North Carolina’s run in March Madness is facing some unexpected turbulence right out of the gate. The Tar Heels were set to make their appearance in Dayton, but hiccups with their NCAA-provided charter flight have thrown a wrench into their plans.
According to UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham, the team will miss their scheduled media availability this evening due to delays with their flight, which was originally slated to land around 4 PM ET. As of now, it appears they’ll be arriving roughly three hours later than expected.
The Heels had lined up press conferences at 5:50 PM ET, followed by an open practice session at 6:35 PM ET. However, as of 4:45 PM in North Carolina, their Avelo Airlines flight had yet to leave RDU International Airport.
This is a notable point in the season for UNC, as they were the last team selected for the NCAA Tournament. Tomorrow night, they’ll go up against San Diego State in the First Four. A victory in that matchup would propel Hubert Davis’ crew into a showdown with Ole Miss in the opening round on Friday.
There’s been some controversy surrounding North Carolina’s inclusion in the tournament, particularly given their challenging record of 1-12 against Quad 1 teams. ESPN analyst Sean Farnham voiced strong opinions about this during a recent appearance on the network’s Tournament Challenge Marathon. His words painted a picture of confusion and frustration about the selection process.
“That has to be a typo,” Farnham remarked, challenging the very notion of North Carolina being in the field. He further delved into the rationale behind the selections, pointing out that stronger-performing teams, like West Virginia, were left out despite boasting six Quad 1 victories. In contrast, UNC’s single win against a top-tier opponent has raised eyebrows.
Farnham also analyzed the perception of the ACC in this context, questioning how an 18-win Louisville rewards an eighth seed when North Carolina, with its non-conference scheduling strategy, managed only one significant victory. His arguments highlight a broader discussion about the criteria for tournament inclusion, suggesting that such qualifications reflect poorly on the strength of the team and the quality of play overall.
Ultimately, Farnham concluded that the current iteration of North Carolina basketball does not embody the elite qualities one would expect from a program of its caliber, raising concerns about the fairness of the tournament’s expansion process and the implications of such decisions for the integrity of March Madness. As the tournament kicks off, all eyes will be on the Tar Heels and whether they can turn their campaign around amidst this unexpected storm.
