In a decision that has stirred controversy and debate within the college basketball community, the NCAA Tournament selection committee's choice to include the University of Virginia’s men’s basketball team in this year’s March Madness field has drawn considerable criticism. Despite other teams such as Indiana State, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Oklahoma being in contention, the committee opted for Virginia, a decision that did not go unnoticed or unchallenged by fans, sports commentators, and analysts alike.
Virginia's subsequent performance in their "First Four" matchup against Colorado State only fueled the fire of dissent. The Cavaliers were soundly defeated, with a final score of 67-42. Their performance during the first half of the game was particularly dismal, managing only 5-for-29 from the field. The struggle continued well into the second half, with the team failing to score until four minutes had passed and ultimately finishing 14-56 from the field and 3-17 from beyond the arc. This lackluster showing highlighted the concerns many had regarding their tournament inclusion.
An Avalanche of Criticism
Commentators from prominent sports networks like CBS Sports and FOX Sports did not hold back in expressing their disapproval of the selection committee's decision. Prominent sports figures such as Dave Portnoy and Josh Hart also weighed in, raising questions about Virginia's inclusion over other potentially deserving teams. Even Wally Szczerbiak took to criticizing the decision to include Virginia in the NCAA Tournament, alluding to the general consensus among bracketologists who viewed the Cavaliers' inclusion as a mistake.
Gary Parrish commented on Virginia's poor performance leading up to the tournament and questioned their legitimacy as a tournament team. Similarly, John Fanta bluntly stated that Virginia's team had no business being in the tournament field. Roger Sherman also took issue not only with Virginia’s style of play but with their overall qualification for the tournament, highlighting a broader discontent with the selection committee’s choices.
Highlighting the Selection Controversy
The debate surrounding Virginia’s inclusion in the NCAA Tournament brings to the forefront issues with the selection process itself. Critics like Szczerbiak have pointed to Virginia's unwatchable style of play on national television as evidence of the committee's error. Gary Parrish's observation about Virginia's lackluster performance in the games leading up to the tournament further cements the argument that the team did not merit its place in the March Madness field. His comparison of Virginia's ranking on KenPom to that of the next lowest at-large team further quantifies the discrepancy in the selection.
John Fanta's exception to his usual stance against questioning tournament inclusions underscores the gravity of Virginia's underperformance. It's not simply about having a bad game; it's about whether the team was qualified to compete on such a significant stage to begin with. Dave Portnoy's strong statement about firing committee members over Virginia's inclusion reflects a sentiment of frustration with not only Virginia's performance but also with the accountability of the selection process.
Josh Hart's remark about Virginia being picked over Big East teams points to specific instances of perceived oversight or misjudgment by the committee. Roger Sherman's critique encapsulates the broader criticism: Virginia’s playstyle and their qualification—or lack thereof—stand as indicators of issues within the NCAA Tournament selection process.
Extracted Quotes
These quotes encapsulate the breadth and depth of the criticism levied against the NCAA Tournament selection committee’s decision to include Virginia:
“[The committee] made a mistake putting Virginia into the NCAA Tournament. Every bracketologist was saying it. They go out and play like this. It’s unwatchable basketball the way they played today and on national TV." - Wally Szczerbiak
“A Virginia team that had lost 5 of its previous 9 games, was unable to score 50 points in 4 of its previous 8 games, and is 18 spots worse at KenPom than the next lowest at-large team looked like it didn’t belong in this NCAA Tournament. A lot of us said this two days ago." - Gary Parrish
“I normally dislike the takes of ‘they didn’t belong in the tournament’ because anything can happen in one game. But, I’ll make an exception here. Nothing against UVA. Tony Bennett’s a hell of a coach. But this particular team had no business being in this field. It’s the truth." - John Fanta
“Committee members should all be fired for putting Virginia in. Results matter. Disgusting." - Dave Portnoy
“They really picked this Virginia team over the Big East teams." - Josh Hart
“Don't let the fact that Virginia plays a distressing, unenjoyable style of basketball distract you from the fact that they are also not good enough to be in the NCAA Tournament." - Roger Sherman
The backlash over Virginia’s inclusion in the NCAA Tournament has sparked a wider conversation about the selection process, one that may prompt reflections and potential changes in how teams are evaluated and chosen in the future. As the dust settles on this controversy, the college basketball world awaits to see if and how the NCAA responds to this critical feedback.