Half the excitement of NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday is finding out who made the cut and, equally, who didn’t. On March 16, 2025, 68 teams marked the beginning of March Madness, but several others were left behind, feeling the sting of rejection. Among those left to rue missed opportunities are teams like West Virginia and Boise State, both of which had impressive cases for inclusion.
The Mountaineers were perhaps the biggest shock of the day, becoming the first team to miss the tournament. Under the guidance of first-year coach Darian DeVries, West Virginia had showcased early-season strength, including wins against Gonzaga, Arizona, Kansas, and Iowa State, all of which are ranked among the top 20 teams by NET rankings. Despite this impressive performance, their late-season slump—including a disheartening loss to Colorado—led to their exclusion. Their record stood at 6-10 against Quad 1 teams and they combined for a 10-13 record against Quad 2 teams, which seemed to qualify them as viable contenders.
Meanwhile, Boise State faced its own heartache after putting together a strong late push, winning nine of their final eleven regular-season games and reaching the Mountain West tournament final. With 24 wins, the Broncos' season otherwise stood out, bolstered by victories over tournament teams such as Utah State, New Mexico, and Clemson. Despite finishing with an 8-8 record across Quad 1 and 2 games, their unfortunate Quad 3 and Quad 4 losses proved too detrimental to secure them inclusion.
Indiana also felt the rejection harshly as the Hoosiers ended Mike Woodson's tenure without experiencing the thrill of March Madness. Having started strong at 14-10, Indiana gathered momentum with wins over Michigan State and Purdue. A disappointing loss to Oregon during the Big Ten tournament, coupled with their subpar 4-13 Quad 1 record, dashed their hopes for tournament participation. With no bad losses to their name and 15-0 performance against lower-ranked teams, many questioned how other teams could be favored over them.
Ohio State, too, found itself on the wrong side of the selection committee’s decision. With 17 wins, including notable victories over Texas, Kentucky, and Purdue, the Buckeyes entered the selection conversation. Yet they stumbled with bad losses, finishing with only 6 wins from Quad 1 matchups against lower competition. Their NET ranking of No. 41 was not enough to convince the committee they merited inclusion.
From the Big West, UC Irvine’s case was similarly compelling. Finishing the season with a remarkable 28-6 record, they found themselves tied for the eighth-most wins among Division I teams, yet still missed the field. Their NET ranking of No. 62 and troubling Quad 3 losses worked against their qualification. Had they been awarded the automatic bid for winning the Big West tournament, the Anteaters would have secured their spot without predicament. Instead, they were left to ponder ‘what if’ after losing their chance.
Dayton, who quietly finished strong, also found itself among the overlooked. Many did not expect the Flyers, who had finished third in the Atlantic 10, to make the tournament, yet they had significant wins against teams like Connecticut and Marquette. Their overall record of 3-3 against Quad 1 teams, paired with their defeat of conference champion Virginia Commonwealth, made them intriguing contenders. Unfortunately, they could not compensate for their poor 2-6 record among Quad 2 games, coupled with one painful Quad 3 loss to Massachusetts earlier this season.
This year’s selections sparked outrage and frustration among these snubbed teams. For fans and players alike, the controversy raises the question of how the tournament committee weighs losses versus wins and the seeming consistency applied to different teams’ resumes. With mixed results and varying contexts surrounding team performances, the snubs serve as sobering reminders of the unpredictable nature of March Madness.
Each omission carries its own unique story, echoing through the halls of college basketball history and highlighting the incredibly competitive nature of NCAA tournament selections. The teams left behind this year can only hope to learn and improve as they look to the future.
