How I See It: The First Four and UNC’s Free Pass
March Madness is here, but before we dive into the real tournament, we have to sit through the NCAA’s annual “we promise these games matter” appetizer: the First Four. Some of these teams earned their shot. Others? Well, let’s talk about the elephant in the room—North Carolina.
The Tar Heels don’t belong here. In fact, they don’t belong in the tournament at all. Finishing sixth in a weak ACC with a 22-13 record, getting swept by Duke, and holding an underwhelming resume filled with bad losses should’ve landed them in the NIT. But, of course, UNC got the committee’s golden parachute. Coincidence that their athletic director was the chair of the selection committee? I mean sure, he "recused" himself from discussions about UNC. Even though we all know he had the ear of the remaining members of the commitee.
Let’s look at the numbers. UNC’s record against Quad 1 opponents? A pathetic 1-12. That’s not just bad—it’s disqualifying. Meanwhile, several teams with stronger resumes were left out entirely. West Virginia, for example, had six Quad 1 wins—including four in Q1A (the toughest tier). Indiana, despite a 4-13 Q1 record, at least avoided bad losses and had strong resume metrics. Ohio State, despite a mediocre overall record, had more elite wins (Purdue, Texas, Kentucky) than UNC. And Boise State, a 24-win team from a Mountain West that sent four teams to the tournament, got the snub despite wins over Clemson and Saint Mary’s. But UNC? UNC skates by because of the logo on the jersey, that horrid shade of blue, and the nauseating insistence on argyle. "Blue Blood" acting like a spoiled ass kid.
San Diego State vs. North Carolina: A Play-In Mismatch?
The game that shouldn’t be happening. We already know where I stand on UNC... San Diego State, on the other hand, has been a consistent tournament team in recent years and built a strong case for an outright bid. The Aztecs finished 21-9 overall and 14-6 in the Mountain West—one of the best mid-major conferences in the country. They knocked off top-10 Houston in overtime earlier this season, a win that carries far more weight than anything UNC managed.
The Tar Heels, meanwhile, limped to the finish line. Sure, they managed to pick up wins against weaker ACC opponents late in the season, but when it mattered most, they folded. They lost to Duke three times. They dropped winnable games against Stanford, Wake Forest, and Pitt. Their best win? Probably UCLA back in December—hardly the type of victory that screams “tournament lock.”
And yet, here they are, getting another chance because of the name on the jersey.
San Diego State brings a tough, disciplined defense to this matchup, and they’ll have a chip on their shoulder. Nick Boyd leads the way for the Aztecs with 13.4 points per game, and they have a solid inside presence with Magoon Gwath, who averages 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. UNC, on the other hand, relies heavily on RJ Davis (17 PPG) to bail them out when their offense rund out of gas. If the Aztecs control the tempo and force UNC into contested shots, they can absolutely send the Tar Heels packing before the real tournament begins.
Texas vs. Xavier: Two Teams with Something to Prove
Unlike UNC, both Texas and Xavier had seasons that warrant a First Four appearance. Texas finished 19-15 overall, stumbling to a 6-12 record in a brutal SEC, while Xavier wrapped up the year at 21-11 in the Big East. Neither team was consistent enough to comfortably earn a tournament spot, but both have the talent to make noise if they survive Dayton.
Texas is led by freshman sensation Tre Johnson, who put up 19.8 points per game and has the ability to take over a game. He’s joined by Arthur Kaluma. He can stretch the floor and create mismatches. The Longhorns struggled with turnovers and defensive lapses all season, but their offense can be explosive, especially when they get rolling.
Xavier, on the other hand, is a gritty, defensive-minded team that relies on Zach Freemantle’s inside presence (17.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG). The Musketeers also have a strong backcourt led by Ryan Conwell, who can light it up from deep. This game could come down to pace—if Texas can push the tempo, they have the firepower to win. If Xavier turns it into a half-court battle, the Musketeers have the edge.
16-Seeds Fighting for Their Tournament Lives
The other two First Four matchups feature 16-seeds fighting for the right to get steamrolled by a No. 1 seed in the next round. But let’s not dismiss these teams outright—every so often, a scrappy underdog finds a way to make life miserable for a tournament favorite.
Alabama State vs. St. Francis (PA): This game pits Alabama State, the SWAC tournament champion, against St. Francis (PA), which clawed its way through the NEC. Alabama State finished 19-15, led by CJ Hines (14.4 PPG), while St. Francis comes in at 16-17, hoping to ride Riley Parker’s hot hand (13.4 PPG). Neither team has much size, so expect an up-tempo game filled with three-point attempts.
American vs. Mount St. Mary’s: American University had a solid year, finishing 22-12, and boasts one of the most efficient scorers in Matt Rogers (17.0 PPG). Mount St. Mary’s (22-12) relies on Dola Adebayo’s inside game (13.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG). This game could be a battle of styles—American wants to space the floor and shoot, while Mount St. Mary’swill try to slow it down and play physical.
The Real Story: UNC’s Free Pass
I call it "How I See It," and I see the biggest issue with this year's tournament being UNC’s undeserved inclusion. If this were any other team with the same record and resume, they’d be gearing up for the NIT right now. But the selection committee gifted them a lifeline, a participation trophy, and now it’s up to San Diego State to make things right.
The First Four is meant to give teams on the bubble a final shot to prove they belong. UNC already proved they don’t. If the Basketball Gods have any sense of justice, the Tar Heels’ tournament run will be over before it even begins.
I mean this is March Madness, not some f*king charity event! Go Aztecs! Fix this shit!