North Carolina heard the criticism. It heard the yelling. It heard all about how it did not belong in the NCAA tournament.
It channeled all of that energy and used it to deliver a massive statement in its First Four game in Dayton on Tuesday night, crushing San Diego State, 95-68.
The win sends North Carolina into the field of 64 as a No. 11 seed and will play No. 6 seed Ole Miss on Friday.
If you are a North Carolina fan or player, this is no doubt some sweet vindication. You have spent the past 48 hours listening to every analyst, expert, talking head and fan absolutely shred your team and its place in the tournament, and heard every argument for why a team like West Virginia should have made it in your place.
It no doubt got old. Probably frustrating.
The problem is the criticism was very much on point, and this one-game showing does not really change what North Carolina’s Selection Sunday resume looked like, especially in comparison to some other teams that were left out.
It looked like a reputation and brand name selection, and still does.
While Tuesday’s win was certainly impressive, it still should not be enough to satisfy the critics that do not feel the Tar Heels belong.
For one, it does not really change the criticism of North Carolina’s lack of top-tier wins. The Tar Heels were just 1-12 against Quad 1 opponents during the regular season, and Tuesday’s game against San Diego State still would not qualify as one.
Second, it is really hard to imagine North Carolina duplicating that performance. While the Tar Heels played an excellent game — arguably their best of the season — it was also a night where pretty much everything fell their way.
They shot 52.6% from the field, after shooting just 47.6% during the regular season.
That included a staggering 58.3% from three-point range, making 14-of-24 shots from behind the arch.
Just for comparison, only four teams shot better than 50% from the field during the season, while only one team shot better than 40% from three-point range.
It is just not a sustainable shooting night.
It’s one thing for a team to channel a “we have something to prove” mindset for one game and put it all together into a flawless showing. Especially when that team simply does not miss any of its shots.
But bringing that sort of effort every game, and shooting that well every game, is just not something that should be expected for any team. Especially one that has been as painfully average as this North Carolina team has been all season.
The only way North Carolina is going to justify its spot is if it truly goes on a deep run through tournament and knocks off a few higher-seeded teams. If it gets knocked out by Ole Miss after shooting a more reasonable 44% from the field or only 40% from three-point range, this game is not going to matter or change anybody’s opinion.
It will not be remembered. Nobody will care.
The Tar Heels made their initial statement for one game. They have to do it again — and maybe more than one more time — to actually change some minds and really prove something.
