee's main competition for a No. 1 seed can be found in its own conference, with Alabama and Florida also vying for that fourth and final available top seed (presuming favorites win elsewhere in other major conference tournaments). The other SEC semifinal between the Crimson Tide and Gators could serve as an elimination game for a No. 1 seed, with the loser ending up as a No. 2 seed. That same logic would likely apply to the SEC championship game, with the victor earning a No. 1 seed and the loser being a No. 2 seed. REQUIRED READING: Tennessee basketball won't be a No. 1 seed in March Madness bracket, Joe Lunardi predicts Here's a look at where the Vols rank in the major metrics used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee when picking and seeding squads for the 68-team field. Some of these metrics, like the NET, haven't yet taken the win against Auburn into consideration. NET ranking: 6 KenPom ranking: 5 Torvik ranking: 6 KPI ranking: 5 Wins above bubble ranking: 5 Strength of record ranking: 7 BPI ranking: 6 Quad One record: 11-6 This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee case for No. 1 seed: What to know after Vols' win vs Auburn
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Illinois plays through a demanding stretch with a virus hindering multiple players
MADISON, Wis. — Illinois wasn't showing any hard feelings toward its opponent when it declined to participate in a postgame handshake. As several players deal with a virus, the Fighting Illini just wanted to make sure they didn't spread germs while congratulating Wisconsin after losing 95-74 to the 11th-ranked Badgers. 'They don't need this,' Illinois coach Brad Underwood said after the game. 'In 38 years (as a head coach and assistant), I've never seen anything like what's gone through our team.' Illinois (17-10, 9-8) remains in good position to earn a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. The Illini are a projected No. 6 seed, according to Bracket Matrix. 'We're going to survive,' Underwood said. 'We're going to be fine. We're a really good basketball team. We've proved that.' But the Illini are dealing with all sorts of setbacks on and off the court as they face the most demanding part of their schedule. Freshman forward Morez Johnson Jr. broke his wrist while blocking a shot in a 79-65 loss to No. 14 Michigan State, but most of the Illini's roster issues are due to illness rather than injury. Tomislav Ivisic, the Illini's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, came off the bench for the first time all season as he tried to play while sick. Underwood said Ivisic didn't travel with the team, instead driving to Wisconsin on his own. Ivisic finished with seven points and three rebounds in 21 minutes. He already dealt with mononucleosis and an ankle injury earlier this year, severely limiting his practice time. Underwood said reserve forward Jake Davis wanted to play but got sick after pregame warmups. 'We don't know who we have from day to day,' Underwood said. 'I didn't know who I was starting today.' Illinois' leading scorer was Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, who was sick earlier this month. After going scoreless and playing a total of 14 minutes in the three games leading up to this one, Gibbs-Lawhorn had 17 points and five assists against Wisconsin. 'Right now we're going through a stretch that's difficult,' said forward Ben Humrichous, who scored 13 points. 'But we're a good basketball team, and we know it.' The stretch isn't getting any easier. Illinois takes a break from Big Ten competition and heads to New York to face No. 3 Duke at Madison Square Garden. 'It's David playing Goliath in the next one,' Underwood said. 'We're going to show up and we're going to fight.'
NBC Sports
19-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Illinois plays through a demanding stretch with a virus hindering multiple players
MADISON, Wis. — Illinois wasn't showing any hard feelings toward its opponent when it declined to participate in a postgame handshake. As several players deal with a virus, the Fighting Illini just wanted to make sure they didn't spread germs while congratulating Wisconsin after losing 95-74 to the 11th-ranked Badgers. 'They don't need this,' Illinois coach Brad Underwood said after the game. 'In 38 years (as a head coach and assistant), I've never seen anything like what's gone through our team.' Illinois (17-10, 9-8) remains in good position to earn a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. The Illini are a projected No. 6 seed, according to Bracket Matrix. 'We're going to survive,' Underwood said. 'We're going to be fine. We're a really good basketball team. We've proved that.' But the Illini are dealing with all sorts of setbacks on and off the court as they face the most demanding part of their schedule. Freshman forward Morez Johnson Jr. broke his wrist while blocking a shot in a 79-65 loss to No. 14 Michigan State, but most of the Illini's roster issues are due to illness rather than injury. Tomislav Ivisic, the Illini's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, came off the bench for the first time all season as he tried to play while sick. Underwood said Ivisic didn't travel with the team, instead driving to Wisconsin on his own. Ivisic finished with seven points and three rebounds in 21 minutes. He already dealt with mononucleosis and an ankle injury earlier this year, severely limiting his practice time. Underwood said reserve forward Jake Davis wanted to play but got sick after pregame warmups. 'We don't know who we have from day to day,' Underwood said. 'I didn't know who I was starting today.' Illinois' leading scorer was Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, who was sick earlier this month. After going scoreless and playing a total of 14 minutes in the three games leading up to this one, Gibbs-Lawhorn had 17 points and five assists against Wisconsin. 'Right now we're going through a stretch that's difficult,' said forward Ben Humrichous, who scored 13 points. 'But we're a good basketball team, and we know it.' The stretch isn't getting any easier. Illinois takes a break from Big Ten competition and heads to New York to face No. 3 Duke at Madison Square Garden. 'It's David playing Goliath in the next one,' Underwood said. 'We're going to show up and we're going to fight.'
