The NCAA Tournament selection committee's decision to include the University of Virginia's men's basketball team in this year's March Madness field has sparked a considerable amount of controversy. Criticisms have poured in, questioning the committee's choice over other noteworthy teams such as Indiana State, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Oklahoma. These critiques intensified after Virginia's dismal performance against Colorado State in their "First Four" matchup, where they suffered a crushing 67-42 defeat.
Virginia's Struggle on the Court
The game against Colorado State highlighted Virginia's struggles, as they managed a meager 5-for-29 from the field in the first half. The team's difficulties continued into the second half, failing to score until four minutes had elapsed. Ultimately, Virginia finished the game 14-56 from the field and 3-17 from beyond the arc, solidifying the criticisms regarding their qualification for the tournament.
Widespread Criticism from Commentators
The voices of discontent weren't limited to fans; prominent commentators from CBS Sports and FOX Sports also criticized the selection committee's decision. Public figures such as Dave Portnoy and Josh Hart openly questioned why Virginia was chosen over other capable teams. Wally Szczerbiak, in particular, expressed his disappointment bluntly, calling out the committee for a mistake that was evident to many bracketologists even before Virginia's lackluster performance. "It's unwatchable basketball the way they played today and on national TV," Szczerbiak commented, highlighting the distress many fans and analysts felt watching the game.
Gary Parrish pointed to Virginia's poor run leading up to the tournament, with the team having lost five of its previous nine games. He emphasized the team's scoring struggles and their rating at KenPom, arguing that these factors alone should have disqualified them from tournament consideration. John Fanta echoed this sentiment, admitting that while he usually refrains from declaring a team undeserving of tournament inclusion, Virginia's case was an exception.
Dave Portnoy's critique was more scathing, suggesting that committee members should face consequences for their decision to include Virginia. Josh Hart expressed disappointment that Virginia was picked over worthy Big East teams. Roger Sherman criticized not only Virginia's dismal performance but also their style of play, which he described as distressing and unenjoyable.
Reigniting Debate over Selection Process
The controversy surrounding Virginia's inclusion in the NCAA Tournament has reignited discussions about the selection process. Critics argue that the current system may prioritize certain criteria over actual game results and team performance leading up to the tournament. This situation underscores the complex and sometimes subjective nature of selecting teams for such a prestigious competition.
Selected Quotes
Selected quotes from commentators underscore the breadth and depth of the criticism directed at the selection committee. Wally Szczerbiak remarked, "[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."
Gary Parrish criticized Virginia's qualification based on their leading-up performance, "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."
John Fanta made an exception to his usual stance, "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."
Dave Portnoy and Roger Sherman provided more pointed critiques, with Portnoy calling for the firing of committee members and Sherman highlighting both the team's style and performance issues. "Committee members should all be fired for putting Virginia in. Results matter. Disgusting," stated Portnoy. Sherman added, "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."
The fallout from Virginia's inclusion and subsequent performance in the NCAA Tournament serves as a critical reminder of the stakes involved in the selection process. It's a debate that is sure to continue until next year's tournament approaches, with calls for a more transparent and fair selection process growing louder.