Top-ranked North Carolina, the two-time College World Series runner-up, was one of four Atlantic Coast Conference schools selected Sunday as regional hosts for the NCAA tournament.
The Tar Heels, who lost to Oregon State in the championship game in Omaha the past two years, join conference champion Miami, Florida State and North Carolina State as ACC hosts. Each of the 16 host schools are guaranteed berths in the 64-team tournament, which starts Friday. The rest of the field, including the top eight national seeds, will be announced Monday.
The Seminoles are hosting for the 27th time, while the Hurricanes, who could move to No. 1 in the national polls Monday after winning the ACC tournament, are hosting for the 22nd time.
The Big 12 was second among conferences with three schools hosting four-team regionals, including Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. The Big West (Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State), Pac-10 (Arizona State and Stanford) and Southeastern Conference (Georgia and LSU) each had two schools chosen as host sites.
The other regional hosts chosen from 41 bids are Coastal Carolina, Michigan and Rice.
Michigan is hosting for the sixth time, but first since 1986, while Coastal Carolina and North Carolina State are hosting only for the second time. Arizona State, Coastal Carolina, Florida State, Long Beach State, North Carolina, Rice and Texas A&M also hosted last year.
Four ACC teams to host regionals
