North Carolina's inclusion into the NCAA Tournament was a hot topic on Selection Sunday and into Monday, but the Tar Heels made a definitive statement with a huge win on Tuesday night.

North Carolina's 95-68 win over San Diego State in the First Four was a response to the criticism the team faced in the early part of the week. 

That criticism was not lost on Carolina fans or players, as those in the stands booed Jon Rothstein and chanted his name throughout the game.

Rothstein, who was on the call for the blowout win over the Aztecs, called North Carolina making the tournament a "miscarriage of justice." 

Rothstein spoke to Carolina guard Seth Trimble at halftime, and fans on social media noticed some tension in their brief interaction during the broadcast. 

After the game, Trimble addressed the critics, and called out Rothstein in particular.

“We were feeling a little bit of doubt from the outside,” the junior guard said after the win, according to 247Sports.

“A part of us wanted to prove the doubters wrong, but we were just focused on us. We were focused on proving ourselves right, and we were just focused on being a team. We know there’s going to be doubt. We’re the University of North Carolina. There’s doubt with us each and every day. There’s hate with us each and every day. We’re used to it.

We’ve heard the hate. Even from the guy that commentated our game tonight. We’ve heard it.”

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 04: Head coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels look on in the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Trimble had 16 points off the bench in Tuesday's win over San Diego State, one of four Tar Heels to score in double figures during the game. UNC will now head to Milwaukee for a matchup with No. 6 seed Ole Miss in the round of 64.

The Tar Heels have a long road ahead of them if they want to truly prove doubters wrong with another trip to the Final Four, but it's not unprecedented. Two teams - VCU in 2011 and UCLA in 2021 - made the Final Four after starting in the First Four.

We'll see if Carolina can follow in their footsteps, but the journey continues on Friday against the Rebels. Fans can tune into the game at 4:05 PM ET on TNT.