Kristian Ferrell
West Virginia University's basketball team has been the subject of much discussion due to its low ranking in the NCAA's NET rankings. Despite beating several highly ranked teams, WVU's ranking has not reflected their performance, causing confusion among fans and commentators. In preseason rankings, the WVU men's basketball team was ranked 56th in the country, and their performance during the season, including notable wins, has not resulted in a significant rise in their ranking. This has led to questions about the ranking system and the criteria used to determine the rankings.
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What You'll Learn
WVU men's basketball team ranked 56th in the country
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team is ranked 56th in the country in the preseason rankings. This is the team's first season under new head coach Darian DeVries. The Mountaineers finished last in the Big 12 with a 4-14 conference record (9-23 overall) last season under interim head coach Josh Eilert. Despite their poor record last season, the Mountaineers are considered to have one of the top players in the country, Tucker DeVries, on their team.
The Big 12 is expected to be the top basketball conference in the country this season, with three teams in the top 10 and seven in the top 17. The WVU men's basketball team is ranked 11th among the 16 Big 12 teams. The team is sandwiched between Nevada at 55th and Missouri at 57th in the country-wide rankings.
While the Mountaineers are ranked relatively low in the preseason rankings, they have had some notable wins this season. They beat the second-ranked team in the country and the team ranked fifth in the NET, which led to some confusion about their ranking. Despite their wins, the Mountaineers only moved up two spots from 32nd to 30th in the NET rankings. This has left some people scratching their heads, as there are several teams ranked ahead of WVU that have less impressive records.
The Mountaineers' low ranking in the preseason rankings may be due to their performance last season, where they finished last in the Big 12. However, with a new head coach and a top player in Tucker DeVries, the team is looking to improve this season. Only time will tell if the WVU men's basketball team can climb up the rankings and compete with the top teams in the country.
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WVU's NCAA NET rankings are confusing
Additionally, there are several teams ranked above WVU that have worse records and more losses. For instance, Kansas, a team that WVU beat, has an identical overall record and Quad 1 record, yet they are ranked higher. Similarly, Gonzaga, another team that WVU defeated, has two more losses and a worse record in Quad 1 games, but is still ranked higher than WVU.
The NET rankings are computer-driven and place a heavy emphasis on the strength of wins. However, the rankings do not always seem to align with the quality of the team's victories. Of the 29 teams ranked ahead of WVU, nine of them have a Quad 2 loss, and twelve of them have fewer Quad 1 wins or a worse winning percentage in those games. This discrepancy between the rankings and the teams' actual performance makes WVU's NCAA NET rankings confusing and difficult to understand.
Furthermore, certain teams with significantly worse records are ranked higher than WVU. For example, Maryland is ranked 25th despite having a 0-4 record in Quad 1 games and a Quad 2 loss. This makes it challenging to understand the criteria and weighting used to determine the rankings.
While the NET rankings are meant to help determine the chances of teams being selected for the NCAA Tournament, WVU's rankings do not seem to accurately reflect their performance or the quality of their wins. This confusion around WVU's NCAA NET rankings has led to discussions and debates among fans and analysts, with many questioning the validity and accuracy of the ranking system.
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WVU's ranking in the Big 12
However, in the 2024 preseason rankings, the West Virginia men's basketball team was ranked 56th in the country, according to Sports Illustrated. This placed them 11th among the 16 Big 12 teams, with a 4-14 conference record the previous season. Despite this relatively low ranking, the Big 12 conference itself was expected to be the top basketball conference in the country for the 2024-25 season.
WVU's ranking within the Big 12 has also been a topic of confusion for some. In January 2025, WVU's NCAA NET ranking caused surprise, as they were ranked 30th despite notable wins over higher-ranked teams. This ranking system has been described as "awfully confusing," with some questioning how WVU isn't ranked higher.
In terms of Big 12 baseball power rankings, WVU has been described as "healing up and making a jump" in April 2024. The return of key players and a solid pitching rotation contributed to this positive outlook. By March 2025, WVU baseball had climbed in the rankings after a series win against West Virginia, moving into a tie for first place in the conference baseball standings.
Overall, WVU's ranking in the Big 12 has fluctuated, with the team experiencing periods of average performance, confusion over rankings, and climbs up the standings.
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WVU's record in the 2023-24 season
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team had a disappointing 2023-24 season, finishing with a 9-23 record overall and a 4-14 conference record in the Big 12. This placed them last in the Big 12, an improvement on their 11th-place preseason ranking.
WVU's poor season saw them miss out on the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row. Their low ranking at the end of the season was surprising to some, given that they had beaten highly-ranked teams like Kansas and Gonzaga during the season.
In preseason, the Mountaineers were ranked 56th in the country by Sports Illustrated, with other teams in the Big 12 Conference expected to perform better. The team had a new head coach, Darian DeVries, and played their home games at the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Despite their poor overall record, WVU did have some notable individual performances. Tucker DeVries was considered one of the top players in the country, and V.J. Edgecombe was named Freshman of the Year.
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WVU's tournament snubs
West Virginia's NCAA Tournament snubs have been a topic of discussion and confusion for many. The WVU men's basketball team has had notable successes, such as beating the second-ranked team in the country and finishing 9-23 overall. However, their rankings have not always reflected these achievements.
In Sports Illustrated's preseason ranking, the WVU men's basketball team was ranked 56th in the country, which was the 11th highest in the Big 12. This ranking raised questions, especially considering that WVU beat Kansas, a team that was ranked 9th with an identical overall record. Additionally, WVU had more Quad 1 wins than several teams ranked higher than them and a better winning percentage in those games.
The NET Rankings, which are used to determine the chances of teams being selected for the NCAA Tournament, have also been a source of confusion. Despite their victories over highly-ranked opponents and a lack of Quad 2 losses compared to other teams, WVU's ranking did not see a significant rise. This inconsistency has left many puzzled, including those in the media, who have pointed out the seemingly contradictory nature of the rankings.
WVU's recent NCAA Tournament snub was described as "an all-time, all-timer" by the hosts of the "3 Guys Before the Game" podcast, reflecting the sentiment that the team's achievements have not been adequately recognized or rewarded.
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Frequently asked questions
There could be a number of reasons why WVU is not ranked higher in basketball. In the NCAA NET rankings, several teams were ranked higher than WVU despite WVU having beaten them. For example, Kansas and Gonzaga were ranked 9th and 18th, respectively, despite both teams having been beaten by WVU.
As of January 19, 2025, WVU was ranked 30th in the NCAA NET rankings.
In the preseason rankings, WVU was ranked 56th in the country, 11th in the Big 12.
The NET ranking is a ranking of NCAA DI Men's Basketball Teams. It is helpful in determining the chances of teams being selected for the NCAA Tournament during March Madness.
