Every year, the NCAA Tournament - or March Madness - is an exciting time for college basketball fans and even casuals. However, at the same time, there are plenty of teams snubbed from the Field of 68, and this year was no different.
After the bracket was revealed on Selection Sunday, there was a loud uproar from fans of certain programs. The big snubs included the West Virginia Mountaineers, Indiana Hoosiers and Boise State Broncos, among others.
North Carolina Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham is the chairman of the selection committee, and a new report revealed that he received threatening emails and even death threats from West Virginia fans, per Brian Murphy of WRAL News.
"The emails, viewed by WRAL News, poured into Cunningham’s UNC account after the tournament field was announced in the evening of March 16. They called him a 'scumbag,' a 'hypocrite,' 'trash' and much worse. An email from West Virginia’s attorney general to the NCAA — forwarded to Cunningham — said the public demanded answers.
"At least two messages included direct death threats. Others mentioned family members by name."
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Murphy also reported that "hundreds of angry West Virginia University fans" sent emails after the Mountaineers were snubbed from the field.
Moreover, fans in general weren't happy that North Carolina earned a spot over those others, especially with Cunningham as the chairman of the committee.
After the snub, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey asked for answers in a press conference.
As of now, Cunningham has declined to comment on the threats, per Murphy.
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