Most years, a team that wins in the First Four also wins a first-round game. This isn't just an overreaction to UNC's dominant win over San Diego State; the Tar Heels match up pretty well with Ole Miss. UNC didn't deserve an at-large spot but that never meant it couldn't get hot and win multiple games.

Elsewhere in the South Region, a First Four meeting between No. 11 seeds North Carolina and San Diego State will create a difficult first-round matchup for No. 6 seed Ole Miss, which is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 under second-year coach Chris Beard.

The South Region in this year's NCAA men's basketball tournament is a fascinating one. While not as deep as the West, it features the number one overall seed in Auburn, and a plethora of teams who are as capable of making a deep run as they are of crashing out early.