T he North Carolina Tar Heels are legendary when it comes to March Madness. The championships, the unforgettable players, the incomparable Dean Smith — all part of what makes UN

One of the biggest storylines about the Tar Heels making the tournament is that their athletic director, Bubba Cunningham, is the chairperson on the NCAA tournament selection committee. He explained after the bracket was released that he wasn't in the room when the decision was being made and that "all the polices and procedures were followed."

Despite a heartbreaking loss to Duke in the ACC tournament semifinals on Friday night, North Carolina is confident in the resume it has built over the course of the entire season to warrant a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Duke, the winners of the ACC Tournament, received a No. 1 seed in the East Region. Why it matters: North Carolina's appearance in the tournament was not a given, with many experts pointing to their weak showing against elite teams this season.

After a stressful 48 hours following a loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament, the Tar Heels found out their fate for the NCAA Tournament. And they are heading to Dayton. The Tar Heels got into the field as a 12 seed and will be in the First Four game and will face off against San Diego State on Wednesday night.