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Year in and year out, fans of certain programs have an empty feeling on Selection Sunday. Many teams are just on the cusp of NCAA Tournament consideration, only to not hear their names called on that final day.
This year is no different, with five or six teams believing they’ve been snubbed by the tournament committee. Those fans are now flooding social media with reactions of outrage.
This season’s tournament snubs include a pair of ACC programs, as well as one from the Big Ten, Big XII, and SEC. That handful of teams includes Clemson, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Rutgers, and Vanderbilt.
Each was on the borderline of getting into the Big Dance, but when the selection process concluded, they wound up on the outside looking in.
FIRST FOUR OUT WERE:
Oklahoma State, Rutgers, UNC, Clemson.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 12, 2023
Fans of those schools have now gone to Twitter to vent. Take a look at some of the immediate reaction around the country.
For Clemson, the Tigers were looking to make their third tournament appearance since 2018. After finishing third in the ACC and taking down conference tournament champion Duke in the process, many believed it was possible.
Unfortunately, bad losses to South Carolina, Loyola-Chicago, and four-win Louisville team derailed March Madness hopes. It was a historic omission from the field.
Clemson’s 14-6 record in ACC play is the best record to miss the NCAA Tournament since it expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
— Bryan Ives (@awaytoworthy) March 12, 2023
Making things worse, the Tigers defeated both Pitt and NC State (3x) throughout the regular season AND finished higher in the league standings.
Brutal.
Clemson was 5-0 against Pitt, Penn State, and NC State. All three made it, Clemson did not. Also Clemson beat NC State THREE TIMES, home away and neutral site, all blowouts. So who lost to Louisville supersedes head to head play? Cmon admit it, Clemson got screwed.
— Perry Florio (@perry_florio) March 13, 2023
The Tigers weren’t the only ones feeling that way. League foe UNC also felt snubbed after being left out the tournament following a 20-13 campaign. The Tar Heels became the first No. 1 preseason team to miss the field of 68.
If Clemson got screwed, so did UNC. Their net ranking is 16 higher
— Victor Owypipo🚶🏼 (@EightSix4bes) March 13, 2023
After learning its NCAA Tournament fate, UNC opted to remove itself from NIT consideration, too.
Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State, and Rutgers consider themselves tournament snubs, too.
Fans of those programs posted similar reactions after hearing that they’d be left out the Big Dance.
Rutgers got screwed. Don’t understand how you take 4 Mountain West teams…
— John Jastremski (@john_jastremski) March 12, 2023
Rutgers is ranked higher on KenPom than 12 teams that got at large bids which tells you all you need to know about how much Rutgers got screwed!
— College Hoops Chat Radio Show (@CollHoopsChat) March 12, 2023
Rutgers finished the year with 19 wins in a very competitive Big Ten. They notched victories over Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, and conference champion Purdue.
Oklahoma State supporters shared that sentiment.
Congrats NCAA, you screwed Oklahoma State & @thacoachmike 2 years in a row
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) March 12, 2023
The Cowboys won 18 games, including matchups with tournament teams West Virginia, TCU, and Iowa State.
Finally, the Vanderbilt Commodores were left out after winning 20 games in the SEC. Vandy beat Kentucky twice, as well as NCAA Tournament teams Pitt, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Auburn.
Vanderbilt got royally screwed today.
I rarely have sympathy for bubble teams because the field is 68 (!!!) teams but dear lord.
They have some blowout losses but none of them were to bad teams (outside of LSU on the road).
— Carter B (@CarterthePower) March 12, 2023
These tournament snubs have a grudge against the selection committee this Sunday. We’ll see how they respond in their respective postseason opportunities.