Social media erupted Sunday evening after UNC men’s basketball was one of the first teams announced as part of the 2025 NCAA Tournament field — with many Tar Heel fans sharing their excitement and relief.

UNC will play as an 11 seed in the First Four games for a spot in the Round of 64, as the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee revealed the Tar Heels as the final team to earn a bid based on the results of Sunday’s conference championship results. Carolina will face San Diego State in Dayton on Tuesday for the opportunity to play No. 6 seed Ole Miss on Friday, Mar. 21 in Milwaukee.

Several of the UNC program’s alumni shared their instant reactions on social media, including Justin Jackson, Theo Pinson, and Ty Lawson.

Carolina becomes the first team to make the expanded NCAA Tournament with only one Quad 1 win (1-12 in such games), since they began being charted in that fashion by the NET rankings. During the telecast, though, selection committee Vice Chair Keith Gill cited UNC’s perfect Quad 2 record and improved play in the final month of the season.

And with that distinction, many fans and Carolina-focused pundits shared their thoughts about the extensive predictions of UNC falling short of an at-large tournament birth.

While much of the social media reaction was excitement of the Tar Heels’ inclusion, some of that was driven by fans’ wishes to see UNC’s graduating class of players — R.J. Davis, Jae’Lyn Withers and Ty Claude — suit up one more time in Carolina blue. That was emphasized after Withers’ lane violation overturned a made free throw in the final seconds of UNC’s ACC Tournament semifinal loss to Duke on Friday.

Check out some of the other top reactions on social media celebrating Carolina’s invitation to the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament:

Featured photo by Todd Melet/Chapel Hill Media Group.

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