March Madness 2025: West Virginia to Boise State, 5 biggest NCAA tournament snubs

March Madness is here. The beloved annual tradition, the NCAA Tournament, opens this week.

Controversy erupted on Selection Sunday when North Carolina made the March Madness 2025 bracket, being sent to Dayton for a First Four game despite having a 1-12 record in Quad 1 games that season.

In addition, Texas, Xavier, and San Diego State were also part of the Last Four In list. Texas’ inclusion helped the Southeastern Conference (SEC) achieve a record-breaking year, as the conference sent 14 teams into the March Madness tournament.


But some notable squads failed to meet the mark. Here are this year’s biggest NCAA tournament snubs:

Boise State (24-10): Boise State missed the NCAA Tournament despite a strong finish to the regular season with nine wins in 11 games. They had a well-balanced offence and excelled in defensive rebounding, leading the nation in defensive rebounding percentage. However, they lost to Colorado State in the Mountain West Tournament championship with a 69-56 defeat, costing them an automatic bid to the NCAA.

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West Virginia (19-13): The omission of West Virginia was a big surprise. The West Virginia Mountaineers (WVU) and their first-year head coach Darian DeVries were not expected to do well in the season, as they were picked to finish 13th in the Big 12 preseason poll, which predicted a low performance. However, their season took a turn when they defeated No. 3 Gonzaga in November, a surprising and impressive win. Javon Small, a transfer player, had been performing strongly, averaging 18.6 points per game leading into Friday, while WVU boasted the second-best scoring defense and the top 3-point defense in the conference. This failed to make improve their chances of making the 68-team bracket.

Ohio State (17-15): Bruce Thornton was a standout player for the Ohio State Buckeyes, averaging 17.5 points and 4.5 assists per game. The team had a solid 3-point shooting percentage of 37.2 per cent, ranking third in the conference. However, they struggled when it came to defense and posted a poor 6-11 record in Quad I games. Their NCAA Tournament hopes were dashed by a loss to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament, which ultimately ended their bid for a spot in the NCAA.

Indiana (19-13): Mike Woodson and the Indiana Hoosiers are parting ways after the season. Despite a strong finish with five wins in their last seven games after a midseason slump, they failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the third time under Woodson. Their loss to Oregon in the Big Ten Tournament and a poor 4-13 record in Quad I games contributed to their exclusion.

Wake Forest (21-11): The Wake Forest Demon Deacons, led by Hunter Sallis, built their identity on strong defence, forcing the second-most turnovers in the ACC. However, their offence struggled, particularly with a 29.2 per cent 3-point shooting rate, the worst in the ACC. Despite finishing fourth in the regular season and reaching the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament, they were not selected for the NCAA Tournament.

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FAQs:

What is March Madness 2025?
March Madness 2025 refers to the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, a yearly event where 68 college basketball teams compete to win the national championship.

What do NCAA snubs mean?
NCAA snubs refer to teams or players that are excluded or left out of the NCAA Tournament despite expectations or strong performances during the season.