March Madness Chair: We received death threats for putting UNC in the tournament | Keith Gill

Keith Gill, Chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee and Sun Belt Conference Commissioner, joins Personable for a candid discussion on how March Madness is decided and what happens when those decisions ignite national controversy.

In this episode, Keith addresses the backlash surrounding UNC’s inclusion in the tournament and explains how the committee manages conflicts of interest, contingency votes, and public scrutiny. He offers rare insight into why bubble decisions are so polarising, why algorithms cannot replace human judgment, and how leadership changes when decisions affect institutions, careers, and lives.

The conversation also explores the broader forces reshaping college sports, including NIL, conference realignment, expansion, AI, and the growing tension between professionalism and education.

This is an essential listen for anyone interested in governance, leadership, and high-stakes decision making under pressure.

He discusses:
◽️ How March Madness selection decisions are made
◽️ The UNC controversy and its wider implications
◽️ Managing conflicts of interest and maintaining integrity
◽️ Why bubble teams drive outrage every year
◽️ Data vs judgment in selection decisions
◽️ NIL and the economics of college athletics
◽️ Expansion, access, and structural trade-offs
◽️ Leadership under extreme scrutiny

00:00 Why Selection Sunday creates pressure unlike any other day
02:30 The UNC selection decision and the reaction that followed
07:10 How conflicts of interest are handled inside the committee
12:40 Bubble teams, contingency votes, and why outrage is inevitable
18:30 Why a computer still cannot pick March Madness
24:50 NIL and how the economics of college sports are changing
33:10 Expansion debates and whether 68 teams is the right number
41:30 Conference realignment and the Sun Belt’s strategic approach
49:20 Where AI adds value and where human judgment still matters
56:40 Leadership, accountability, and staying grounded under scrutiny

Keith Gill:
◽️ Website: https://sunbeltsports.org/staff-directory/keith-gill/43

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Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023. 

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