ESPN college basketball analyst Joe Lunardi marked WVU basketball as the first team out in his latest bracketology report Tuesday.
WVU has had a major roster overhaul this offseason, garnering attention from ESPN as well. However, Lunardi has the Mountaineers just missing the tournament in his projected nine-bid Big 12 conference next season.
In contrast, West Virginia did make the cut in a May Bracketology projection by fellow college basketball analyst Andy Kates.
In head coach Ross Hodge’s first year, West Virginia finished the season at 18-14 with a 9-10 Big 12 record, including 0-1 in the conference tournament. The Mountaineers finished with three straight wins, culminating in a College Basketball Crown Championship.
A March Madness appearance next season would mark the first for WVU since 2022 in Bob Huggins’ final season. WVU is coming off a postseason appearance, securing a College Basketball Crown Title after defeating Oklahoma in the championship game.
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