As the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket is unveiled, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has expressed strong reservations about the selection committee’s decisions, particularly regarding the inclusion of both Texas and North Carolina.
Lunardi, a respected voice in college basketball, emphasized the importance of consistency in the selection process. He argued that while Texas deserved a spot due to its seven Quad 1 victories, its 15 total losses and a weak nonconference schedule should have been major red flags. Conversely, North Carolina, with a highly challenging schedule but just one Quad 1 win in 13 attempts, also fell short of at-large selection standards in Lunardi’s view.
“The committee’s decision to include both teams sends a mixed message,” Lunardi stated. “If Texas is in, North Carolina shouldn’t be. And if North Carolina is in, then Texas shouldn’t be. This inconsistency undermines the credibility of the selection process.”
He also questioned whether Quad 1 and Quad 2 records were the primary deciding factors in selections. While Texas and North Carolina both finished with 10 combined Quad 1 and 2 wins, Lunardi pointed out that teams such as West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio State, and Boise State had similar resumes yet were left out of the tournament.
“West Virginia, for instance, had the same number of Q1/Q2 wins and secured impressive victories over Gonzaga and Arizona,” Lunardi noted. “They also went 10-10 in the ultra-competitive Big 12, which should have been enough.”
Lunardi dismissed conspiracy theories suggesting favoritism due to committee chair Bubba Cunningham’s role as North Carolina’s athletic director. Instead, he criticized the committee’s overall logic in its selections, calling for greater clarity in future years.
Beyond the Texas-North Carolina debate, Lunardi found other questionable decisions in the bracket. He cited Louisville’s seeding as an 8-seed despite securing 15 Quad 1 and 2 victories and finishing 18-2 in ACC play, arguing that a more prestigious program with the same credentials might have received a higher seed.
On the positive side, Lunardi praised the strength of the tournament’s top eight teams—Auburn, Duke, Houston, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Michigan State, and St. John’s—stating that they collectively represent one of the strongest groups of 1- and 2-seeds in recent memory.
With Selection Sunday now in the rearview, the focus shifts to how these teams will perform on the court. But for Lunardi and others closely watching the selection process, the debate over the committee’s logic is far from over.
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