Beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday, CBS began to announce which teams had been selected for the 2025 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. A yearly tradition eagerly awaited by a nation of college basketball fans where 68 teams received the excitement of heading to March Madness. But as the teams were revealed one-by-one, it became apparent that the West Virginia Mountaineers were not one of them, and to add insult to injury, were named the last team out. Read West Virginia men’s basketball inexplicably snubbed from National Tournament below.
What Happened?
But how? Why?
In the weeks leading up to Selection Sunday, WVU was unanimously projected to be in the field of 68. Even after an abysmal Big 12 Tournament loss to Colorado, the Mountaineers seemed safe and sound. They had six Quad 1 wins – which seemed to clinch their spot in the tournament.
But inexplicably, they were not selected. North Carolina, Texas and Xavier made it instead, a head-scratching decision widely derided by college basketball fans all over social media Sunday night.
All 111 of the 111 bracketologists on Bracket Matrix picked WVU, marking the first unanimously selected team to be snubbed in history. For comparison, 50 of them selected Texas, 30 selected Xavier and 27 selected North Carolina.
The Quad Ones
West Virginia went 6-9 in Quad 1 games, while North Carolina went 1-12 and Xavier went 1-9. In addition, Indiana who went 4-13 and Ohio State who went 6-11 in Quad 1 games were also left out.
READ:WEST VIRGINIA SNUBBED
Even more confoundingly, NCAA Tournament Chairman Bubba Cunningham cited Bart Torvik and Wins Above Bubble as new metrics they looked at – two metrics where WVU ranked higher than the Tar Heels.
The NCAA Tournament Chair (and UNC Athletic Director) cites Torvik Rankings and WAB as ‘new metrics” used to pick this year’s teams for the NCAA Tournament right before explaining why UNC was in and #WVU was out.
Torvik
WVU – 34th
UNC – 36thWAB
WVU – 41st
UNC – 42nd https://t.co/LXH77wCFnf— Chris Anderson (@CMAnderson247) March 17, 2025
Most bizarrely of all, Cunningham, who is also the UNC Athletic Director, cited the injury of WVU and son of head coach Darian DeVries, Tucker DeVries, as to why West Virginia was not selected, stating “They had an outstanding year and unfortunately, Tucker DeVries was hurt and player availability was something we talk about quite a bit”.
This drew widespread criticism from college basketball fans, who noted how ridiculous it was to not select a team because of a player who has been out for most of the season, when they still had four times as many Quad 1 wins without him as multiple teams who made it over them accrued all season.
The committee referenced Tucker Devries’ injury as a reason West Virginia was snubbed from the NCAA Tournament.
He has not played since December 6th…
WHAT?! pic.twitter.com/3tIkZfHUqK
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 16, 2025
West Virginia University Athletic Director Wren Baker stated his displeasure with the decision on X Sunday Night, stating: “Heartbroken for @WVUhoops.
No Answers
I can’t comprehend this team being left out. Our resume was better than several teams in the field and it’s a terrible travesty that we weren’t included. I have so much appreciation for @Coach_DeVries, our coaching staff and players. They deserved better than what the committee delivered today. Let’s rally around these young men and let them know how proud we are of them!
The committee referenced Tucker Devries’ injury as a reason West Virginia was snubbed from the NCAA Tournament.
He has not played since December 6th…
WHAT?! pic.twitter.com/3tIkZfHUqK
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 16, 2025
The 2025 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament will go on without the West Virginia Mountaineers, but one thing’s for certain – many inside and outside the Mountain State won’t forget this ridiculous snub anytime soon.
West Virginia men’s basketball inexplicably snubbed from National Tournament.
Author
— Chris Anderson (@CMAnderson247) March 17, 2025
Most bizarrely of all, Cunningham, who is also the UNC Athletic Director, cited the injury of WVU and son of head coach Darian DeVries, Tucker DeVries, as to why West Virginia was not selected, stating “They had an outstanding year and unfortunately, Tucker DeVries was hurt and player availability was something we talk about quite a bit”.
This drew widespread criticism from college basketball fans, who noted how ridiculous it was to not select a team because of a player who has been out for most of the season, when they still had four times as many Quad 1 wins without him as multiple teams who made it over them accrued all season.
The committee referenced Tucker Devries’ injury as a reason West Virginia was snubbed from the NCAA Tournament.
He has not played since December 6th…
WHAT?! pic.twitter.com/3tIkZfHUqK
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 16, 2025
West Virginia University Athletic Director Wren Baker stated his displeasure with the decision on X Sunday Night, stating: “Heartbroken for @WVUhoops.
No Answers
I can’t comprehend this team being left out. Our resume was better than several teams in the field and it’s a terrible travesty that we weren’t included. I have so much appreciation for @Coach_DeVries, our coaching staff and players. They deserved better than what the committee delivered today. Let’s rally around these young men and let them know how proud we are of them!
The committee referenced Tucker Devries’ injury as a reason West Virginia was snubbed from the NCAA Tournament.
He has not played since December 6th…
WHAT?! pic.twitter.com/3tIkZfHUqK
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 16, 2025
The 2025 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament will go on without the West Virginia Mountaineers, but one thing’s for certain – many inside and outside the Mountain State won’t forget this ridiculous snub anytime soon.
West Virginia men’s basketball inexplicably snubbed from National Tournament.