New Elon Poll finds that despite in-state rivalries in the Atlantic Coast Conference, North Carolinians will tend to be loyal to their home state regardless of the eliminations during the NCAA March Madness tournament. The poll was conducted March 3 to 11 and included a data set of 800 North Carolina adults, 18 and older. 

The poll found that when their favorite North Carolina team is eliminated, North Carolinians are 7 to 1 in cheering for in-state teams who are still in the tournament. In addition, 36% of North Carolinians will root for their in-state rival if their favorite team is eliminated. 

Following last year’s March Madness tournament, which saw 18.9 million viewers for the women’s tournament and 14.8 million viewers for the men’s tournament according to Nielsen ratings, North Carolina’s appear to be more interested in the men’s tournament than the women’s. 

Half of the adults surveyed expressed an interest in this years’ tournament with 27% saying they were more interested in the men’s tournament, 17% saying they were equally interested in both and 7% saying they were more interested in the women’s tournament. 

Heading into this years’ March Madness tournament there are four North Carolina teams playing in the men’s tournament: Duke, High Point, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and University of North Carolina, Wilmington. 

There are four North Carolina teams with locked-in spots playing in the women’s tournament: Duke, North Carolina State, Chapel Hill and Greensboro, with High Point participating in the play-in round in the hopes of securing one of the last spots in the tournament. 

High Point will be making its first ever appearance in the men’s tournament and second ever appearance in the women’s tournament where the women’s team lost to the University of Connecticut in 2021. Greensboro will also be making its second ever appearance in the women’s tournament, previously losing to Alabama in the first round in 1998. Wilmington will be making its seventh ever appearance in the men’s tournament with a record of 1-6 only ever winning against the University of Southern California in 2002. 

With the larger interest in the men’s tournament the poll found that 37% of the adults surveyed are fans of Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill officially locked in their spot in the men’s tournament after beating San Diego State 95-68 during the play-in round of the tournament. Chapel Hill will face off against Ole Miss on March 21. 

Director of Elon Poll, Jason Husser did not respond to Elon News Network’s immediate request for comment.