""THE NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS are used to being under a microscope. This is a program with six national championships and the jerseys of icons such as Michael Jordan and James Worthy in its rafters and that has always brought the fair share of the scrutiny that comes with being a blue blood. But in most seasons, UNC is fielding complaints about its talent, consistency and success. In 2024-25, the vitriol was different. After receiving a First Four slot as an 11-seed in the NCAA tournament, the Tar Heels were widely viewed as undeserving. With an 8-6 record in its last 14 games of the regular season and a résumé void of signature wins, North Carolina making the field created so much controversy that West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey held a news conference in the wake of Selection Sunday to accuse the selection committee -- led by UNC's athletic director Bubba Cunningham -- of a fraudulent process and a "miscarriage of justice" (the West Virginia Mountaineers missed the tournament as a result of North Carolina's inclusion).""
""Last season was hard, and we worked, we fought, and I know we weren't the best team, but I give my guys just the most kudos in the world for how much adversity and how much we fought through," said Seth Trimble, the team's top returning scorer. "And then just hearing the naysayers. I mean, we heard them all year long. We heard them during the tournament. We heard them right before the tournament. It was nothing new.""
The North Carolina Tar Heels carried intense scrutiny in 2024-25 despite the program's six national championships and legendary jerseys in the rafters. The team received a First Four slot as an 11-seed and was widely viewed as undeserving after an 8-6 finish in its last 14 regular-season games and a résumé lacking signature wins. That selection prompted public outrage, including West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey accusing the selection committee of a fraudulent process and a "miscarriage of justice." Seth Trimble praised the team’s resilience amid persistent naysayers. Coach Hubert Davis' four-year tenure has produced sharply varying results.
Read at ESPN.com
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