March Madness: West Virginia Gov threatens legal action against NCAA

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey is not pleased with the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee’s decision to leave the West Virginia Mountaineers out of the March Madness bracket. Morrisey went as far as to stand at a lectern during a press conference with a sign that read “National Corrupt Athletic Association” to express his frustration.

The Mountaineers were on the bubble, and while many believed they had a strong case to be selected among the 68 teams, the committee ultimately decided otherwise. Morrisey called the decision a “miscarriage of justice” and “robbery at the highest level.”

In response to the snub, Morrisey has requested West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey to open an investigation into the NCAA selection committee to look into any potential “backdoor deals” that may have influenced the decision.

The Mountaineers finished the season with a 19-13 record overall and a 10-10 record in Big 12 conference play. They were considered a fringe tournament team, with high hopes of making a run in the Big 12 Tournament. However, a surprising loss to Colorado dashed those hopes and may have played a role in their exclusion from the bracket.

Head coach Darian DeVries and athletic director Wren Baker released statements expressing their shock and disappointment at not being selected for the NCAA Tournament. They both believe that the team’s resume was strong enough to warrant a spot in the tournament.

One of the main points of contention is the team’s performance in Quadrant 1 games. West Virginia had six Quadrant 1 wins, including victories over ranked teams like Iowa State, Gonzaga, and Kansas. This led Morrisey to question the decision to leave them out of the tournament.

Morrisey also raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest, as UNC’s athletic director, Bubba Cunningham, is the chair of the selection committee. Cunningham stated that he recused himself from the decision-making process regarding North Carolina’s inclusion in the tournament.

Overall, Morrisey is adamant that the Mountaineers deserved a spot in the NCAA Tournament and is determined to get to the bottom of the committee’s decision. Whether there were any external factors at play remains to be seen, but the controversy surrounding West Virginia’s exclusion continues to spark debate in the college basketball community.