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The North Carolina basketball team kickstarted NCAA Tournament play with an emphatic win over San Diego State in the play-in round. The blowout momentarily quieted the hate the Tar Heels have received over the last few days.
Most believed the school wasn’t deserving of a spot in the 68-team field after struggling to win key games during the regular season. On Tuesday, UNC showed that it belonged.
The Tar Heels dominated the Aztecs in a matchup that was never close. North Carolina ended the first half on a 34-12 run to blow the game open. They led by as many as 40 after halftime.
The performance was maybe the team’s best this season. One of the knocks against the Tar Heels was an inability to beat tournament-level opponents. It did so, and more, in the play-in contest.
One of those most critical of North Carolina’s inclusion was CBS Sports analyst Jon Rothstein. He called the decision a “miscarriage of justice,” believing other bubble teams were snubbed due to UNC’s blue-blood status.
“How in the world could North Carolina get an at-large bid over Indiana and over West Virginia?”@JonRothstein says he thinks some of the other bubble teams deserved to make the Tournament over UNC. pic.twitter.com/9p12YHynOU
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 17, 2025
Much of the noise revolved around Bubba Cunningham’s position as NCAA Selection Committee chairman. The North Carolina AD not only had potential influence on his school’s bid, but he landed a hefty bonus when the Tar Heels got into the field. It appeared a direct conflict of interest – and one that led the West Virginia governor to launch an investigation into the process.
UNC players and fans heard the hate surrounding their Big Dance status. They seemed to use it as motivation to prove doubters wrong.
“We know we deserved to be here… We hear what people say. We don’t really care. It is what it is. We’re focused on us.”
-Seth Trimble
North Carolina basketball trolled Jon Rothstein on air.
The analyst’s dismay of the Tar Heels continued well into Tuesday. It’s safe to say he didn’t have the group advancing far in his NCAA Tournament bracket.
“There’s a better chance of me running the NYC Marathon then North Carolina beating San Diego State and Ole Miss back to back”
Are we gonna see Rothstein running 26.2 in November?
pic.twitter.com/7iG9ZHH3Iu— Mark Titus Show (@MarkTitusShow) March 19, 2025
He was forced to eat his words on Tuesday while calling the game. Rothstein was given a dose of his own medicine while on the floor as fans returned fire.
With the Tar Heels up 40, UNC fans started chanting “Rothstein” while looking over at Jon Rothstein in the media section. They continued to heckle him shortly after about UNC’s spot in the tournament.
“We’re up 40!” one shouted.
— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) March 19, 2025
The Tar Heels got the last laugh. Fans made sure to heckle their loudest critic as he watched the performance live. They’ll now look to build on the momentum and continue their NCAA Tournament run. North Carolina faces Ole Miss in the Round of 64.