West Virginia Gov Patrick Morrisey Calls for Investigation into NCAA After Mountaineers' Tournament Snub

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is not taking the NCAA Tournament selection process lightly after his beloved Mountaineers were left out of the March Madness bracket. During a press conference on Monday, Morrisey stood at a lectern adorned with a sign boldly proclaiming "National Corrupt Athletic Association." Yes, he went there.

The Mountaineers, who finished 19-13 overall and 10-10 in Big 12 conference play, were considered a bubble team. Many fans and analysts believed their resume was strong enough to secure one of the 68 spots, but the NCAA selection committee decided otherwise, leaving West Virginians scratching their heads—and apparently, their Governor seething.

"West Virginia deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament," Morrisey declared, calling the decision "a miscarriage of justice" and "robbery at the highest level." He didn’t stop there. Morrisey announced that he had requested Attorney General John McCuskey to investigate the selection committee, suggesting that "backdoor deals" might have influenced the outcome.

The Mountaineers’ exclusion comes on the heels of a surprising loss to Colorado in the Big 12 Tournament. Colorado had been the cellar dweller in the regular season, and that stumble may have sealed West Virginia’s fate. Still, Morrisey and others are baffled, especially when comparing stats like Quadrant 1 wins. West Virginia secured six such victories, whereas North Carolina—another controversial inclusion—managed just one, with a dismal 1-12 record in Quad 1 games.

Governor Morrisey didn’t mince words in an interview with Newsmax, calling the snub "ridiculous" and "outrageous." He even floated the idea that this might be retribution for a successful lawsuit he led against the NCAA in 2024, which challenged transfer rules. "Is this retribution? We’re going to have to get to the bottom of that," he said, keeping the drama alive.

The bracket results also shocked Mountaineers head coach Darian DeVries and athletic director Wren Baker, who both released statements expressing their dismay. DeVries wrote, "Obviously, we are extremely shocked, saddened and disappointed with not being selected for the NCAA Tournament. We strongly believe that we have a resume that is worthy of an NCAA Tournament team." Baker added, "Our resume was better than several teams in the field, and it’s a terrible travesty that we weren’t included." Their frustration is palpable, and honestly, understandable.

UNC’s athletic director Bubba Cunningham, who chairs the NCAA selection committee, clarified that he recused himself from discussions and voting regarding UNC’s inclusion. But that hasn’t stopped critics from raising eyebrows. Vice-chair Keith Gill explained that North Carolina’s spot depended on Memphis beating UAB, a contingency that ultimately worked in UNC’s favor.

While Morrisey’s fiery response may not change the bracket, it’s certainly shaking things up. Whether this investigation uncovers anything substantial remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: West Virginians are taking this snub personally.