The West Virginia men’s basketball team has been left devastated after failing to secure a spot in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Despite finishing the season with an impressive 19-13 record, including a solid 10-10 mark in the Big 12, the Mountaineers were left out of the 68-team field, and they are making their feelings known.
The news came during the Selection Show on Sunday, and it quickly became clear that the snub left the team feeling both shocked and heartbroken. “Heartbroken for @WVUhoops,” West Virginia Athletics Director Wren Baker tweeted after the show. “I can’t comprehend this team being left out.” For the players and coaches, the exclusion was more than just a disappointment—it was a gut punch to everything they had worked for throughout the season.
The Mountaineers’ Heartfelt Response:
For many, the exclusion didn’t make sense. West Virginia’s resume seemed solid enough to merit inclusion in the tournament field. As Baker stated, “Our resume was better than several teams in the field and it’s a terrible travesty that we weren’t included.” Despite the heartbreak, Baker took a moment to praise the team for their resilience and hard work. “Let’s rally around these young men,” he added. “And let them know how proud we are of them!”
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The disappointment was also echoed by head coach Darian DeVries, who said, “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.”
A Season to Be Proud Of:
Both Baker and DeVries made sure to emphasize the accomplishments of the Mountaineers this season. DeVries praised his players, acknowledging the collective effort and dedication that had gone into making a legitimate push for the NCAA Tournament. “I am incredibly proud of this team and what they accomplished,” DeVries remarked. “They poured their hearts into this season and put all their collective efforts into making the NCAA tournament, and I believe they did that.”
The decision to leave West Virginia out of the tournament field has sparked debate, with many questioning the committee’s criteria and reasoning for the exclusion. Although West Virginia’s overall record and strength of schedule seemed to justify a bid, the committee pointed to the season-ending injury of star player Tucker DeVries as a key factor in their decision.
Tucker DeVries’ Injury: A Critical Blow:
Tucker DeVries, a 6-foot-7 guard and the team’s leading scorer with an average of 21.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, underwent shoulder surgery last month and was sidelined for the remainder of the season. His absence was a significant blow to the Mountaineers’ chances, and NCAA Selection Committee Chair Bubba Cunningham acknowledged that the injury played a role in the committee’s decision.
“The hardest part of being on the committee is having to draw that line,” Cunningham said, referring to the difficult decision-making process when assessing teams’ eligibility. While many agree that DeVries’ injury was unfortunate, many believe that West Virginia’s body of work over the season still warranted a tournament berth.
Looking Ahead:
While the Mountaineers may have been left out of this year’s NCAA Tournament, their resilience and determination throughout the season have not gone unnoticed. Their passionate effort on the court and their collective spirit remain a point of pride for the program, and they will undoubtedly continue to rally together in the wake of this heartbreaking decision.
In the meantime, West Virginia fans are left to wonder what could have been. With an impressive regular season and such a strong squad, many feel that the Mountaineers were unfairly overlooked. While the team’s NCAA dreams may be over for now, they remain determined to finish strong and prove that they belong among the tournament elite.
