Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

North Carolina AD Gets Six-Figure Bonus Amid NCAA Tournament Scandal

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Borba | Last updated Mar 17, 2025 6:21 PM ET

The NCAA Tournament has yet to start, but Selection Sunday may have already provided the biggest controversy imaginable.

In a stunning turn of events, the North Carolina Tar Heels were tabbed as the final team in the tournament despite posting a 1-12 record against Quad 1 teams.

In addition to fans and analysts being frustrated by the inferior resume, the ethics of the selection committee have also been called into question since the chair of the committee, Bubba Cunningham, is North Carolina's athletic director. While he recused himself to avoid conflict of interest, many around the country feel that simply isn't enough.

The thought that the other members would pick against his program only to welcome him back after doesn't sit right with many. To add to the drama, it was revealed on Monday by 247Sports' Chris Anderson that Cunningham received a major bonus for the program making it to the NCAA Tournament.

"Bubba Cunningham (again, UNC's AD who doubles as Selection Committee Chair) gets $104,000 bonus for UNC making the NCAA Tournament (one month's salary)," wrote Anderson. "AND there's another $225,000 in bonuses in play based on what happens in the tournament. Something to sleep on."

When CBS Sports' Seth Davis asked Cunningham about his program getting in, Cunningham deferred to vice chair Keith Gill, who highlighted the rules they enforce in such situations. Gill also expressed what was the determining factor for the Tar Heels to get in.

"You know, Saturday night we took our final vote and we voted in four teams in the field on Saturday night," Gill said. "And we had a contingency vote. And the contingency vote that was the last team in the field. It was based on Memphis and UAB."

Gill expressed that had UAB won the AAC, both they and Memphis would have gotten in, while North Carolina would have been the first team out.

Regardless of how they explain it, fans and analysts alike aren't buying it. CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein called it a "miscarriage of justice," and there are plenty of calls for a reforming of the selection committee.

If North Carolina goes on a run this noise could fizzle, but an early exit could lead to mayhem.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: