Jon Rothstein suggests there’s a greater likelihood of him finishing the NYC Marathon than of North Carolina defeating San Diego State and Ole Miss. Following a 95-68 victory over the Aztecs, the Tar Heels have already eliminated one obstacle, bringing Rothstein one step closer to eating crow.
After CBS’ Selection Show, Rothstein labeled UNC’s entry into the tournament over teams like Indiana and West Virginia a “miscarriage of justice.” The Tar Heels’ supporters in Dayton, however, were far from pleased. They jeered and chanted his name, reminding the CBS Sports analyst that, at least on the court, justice was served.
While Tuesday’s result doesn’t negate the fact that the Tar Heels may not have entirely earned their tournament spot, they still secured one. Players like Seth Trimble were certainly aware of Rothstein’s and other media members’ comments about them. Rothstein interviewed the junior guard after the first half, and although the exchange was relatively uneventful, social media amplified its significance.
.@JonRothstein was so mad at the end of that Seth Trimble interview. Corny pic.twitter.com/aTVOOJ4JnT
— Ian Ebert (@HeelToTheDome) March 19, 2025
Trimble downplayed the exchange but addressed those who “commented on our game tonight” following UNC’s dominant 27-point win. “We were feeling a little bit of doubt from the outside,” Trimble said via 247Sports. “A part of us wanted to prove the doubters wrong, but we were just focused on us. We were centered on affirming ourselves and being a cohesive team. We’re aware there’s doubt. We’re the University of North Carolina. Doubt follows us every day, and we’re accustomed to it. We’ve heard the criticism, even from the commentator of our game tonight.”
If it wasn’t apparent before, the Tar Heels appear to be channeling every bit of skepticism as motivation—especially from figures like Rothstein.
