Bubba Cunningham was not allowed to discuss the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee’s decision to put North Carolina in the Field of 68 because of his primary role as the athletic director in Chapel Hill. However, the 62-year-old was allowed to cash a big bonus that stems directly from the invitation.
It is a glaring conflict of interest handled through legal protocol to make it okay.
Cunningham serves as the NCAA Selection Committee chairman. He, alongside a group of 11, determine which college basketball teams will receive the opportunity to compete for a national championship and which teams will not. Other members of the committee include:
- Mark Coyle — Minnesota AD
- Greg Byrne — Alabama AD
- Keith Gill — Sun Belt Commissioner
- Lee Reed — Georgetown AD
- Martin Newton — Samford AD
- Tom Wistrcill — Big Sky Commissioner
- Arthur Johnson — Temple AD
- Irma Garcia — Manhattan AD
- Stu Jackson — West Coast Conference Commissioner
- Zack Lassiter — Abilene Christian AD
- Chad Weiberg — Oklahoma State AD
That group of people makes its decision based on the specific guidelines outlined by the NCAA. At no point in the process “shall a member vote for a team the individual represents as an athletics director or commissioner.” In fact, “committee members shall not be present during any discussion regarding the selection or seeding of a team the individual represents as an athletics director or commissioner.”
Cunningham claims that he followed the proper protocol on Sunday and I believe him.
When we got to those last three or four teams, frequently Carolina was in the discussion. As soon as we were part of the discussion, I left the room.
— Bubba Cunningham
By NET Rating and KenPom, North Carolina is a March Madness-worthy team. However, the Tar Heels went 1-12 in Quad 1 games. Most bracketologists (who don’t actually know anything) had them on the outside of the NCAA Tournament looking in after a loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament Semifinals. And yet, they still received an invite as the last team in.
The committee explained its decision. UAB would’ve stolen UNC’s bid if it had defeated Memphis in the AAC Tournament final. UAB lost. North Carolina got in.
As a result of the controversial decision, Bubba Cunningham doubled his salary for the month of March. Literally. It is listed in his contract that he will receive “additional compensation in the form of bonuses equal to one month’s salary” if the men’s and women’s basketball teams are invited to the NCAA Tournament. Those bonuses are paid to compensate Cunningham for “the overload duties, work and responsibilities” related to those events.
The Tar Heels were a lock to play in Women’s March Madness. The men were on the bubble — and seemingly on the wrong side of the bubble at that.
With the men getting an invite, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee chairman will receive a bonus of approximately $104,000 for his role as athletic director at North Carolina. Funny how that worked out. Even if there was not any shenanigans afoot, it is rather coincidental. Must be nice.
UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham got his cake and will eat it too!