West Virginia

March Madness 2025: West Virginia responds to NCAA tournament snub — 'Shocked, saddened and disappointed'

Published

12 months ago

March 17, 2025

March Madness 2025: West Virginia responds to NCAA tournament snub — 'Shocked, saddened and disappointed'

As the 2025 NCAA tournament bracket was revealed on Sunday, there were bound to be a few notable exclusions. One of these was West Virginia, who fell just short of the tournament as the first team out.

With a 19-13 record, and a 10-10 Big 12 record, the Mountaineers were quickly viewed as one of the tournament’s biggest snubs. West Virginia seems to agree, with the Mountaineers publicly stating they believe they deserved a berth in the tourney.

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A couple of hours after the bracket was announced, West Virginia posted a statement from head coach Darian DeVries on social media addressing the snub.

“Obviously, we are extremely shocked, saddened and disappointed with not being selected for the NCAA Tournament. We strongly believe that we have a résumé that is worthy of an NCAA Tournament team,” DeVries said. “I am incredibly proud of this team and what they accomplished. They poured their hearts into this season and put all their collective efforts into making the NCAA tournament, and I believe they did that.”

Soon after the snub, West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker released a statement on social media, saying he was “heartbroken.” He posted the statement alongside a list of the Mountaineers’ accolades from the season, which included six wins over Quad 1 teams and four wins over ranked teams, including then-No. 2 Iowa State and then-No. 3 Gonzaga.

“I can’t comprehend this team being left out. Our résumé was better than several teams in the field and it’s a terrible travesty that we weren’t included,” Baker wrote.

Heartbroken for @WVUhoops. 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… pic.twitter.com/SDOemgXeZ0
— Wren Baker (@wrenbaker) March 16, 2025

West Virginia was passed over in the tournament in favor of North Carolina, which made the tournament as the last at-large team in the field.

UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham is the chair of the selection committee, prompting some to raise eyebrows at the Tar Heels’ inclusion. Cunningham and Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill, who is the committee’s vice chair, told CBS that Cunningham was not in the room when UNC was being discussed, as per the committee’s policy.

Gill said the Tar Heels would not have made the tournament if UAB had beaten Memphis in the AAC championship game on Sunday.

Still, the snub is a tough blow for West Virginia, with many getting the sense that the committee made the wrong choice. After the selection show, Cunningham cited a season-ending injury for Mountaineers guard Tucker DeVries — the coach’s son — as part of the reasoning for leaving West Virginia out. But DeVries played in only eight games before suffering the injury in December. He underwent shoulder surgery last month.

Instead, UNC will be the ones going dancing, playing San Diego State in a First Four game on Tuesday for the No. 11 seed. West Virginia, meanwhile, will be staying home.

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West Virginia

Weir High senior Hailey Hans named 2026 West Virginia student journalist of the year

Published

3 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Weir High senior Hailey Hans named 2026 West Virginia student journalist of the year

Hancock County, WV — A Weir High School senior has been recognized as the 2026 West Virginia Student Journalist of the Year.

Hailey Hans was selected for the statewide honor after building a journalism portfolio since her freshman year. She also serves as the staff manager of Weir Student Media, where she oversees articles and is in charge of deadlines.

“When I was a freshman I was placed in the journalism one class, and I actually tried to get pulled from the class. But, then after I sat in the class and I learned a little bit, that’s where my love grew and then from there I continued to take classes, I helped pass a law, and I got to these national conventions. Where it just lit a fire inside me,” Hans said.

Hans is planning to attend West Liberty University in the fall to study education with a minor in journalism, with the goal of becoming a journalism teacher. She will now submit her portfolio for the national-level contest.

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West Virginia

Big 12 Conference Bracket Matchups, Dates, and Start Times

Published

15 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Big 12 Conference Bracket Matchups, Dates, and Start Times

The regular season is now behind us, and we are moving on to the next chapter of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season, the week of conference tournaments.

With their win on Friday over UCF and thanks to TCU taking care of business against Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon, the West Virginia Mountaineers have locked up the No. 7 seed in the Big 12 tournament, meaning they will receive a first-round bye. Ross Hodge’s squad will await the winner of No. 10 BYU and No. 15 Kansas State.

While most may think it’s best to pull for K-State to spring the upset, it’s actually probably better if BYU wins. Why? Well, simply because beating Kansas State isn’t going to boost your resume. If there’s any chance at an at-large bid for the Mountaineers, they need to beat more quality teams. Beating BYU a second time would go a long way, and then springing the upset against Houston in the quarterfinals would really open some eyes.

Anyways, here is a look at all of the matchups and the entire bracket.

First round byes: Iowa State, TCU, West Virginia, UCF

Double byes: Arizona, Houston, Kansas, Texas Tech

Tuesday (First Round)

Game 1: No. 12 Arizona State vs. No. 13 Baylor, 12:30 p.m. on ESPN+

Game 2: No. 9 Cincinnati vs. No. 16 Utah, 3 p.m. on ESPN+

Game 3: No. 10 BYU vs. No. 15 Kansas State, 7 p.m. on ESPN+

Game 4: No. 11 Colorado vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN+

Wednesday (Second Round)

Game 5: No. 5 Iowa State vs. winner of No. 12 Arizona State/No. 13 Baylor, 12:30 p.m. on ESPN/2

Game 6: No. 8 UCF vs. winner of No. 9 Cincinnati/No. 16 Utah, 3 p.m. on ESPNU

Game 7: No. 7 West Virginia vs. winner of No. 10 BYU/No. 15 Kansas State, 7 p.m. on ESPNU

Game 8: No. 6 TCU vs. winner of No. 11 Colorado/No. 14 Oklahoma State, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2/U

Thursday (Quarterfinals)

Game 9: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Game 5 winner, 12:30 p.m. on ESPN/2

Game 10: No. 1 Arizona vs. Game 6 winner, 3 p.m. on ESPN/2

Game 11: No. 2 Houston vs. Game 7 winner, 7 p.m. on ESPN/2

Game 12: No. 3 Kansas vs. Game 8 winner, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN/2

Friday (Semifinals)

Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m. on ESPN/2

Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN/2

Saturday (Championship)

Game 15: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN

Full Bracket

Big 12

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West Virginia

Gia Cooke hits clutch 3-pointer and No. 15 West Virginia women land in Big 12 Tournament title game

Published

1 day ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Gia Cooke hits clutch 3-pointer and No. 15 West Virginia women land in Big 12 Tournament title game

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gia Cooke scored 14 points and her go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute helped No. 15 West Virginia escape with a 48-47 victory over Colorado in a Big 12 Tournament semifinal on Saturday night.

A 3-pointer by Desiree Wooten gave sixth-seeded Colorado a 45-43 lead with 1:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. On West Virginia’s next possession, Cooke’s offensive rebound led to her clutch 3-pointer that gave the second-seeded Mountaineers a 46-45 lead with 38 seconds remaining.

After a miss by Colorado, Jordan Harrison made two free throws for a three-point West Virginia lead at 16 seconds. Wooten was then fouled on a 3-point try with two seconds left but made only two free throws. Cooke was fouled immediately but missed both free throws, leaving Colorado one last chance. Instead, a steal by Harrison preserved the win for West Virginia.

The sluggish performance was not indicative of two teams that came into the matchup on a roll. Colorado had won seven of nine games and the Mountaineers had won eight of nine.

Harrison led West Virginia (26-6) with 15 points and Kierra Wheeler contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Zyanna Walker scored 16 points and Wooten 12 off the bench for Colorado (22-11).

West Virginia led 13-12 after one quarter, then neither team made a shot in the final six minutes of a dismal second quarter. The Mountaineers missed their last 10 attempts, the Buffaloes their last six, and the score was 17-17 at halftime.

West Virginia’s Jordan Harrison chases after the ball after knocking the ball away from Colorado’s Jade Masogayo during second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. Credit: AP/Charlie Riedel

The Mountaineers opened up a 12-point lead in the third quarter, but missed their last nine shots. Still, they took a 34-30 lead to the fourth quarter.