West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced an investigation into the NCAA and its selection committee over how teams were picked for this year’s tournament. The move comes after his state’s flagship school, West Virginia University (WVU), was excluded from the tournament despite a 19-13 record and six Quad 1 wins.
Morrisey, who has experience with NCAA-related issues, expressed disappointment and frustration over WVU’s exclusion, calling it “a miscarriage of justice.” He cited metrics such as Quad 1 victories, strength of schedule, and NET rankings that the tournament committee supposedly uses to make its decisions. Morrisey also questioned the selection committee’s process, citing a reported $70,000 bonus incentive for North Carolina’s chair.
The investigation will be led by West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, who stated that knowledge of the selection criteria could help teams build better rosters and manage their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) funds. The investigation comes as the NCAA Tournament has grown into a multi-billion dollar business, sparking concerns about corruption.
Morrisey’s actions are reminiscent of his previous lawsuit against the NCAA in 2023 over transfer eligibility. He hinted that WVU’s exclusion might be retribution, but vowed to “get to the bottom” of the issue. The Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark expressed surprise and disappointment at WVU’s exclusion, citing their six Quad 1 wins and 10 conference games won in a tough league.
The investigation will likely shed light on the NCAA’s selection process and potentially lead to changes aimed at improving transparency and fairness. As Morrisey stated, “Any way you slice it, this thing reeks of corruption.”
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/17/west-virginia-ncaa-tournament-selection