Some North Carolina fans are not thrilled at potential matchup against Kansas in KC

By Pete Grathoff

Updated March 18, 2019 12:14 PM

While North Carolina fans were happy the Tar Heels got a No. 1 seed in the NCAA men’s Tournament, some were not pleased at the how the bracket sets up.

There are two other blue bloods in the Midwest Region: second-seeded Kentucky and fourth-seeded Kansas.

Should those three teams advance to the Sweet 16, the Tar Heels would face the Jayhawks. At the Sprint Center in Kansas City.

North Carolina hasn’t fared well against Kansas recent NCAA Tournament games.

KU was a top seed in 2013 when it beat eighth-seeded North Carolina 70-58 at the Sprint Center. Teams met in a 2012 regional final in St. Louis (80-67 Jayhawks win) and a 2008 national semifinal (84-66 KU victory).

A potential Tar Heels-Jayhawks meeting in KC upset some North Carolina fans who vented on Twitter:

Nice reward for UNc as a one. Might have to play Kansas the 4 in KC. What a joke.
— Chris McClain (@macwfnz) March 17, 2019

Ok selection committee we get it. Roy used to coach at #KU and you love storylines. How about you don't have #UNC playing a road game each time when they are the higher seeded team.
— Coree Thomas (@TeachMe2487) March 17, 2019

Shocking— shocking @UNC_Basketball would get paired up AGAIN with Kansas... for a potential matchup in... wait for it... Kansas City, MO. Just stop @marchmadness committee— the kids playing now were toddlers when Roy came home. #GoHeels
— Daniel Peterson (@DEPete85) March 17, 2019

I’m not even mad about UNC and Kansas getting paired up AGAIN in the tournament. Carolina owes them some payback for previous years and this is a weak Kansas team.

But putting them in Kansas City is ridiculous.
— Doug Stevens (@doug321) March 17, 2019

Brutal bracket potentially Kansas in Kansas City then possible Kentucky rematch time to go to work we know the challenge let’s get after it do something special #GoHeels
— gregg bass (@gbass24503) March 17, 2019

No way should a team like KU get that kind of potential advantage as a #4 seed. No way you send them to Kansas City this year. That's just a bad joke and a horrible look for the NCAA..
— Alan Covington (@Alan_Covington) March 17, 2019

Normally this match up with KU would not concern me - but in KC???
— Troy Scarlett (@scarlett_troy) March 18, 2019

Fans of other schools also sounded off about the Jayhawks being in line to play at the Sprint Center:

KU in Kansas City over K-State...? pic.twitter.com/uKIRqIIAPo
— russell PESTbrook (@Midwest_KZ) March 17, 2019

KU shouldn’t play in KC
— Tyler Proffitt (@T_Proffitt) March 18, 2019

And ku still gets placed in the Midwest with possible games in KC if they make the Sweet 16. What a bunch of BS. North Carolina fans should be livid.
— Kyle Morris (@KyleMorrisKC) March 17, 2019

How does KU get the Midwest 4 seed when Kansas State split with them and has a better conference record?? Someone explain that to me
— Jestin Jackson (@j2_dubz) March 17, 2019

Kansas could be playing in sweet 16 in Kansas City against number 1 seed North Carolina. Another screw up job.
— Mike (@fifasar20) March 18, 2019

This story was originally published March 18, 2019 at 9:16 AM with the headline "Some North Carolina fans are not thrilled at potential matchup against Kansas in KC."

Pete Grathoff

The Kansas City Star

816-234-4330

From covering the World Series to the World Cup, Pete Grathoff has done a little bit of everything since joining The Kansas City Star in 1997.

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