Jalen Rose reacts to UNC's controversial tournament bid: 'San Diego State are going to knock them out anyway'

Controversy swirls astir the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee each year, arsenic 1 oregon 2 teams get debated astir whether they merit a accidental astatine a nationalist rubric tally oregon not.

After "Selection Sunday," the North Carolina Tar Heels person been the blistery arguable taxable arsenic assemblage hoops fans dissect the authoritative bracket.

There was a ample contingent that wasn't excessively blessed with the determination by the enactment committee connected Sunday, arsenic the Tar Heels volition play San Diego State to gain a No. 11 effect successful the South Region arsenic 1 of the "First Four" games. 

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After "Selection Sunday," the North Carolina Tar Heels person been the blistery arguable taxable arsenic assemblage hoops fans dissect the authoritative bracket. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

But not everyone was shocked to spot the Tar Heels among the 68 teams that got in. 

College hoops fable Jalen Rose, portion of the celebrated "Fab Five" 1991 Michigan Wolverines squad, told Fox News Digital wherefore North Carolina's bid doesn't astonishment him astatine all. 

"They merit to get successful disconnected wealth and nostalgia," Rose said, portion besides discussing his concern with Fanatics Sportsbook during this year's March Madness. "People cognize however the crippled works. Since the opening of time, look astatine wherever teams play successful the brackets. Duke and Carolina usually play successful their ain backyard, and it’s not conscionable truthful they tin person the home-court advantage, which it intelligibly does springiness them. It besides allows the NCAA, oregon whoever the governing bodies are, to marque much wealth and merchantability much tickets."

NORTH CAROLINA'S NCCA TOURNAMENT BID LEADS TO SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH: ‘HOW DID THIS EVEN HAPPEN?’

While Rose points retired the beardown marque UNC has, helium besides recognized different main origin that led to controversy: Tar Heels diversion manager Bubba Cunningham is the seat of the enactment committee. 

While Cunningham said helium wasn't successful the country for the UNC decision, helium deferred to vice seat Keith Gill to explicate however the Tar Heels got in. 

Gill responded, "Our policies necessitate the AD of immoderate schoolhouse to recuse themselves and really permission the country for those discussions. And they're not allowed to enactment successful immoderate ballot arsenic well. ... We voted successful 4 teams successful the tract connected Saturday night, and we had a contingency vote.

"The contingency vote, that was the past squad successful the field. And it was based connected Memphis-UAB. If Memphis won that game, past that was going to escaped up a spot successful the tourney and that was going to beryllium North Carolina."

College hoops fable Jalen Rose, portion of the celebrated "Fab Five" 1991 Michigan Wolverines squad, told Fox News Digital wherefore North Carolina's bid doesn't astonishment him astatine all.  (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Either way, Rose explained however he's ever been "skeptical" with however these committees take successful assemblage sports. 

"I’ve been skeptical astir however things person gone down with the NCAA since the opening of time," helium admitted. "How bash you enactment [Cunningham] successful that position, and astatine immoderate point, this doesn’t go a contradiction? That happens connected a batch of antithetic levels if that’s the point. So, of course, if helium has to question the emblem for a schoolhouse to get successful the NCAA Tournament, there’s thing successful shot they usage called, ‘Tie goes to the runner.’ That’s what’s going to hap erstwhile he’s successful position. 

"I’m not saying I similar it. I’m saying that’s what it is. The coaches cognize what it is. The schools cognize what it is. Media members cognize what it is, and everybody’s calling it out. And it’s fine."

Why is it fine? Rose doesn't deliberation the Tar Heels are going to beryllium overmuch of a speech aft Tuesday nighttime astatine UD Arena successful Dayton, Ohio. 

The Aztecs are his prime to beryllium that No. 11 effect successful the South. 

SDSU went 21-9 this season, portion UNC was 22-13. (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

"Y'all are lone going to beryllium capable to speech astir it for different 24 hours due to the fact that Brian Dutcher and San Diego State are going to sound them retired anyway," Rose said. 

"For me, San Diego State would beryllium precise poised to bushed UNC conscionable due to the fact that of their antiaircraft prowess, and however they marque definite connected that extremity of the level they’re going to get aft it. They’ve been apical successful the state successful each antiaircraft statistical categories, not lone this year, but the twelvemonth they went to the Final Four. I deliberation they’re going to beryllium uniquely poised to instrumentality attraction of concern against Carolina."

UNC tops SDSU successful some NET (36 to 52) and KenPom (33 to 46) ratings, but Rose is leaning connected what Dutcher has been capable to bash with his Aztecs successful caller seasons. 

SDSU made the Sweet 16 past play earlier losing to the eventual-champion UConn, and they made the nationalist title crippled during the 2022-23 season, falling to the Huskies determination arsenic well. 

SDSU went 21-9 this season, portion UNC was 22-13. 

EMBRACING THE CHAOS WITH FANATICS SPORTSBOOK

Rose ever dreamed of that "One Shining Moment" successful the NCAA Tournament, which helium yet got with Michigan. But now, he's trying to assistance sports bettors get their ain with Fanatics Sportsbook. 

Rose's concern volition brings fans into the enactment and person them "Embrace the Chaos" this March with a $5 cardinal FanCash Drop. That means fans who spot a $20 parlay connected assemblage hoops with Fanatics Sportsbook volition triumph a stock of the $5 cardinal FanCash – guaranteed. 

Rose explained however he's ever been "skeptical" with however these committees take successful assemblage sports. (Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)

"I’m a participant. So, conscionable similar y’all betting that $20, I’m betting it, too! Don’t get it twisted," Rose said, laughing. "I’m betting it, too, and truthful that’s been a batch of amusive for me."

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As idiosyncratic who admits to betting with friends, household and coworkers with March Madness brackets each year, Rose is excited to enactment with the remainder of bettors this tourney season. 

Finally, Fanatics Sportsbook volition beryllium offering a accidental for customers to articulation Rose successful San Antonio for the nationalist rubric game. To participate the sweepstakes, each they person to bash is nonstop their parlay slips to Fanatics Sportsbook connected societal media. 

"I’m truthful dedicated to Fanatics, and we’re family. We stood connected this," Rose said. "We’re going to amusement you the precise unsocial acquisition you deserve."

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