The exclusion of West Virginia from the 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in favor of North Carolina sparked considerable controversy and debate, with many analysts and fans arguing that the Mountaineers were wrongfully omitted. The core of the argument centers on the teams' respective resumes and performance metrics. West Virginia, under a new coach, navigated a challenging Big 12 schedule, known for its brutal competitiveness. They secured notable wins against ranked opponents, showcasing their ability to compete at a high level. Their overall body of work, including their performance in a tough conference, was deemed by many to be worthy of inclusion. Conversely, North Carolina, while a storied program with a strong reputation, faced scrutiny for their inconsistent performance and perceived weaker strength of schedule. Despite their brand recognition and some high-profile victories, their losses and overall metrics were seen by some as less impressive than West Virginia's. The selection committee's decision to prioritize North Carolina over West Virginia was viewed by many as a decision that favored reputation over merit. The controversy highlighted the subjective nature of the selection process and the ongoing debate about the weight given to various factors, such as strength of schedule, conference performance, and overall record. Many argued that West Virginia's performance in the ultra-competitive Big 12 should have been given greater weight, while others felt that North Carolina's brand and potential were deemed more valuable. The outcry from West Virginia fans and analysts underscored the frustration with the selection committee's decisions, and the feeling that the Mountaineers were unjustly excluded from the tournament. This decision reinforced the idea that the selection process can be opaque, and that the committee's interpretation of resumes can be highly debated. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Nissan Take your adventures to new heights in the All-New Nissan Armada PRO-4X. Learn more at NissanUSA.com. Disclaimers: Optional features. Towing capacity varies by configuration. See Nissan Towing Guide and Owner’s Manual for additional information. Always secure cargo. Supply House Join the Trade Master program today at SupplyHouse.com/TM and start ordering plumbing, HVAC, and electrical supplies with just a few clicks. Plus, use promo code SH5 for 5% off your first order. That’s SupplyHouse.com! WayFair After the holiday hustle, there’s nothing like giving your home a little TLC. Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair.com right now. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.  Factor Looking to optimize your nutrition this year? Eat smart with Factor. Get started at FACTOR MEALS.com/FACTORPODCAST and use code FACTORPODCAST to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. Turbo Tax Ready for stress-free taxes and the most money back, guaranteed? Head over to TurboTax.com today and get matched with your Expert. Only available with TurboTax Live Full Service. Real-time updates only in the iOS mobile app. See guarantee details at TurboTax.com/guarantees. ROY Download the Roy app now from the App Store and start backing your favorite athletes the way they deserve—with transparency, trust, and a real impact. This is the future of college sports. Join it now by downloading Roy and supporting your favorite players! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. FanDuel Right now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBig12?sid=YouTube Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drakectoll Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOBig12