Chris "Mad Dog" Russo Loses His Mind on Committee: 'West Virginia Got Screwed'

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Around 6:34 p.m. ET on Sunday night, the West Virginia Mountaineers found out that they were excluded from the NCAA Tournament and quickly became the main topic of discussion in all of college basketball.
Everyone who follows or works in sports and college basketball was beside themself when they saw North Carolina secure the final spot over the Mountaineers. What's even more egregious is the explanation that committee chair Bubba Cunningham gave on why WVU missed the field. He noted Tucker DeVries' injury as a big reason behind the decision, even though he hasn't played in a game since December 6th.
One of the biggest sports radio hosts in the country, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, who is also a part of ESPN, went off on Cunningham for his pathetic answer, calling it "unfair."
“West Virginia was left out because of Tucker DeVries’ injury. Boy, that’s a little strong, isn’t it? Is that the fair thing to do? How about the other 12 guys on the team? The other guys on the team did enough to win to get into the NCAA (Tournament), so one guy gets out, and we’re going to take them out? We’re going to blow their year away because of an injury? He was hurt all year, he didn’t play all season. When did DeVries get hurt? In December. So they made a decision…the guy hadn’t played all year, and they kicked them out of the tournament because of that? Ah, I tell you this committee, that’s not right. That is a joke. They beat Gonzaga and Arizona in November. They also beat Iowa State. When they beat Kansas, he didn’t play. They won at Kansas, Steven. This is ridiculous. It’s not fair If the team played 80% of their season and they were good enough to get into the tournament, you can’t punish that eleven guys because of an injury. That’s not fair. Forget North Carolina. West Virginia got screwed more than anybody.”
"This is ridiculous!" @MadDogUnleashed and @JudgeTorre go off on the selection committee for leaving out @WVUhoops. #HailWV
— Mad Dog Sports Radio (@MadDogRadio) March 16, 2025
Hear more live #SelectionSunday reaction: https://t.co/PoYl6KSLCh pic.twitter.com/uZXatwbstU
MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI
Darian DeVries Issues a Statement Following NCAA Snub
Wren Baker Reacts to Selection Committee's Decision to Leave West Virginia Out
ESPN's Fran Fraschilla Slams Committee for Snubbing West Virginia of Tournament Bid
Committee Chair Gives Ridiculously Pathetic Answer as to Why WVU Missed the Tournament

Schuyler Callihan is the publisher of West Virginia On SI and has been a trusted source covering the Mountaineers since 2016. He is the host of Between The Eers, The Walk Thru Game Day Show, and In the Gun Podcast. The Wheeling, WV native moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2020 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and Carolina Panthers.
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