John Calipari defends West Virginia’s proposed legal action against NCAA: ‘I’d go hug the governor’

Amid all the controversy surrounding West Virginia being the “First Team Out” of the 2025 NCAA Tournament field on Selection Sunday, the state’s governor announced plans to investigate the Selection Committee’s decision-making and hinted at potential legal action.

“West Virginia deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament,” West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey said Monday behind a podium that read “National Corrupt Athletic Association.” “This was a miscarriage of justice and robbery at the highest levels.”

Morrisey went on to imply malfeasance and potential “backdoor deals” on the part of NCAA Selection Committee chairman Bubba Cunningham, the athletic director at North Carolina, which edged the Mountaineers for the coveted “Final Team In” the 68-team field.

“It’s being reported that Cunningham had a significant bonus incentive if they got into the tournament,” Morrisey added.

Whether or not anything comes from the state attorney general’s pending investigation is yet to be seen, but 11-seeded North Carolina wasted no time proving they belonged in the NCAA Tournament with a dominating 95-68 win over San Diego State in Tuesday night’s First Four play-in game from Dayton.

It was the type of performance Arkansas‘ John Calipari has come to expect from the Tar Heels, even if the veteran head coach made a point to praise the West Virginia governor’s efforts at justice for WVU.

“How about the governor suing?” Calipari said Wednesday on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show. “Only in West Virginia. If I was in West Virginia, I’d go hug the governor right now.”

Pat McAfee: ‘The state of West Virginia feels like they were left out’ of NCAA Tournament

“The state of West Virginia feels like they were left out and North Carolina heard all the chatter,” McAfee added. “That bucket looked bigger for them last night, they were pulling up from the logo. That looked like the best UNC team we’ve seen all year. What if they go on a run? That’s the madness of March.”

Bracketology experts considered West Virginia one of the worst-snubbed teams in the NCAA Tournament selection process this season. The Mountaineers were 19-12 this season and 10-10 in conference play.

West Virginia was 6-10 against Quad 1 opponents this season and 9-0 against Quad 3 and 4 foes. A solid resume, to be sure.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark released a statement in defense of WVU on Monday.

“I was surprised and disappointed to see West Virginia not receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament,” Yormark stated, via ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “In addition to their six Quad 1 wins, the Mountaineers won 10 conference games in one of the toughest leagues in the country. West Virginia deserved a spot, and fans across the country agree.

“Coach (Darian) DeVries and his team did an incredible job fighting adversity and winning big games all season. Regardless of this disappointing outcome, I’m incredibly proud of how they represented the Big 12 all season.”

— On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this report.