Unfortunately, West Virginia is not participating in this year’s NCAA Tournament and could be considered one of the biggest snubs in the history of the event. Also, instead of attacking the transfer portal to build on a strong first year under Darian DeVries, athletic director Wren Baker finds himself in another coaching search.
Which coaches should Mountaineer fans keep an eye on during March Madness? Here’s a list of potential candidates, appearing in order of the time of their first round game.
Mar 19, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; High Point Panthers head coach Alan Huss answers questions during the press conference at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
1st round game: vs. No. 4 Purdue
Game info: March 20th at 12:40 p.m. ET on truTV
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Huss led the Panthers to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the Big South Conference championship last week. It’s been an incredible start to his coaching career, compiling a 56-14 record in his first two years. Like Darian DeVries, he also comes from the Greg McDermott coaching tree.
Mar 19, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; VCU Rams head coach Ryan Odom during a press conference at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
1st round game: vs. No. 6 BYU
Game info: March 20th at 4:05 p.m. ET on TNT
Odom was the coach who led No. 16 seed UMBC past No. 1 seed Virginia a few years back. He has since had stints at Utah State (44-25) and of course, VCU, where he’s gone 52-20 over the last two seasons.
Mar 19, 2025; Wichita, KS, USA; Drake Bulldogs head coach Ben McCollum watches his team during a practice session at Intrust Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images / Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images
1st round game: vs. No. 6 Missouri
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Game info: March 20th at 7:35 p.m. ET on truTV
McCollum had a ton of success at Northwest Missouri State, where he worked with WVU AD Wren Baker and won four Division II national titles. In his first year at Drake, he’s led the Bulldogs to a 30-3 record with a brand new roster, most of which is made up of his guys from the D-II level.
Mar 19, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA; Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun talks with media during NCAA Tournament First Round Practice at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images / Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
1st round game: vs. No. 7 UCLA
Game info: March 20th at 9:25 p.m. ET on TNT
Calhoun is the only one on this list who has a direct tie to West Virginia University, spending time as an assistant here from 2007-12. He won big at Fairmont State, turned around a bad Youngstown State program, and is now finding success at Utah State.
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Mar 1, 2025; Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Colorado State Rams head coach Niko Medved looks on in the second half against the Utah State Aggies at Moby Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
1st round game: vs. No. 5 Memphis
Game info: March 21st at 2 p.m. ET on TBS
Medved was a name that was linked to West Virginia last year, so surely he’ll be at least in the conversation once again. He’s led the Rams to the NCAA Tournament three times in the last four years.
GCU Lopes head coach Bryce Drew yells out to his team as they play against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at Global Credit Union Arena in Phoenix on Jan. 4, 2025. / Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
1st round game: vs. No. 4 Maryland
Game info: March 21st at 4:35 p.m. ET on CBS
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Drew didn’t have much success in his first big-time job at Vanderbilt, but he might be ready for a second chance. He’s done wonders with the Grand Canyon program, going 120-39 in five seasons. Before his stint at Vandy, he was very successful at Valparaiso, going 124-49.
New Mexico’s head coach Richard Pitino watches his team during the first round game between Clemson University and University of New Mexico in the 2024 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, March 22, 2024. / Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK
1st round game: No. 7 Marquette
Game info: March 21st at 7:25 p.m. ET on TBS
The son of the legendary Rick Pitino is having success with the Lobos and considered one of the up-and-coming coaches in the game. He had an up-and-down stint at Minnesota from 2013-21, but didn’t have much to work with there and may have been taking on a job he wasn’t quite ready for. Pitino is 87-48 in four seasons at New Mexico.
John Groce (Akron) vs. No. 4 Arizona
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Ritchie McKay (Liberty) vs. No. 5 Oregon
MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI
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WVU Coaching Search: Potential Top Target Already Off the Board
Wren Baker Tells it Like it is, WVU has More Recent Success Than Indiana
Wren Baker Addresses Patrick Morrisey’s Legal Action Against the NCAA
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This weekend’s college basketball slate kicks off with a blockbuster showdown between the No. 11 Virginia Cavaliers and the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils. They’ll be playing in Durham, where Duke has been undefeated for over a year. Virginia (25-3), however, has been on point all season and stands a chance at snapping the Blue Devils’ home court winning streak.
At a Glance: How to Watch Virginia vs. Duke Basketball Game
Stream: Sling
TV channel: ESPN
Date, time: Saturday, Feb. 28 at noon ET
The Cavaliers are coming off a big 90-61 win over NC State, and are looking to extend a nine-game winning streak. The Blue Devils are hot off a massive 100-56 victory against Notre Dame. Duke is seeking another shot at the title this year after falling to No. 1 Houston in last year’s Final Four.
If you don’t have a way to watch Saturday’s Virginia vs. Duke game, read on. Ahead is a quick guide on how to livestream Virginia vs. Duke with Sling, plus key details about the matchup.
How to Watch Virginia vs. Duke Basketball Game Online
Saturday’s Virginia vs. Duke matchup will air on ESPN. If you don’t have cable, you can watch the game online using any live TV streaming service that carries the channel. One of our favorites is Sling, which offers flexible packages and a great channel lineup.
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ESPN is included in Sling’s Orange and Orange + Blue packages. The Orange plan carries 30+ channels, including CNN, TNT, HGTV, and ID, as well as ESPN. This plan is available as a monthly subscription, starting at $45.99 a month, but Sling also offers short-term passes that are ideal for catching individual games or tournaments. A one-day pass costs $4.99, a three-day pass costs $9.99, and a seven-day pass costs $14.99.
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If you want more channels, upgrade to the Orange + Blue package. This plan starts at $60.99 a month and carries 50+ channels, including local networks (in select markets), Fox News, NFL Network, and everything in the Orange package.
Virginia vs. Duke Game Date, Start Time
The next Virginia vs. Duke basketball game takes place on Saturday, Feb. 28. Tip-off is at noon ET.
We’re highlighting the many threads that make Virginia so special
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re embarking on a journey to celebrate the rich history of the place we call home. (WSLS 10)
Virginia is filled with so much history just waiting to be explored. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re celebrating this milestone with a new series: Patchwork 250.
The series will highlight the many threads that make Virginia so special and celebrate every patch (whether that’s a remarkable person, an unforgettable location or a memorable event).
As this new initiative gets underway, we’d love to hear from you. Share your favorite pieces of history and be a part of Virginia’s ongoing story.
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Using Pin It or the form below, let us know: what’s a unique piece of history from your community that you think more people should know about?
Click here for more details.
Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.
About the Author
Jazmine Otey headshot
Jazmine Otey
Jazmine Otey joined the 10 News team in February 2021.
A fatal collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck on Thursday evening has claimed a life and prompted a significant road closure in South Reno.
The Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) responded to reports of the crash at approximately 5:29 p.m. on February 26. The incident occurred on northbound South Virginia Street, just north of Damonte Ranch Parkway.
According to the Nevada State Police, the rider of the motorcycle, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. The driver of the pickup truck remained on-site, though no further details regarding other injuries or the cause of the crash have been released. Northbound South Virginia Street: Completely shut down from Damonte Ranch Parkway to Bishop Manogue Drive.
Southbound South Virginia Street: Open, but expect “rubbernecking” delays as drivers pass the emergency vehicles. Officials expect the northbound lanes to remain closed until at least 11:30 p.m. as the NHP Highway Patrol Division completes their investigation.
