“This is a miscarriage of justice and robbery at the highest level,” said West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey. Mountaineers missed out on a spot in the field of 68 when the NCAA selection committee admitted North Carolina to the 2025 field on Sunday night. And sure enough, the outrage began to flow. Just in case there wasn’t enough fuel on the fire, UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham just happened to be the chair of that same selection committee, causing further unrest among those believing the committee based its decision on favoritism. However, it looks like not everyone agrees with Governor Morrisey. Recently, one ESPN analyst came to the Tar Heels defense, offering a stance that quelled at least some of the angst directed toward UNC.

UNC was a controversial inclusion. The Tar Heels had just one Quad 1 victory and widely were considered to have a flimsy resume. Not every year does something like this happen, and there was a widespread outcry of disbelief. But UNC quickly shut up most of their detractors by routing San Diego State, 95-68, in the First Four, proving maybe the selection committee wasn’t as far off-base as some thought.

UNC’s thrashing of San Diego State, in Dayton wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. RJ Davis, the ACC Player of the Year, dropped 26 points, per NCAA.com, silencing doubters who’d mocked their 1-12 Quad 1 record.

As UNC advanced to face No. 6 seed Ole Miss, the narrative began to shift from “blunder” to “bold call,” with ESPN analysts leading the charge.

Jay Bilas — known for speaking his mind on ESPN — was the latest to comment on the controversy on The Rich Eisen Show. “I think the depositions would be fabulous television; I would love to participate,” Bilas joked. He then laid out his thoughts on the selection process.

“All the selection committee members, by and large, do a really good job,” Bilas said. “However, they are commissioners and athletic directors, and the truth is, they’re not able to watch games like we do. They’ve got other jobs, so it becomes very formulaic. They have so many bracketing principles that’s why all these bracket people get 67 out of 68 every year. They give themselves the automatic qualifiers, but the rest of it is pretty easy. We argue over a couple of teams at the end of the line, and nobody’s out there trying to sc–w anybody that I know.”

While Bilas has a more than reasonable point, Morrisey isn’t one to back down. His comments included more than just the inclusion of UNC.

The biggest allegation from him was the potential conflict of interest that is related to Bubba Cunningham. Morrisey pointed toward incentives that are in UNC AD Bubba Cunningham’s contract, where he could receive a $70,000 bonus had the Tar Heels made the tournament. Meanwhile, Cunningham defended himself, saying that he removed himself from the process when it came to UNC discussion, but is that something that can really be trusted? Morrissey didn’t seem to think so. “We know this doesn’t pass the smell test,” Morrissey said. Interestingly, this wouldn’t be the first time Morrisey and the NCAA were at odds.

UNC debate: Tension between Morrissey and NCAA is not new

The West Virginia governor referenced his previous legal triumph over the governing body. Implying some sort of retribution on its part in this case. “West Virginia and other states sued the NCAA once before and won under my watch,” Morrisey tweeted. “Maybe it’s time for some more oversight yet again. This is wrong on every level!” he added, hinting at the messiness of the situation between the state and the NCAA.

This tension, however, goes back to 2023 when Morrisey, as attorney general, contested the NCAA over its transfer eligibility rule. After the NCAA rejected RaeQuan Battle a transfer waiver to immediately suit up for West Virginia, Morrisey sued the association and won. In hindsight, Morrisey brought up the possibility that his state’s team was left out as “retribution” for this legal war between him and the NCAA. “Is this retribution?” Morrisey questioned, alluding to that litigation. “We’re going to have to get to the bottom of that.”

The deepening conflict between West Virginia and the NCAA indicates how much tension goes into deciding these selections. With legal threats and calls for transparency, this West Virginia/NCAA beef feels far from over. With the heated debate ongoing, it’ll be key to see if anything comes of these claims. And if the NCAA is forced to re-think how they approach their tournament selection committees. What is certain is that this is much bigger than just basketball. This is about ensuring fairness and accountability are present in a process affecting every team and fan.