Why did UNC decline to participate in NIT? Taking closer look at college's stance following historically disappointing season

UNC declined to participate in the National Invitation Tournament after not getting selected for March Madness 2023. The Tar Heels were the first No. 1 preseason ranked team to not make the NCAA tournament in history.

It was a disappointing season for North Carolina following last season's runner-up finish against Kansas. They brought everyone back together in hopes of winning the championship but fell short of their goal.

Apart from UNC, Dayton also declined to participate in the NIT after being snubbed by the selection committee. While the Flyers cited an injury-filled roster, the Tar Heels have a different reason not to play in the secondary postseason tournament.

North Carolina coach Hubert Davis explained that they fell short of their goals this season and would want to focus on their improvement. Davis stressed that the Tar Heels want to compete for the ACC and NCAA championship next year.

"All season our focus and goal have been on being the best team we can possibly become and reaching our full potential to give us another opportunity to compete, play for and win an NCAA championship," Davis said. "Although we no longer have that opportunity and this season wasn't what we had hoped for, I want to thank our players and staff for their hard work and love for Carolina Basketball.

"Many factors go into postseason play and we believe now is the time to focus on moving ahead, preparing for next season and the opportunity to again compete for ACC and NCAA championships. I also want to thank our great fans for their incredible support. Our commitment to you is what drives us to improve our program in every way."

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What's next for UNC?

Boston College vs North Carolina

UNC's season officially ended when they declined the invitation to participate in the NIT. That means the college basketball portal has opened, and two Tar Heels have entered it already — Justin McKoy and Tyler Nickel.

McKoy and Nickel have played a lot of games for North Carolina this season but not a whole lot of minutes. While McKoy is using his extra year due to the COVID-19 season in a different programme, Nickel could always return to his home state of Virginia.

Meanwhile, Caleb Love and RJ Davis are eligible to return for their senior season. Both players are not top NBA prospects, so it makes sense for them to come back. The same can be said for senior big man Armando Bacot, who could return for his fifth year due to the COVID season.