Boise State, Ohio State, West Virginia, Indiana, and Others Excluded from the NCAA Tournament: A Deep Dive into the Disappointments of 2025

The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, one of the most highly anticipated events of the college sports calendar, featured intense matchups, standout performances, and thrilling moments. However, for a number of programs with rich basketball histories and lofty expectations, the tournament was a bitter reminder of their failures throughout the season. Boise State, Ohio State, West Virginia, Indiana, and other notable programs found themselves excluded from the tournament, a blow that raised questions about their future trajectories and what went wrong.

In this article, we will explore why these teams, despite their histories of success and strong potential, were left out of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. By diving into each program’s season, their struggles, and the broader issues that plagued them, we will gain insight into the challenges of competing at the highest level in college basketball.

1. Boise State: The Fall of a Mountain West Power

Boise State’s men’s basketball team had emerged as a consistent force in the Mountain West Conference (MWC) in recent years. Under head coach Leon Rice, the Broncos had built a reputation for solid, disciplined basketball with a potent offense and tough defense. In the 2024-2025 season, Boise State entered with high expectations, poised to challenge for both a conference title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The Broncos finished the season with an overall record of 22-10, which would typically be enough to secure an at-large bid. However, despite their strong regular-season record, Boise State was left on the outside looking in when the selection committee revealed its bracket. So, what happened?

Key Factors for Boise State’s Exclusion:

• Non-Conference Schedule: While Boise State had a strong conference record, their non-conference schedule was weaker than that of many other at-large candidates. In a highly competitive field, teams need to prove themselves outside their conference. Boise State struggled in this area, with losses to teams from mid-major conferences and a lack of marquee wins over Power Five opponents. The selection committee often rewards teams that perform well in high-profile games, and Boise State’s inability to secure these kinds of wins left them vulnerable when compared to other teams.
• Key Injuries: Injuries also played a significant role in Boise State’s exclusion. At critical moments during the season, key players missed games, and the team struggled to recover from these setbacks. Injuries to standout players, including leading scorer Marcus Shaver Jr., hampered Boise State’s ability to compete at the highest level. These issues were especially evident in close games, where the Broncos failed to capitalize on opportunities and lost games they would have likely won with a full roster.
• Lack of Signature Wins: A major issue for Boise State was their inability to secure high-quality wins against ranked opponents. The Broncos had solid wins within the Mountain West, but they lacked the statement victories against top-tier programs that the committee typically looks for. As a result, Boise State was seen as a team that had a strong record but did not have the type of wins that would make them a lock for the NCAA Tournament.

2. Ohio State: A Tumultuous Season Leads to Exclusion

Ohio State, one of the most storied programs in college basketball, has been a regular fixture in the NCAA Tournament in recent years. However, the 2024-2025 season was marked by disappointment. The Buckeyes had high hopes under first-year head coach Jake Diebler, who took over the reins after Chris Holtmann’s departure. Despite having a talented roster, Ohio State was unable to put together a consistent season.

The Buckeyes finished the season with a 17-15 record and failed to earn an invitation to the tournament, marking the third consecutive year they would miss the NCAA Tournament.

Key Factors for Ohio State’s Exclusion:

• Inconsistent Play: Throughout the season, Ohio State struggled with inconsistency, particularly in close games. The Buckeyes had numerous close losses, including heartbreaking defeats to teams like Michigan and Iowa. These losses were especially damaging in a competitive Big Ten Conference, where every game counts. Ohio State’s inability to win tight games ultimately cost them a spot in the tournament, as their resume was filled with losses to teams that would have been considered “bad” losses on a tournament résumé.
• Coaching Transition Issues: The transition from Holtmann to Diebler was challenging, especially for a team that was already dealing with roster turnover. Diebler, in his first year as head coach, faced growing pains as he attempted to implement his system and get the team to buy into his vision. While Diebler is undoubtedly talented, his lack of experience as a head coach showed in critical moments, and this contributed to Ohio State’s struggles.
• Key Injuries and Lack of Leadership: Ohio State was also impacted by injuries, which further disrupted their season. The absence of key players at critical moments hurt the Buckeyes’ ability to build momentum, and their lack of a clear leader on the court made it difficult to execute under pressure.

3. West Virginia: Underperformance in the Big 12

West Virginia, under head coach Bob Huggins, has been one of the stalwart programs of the Big 12 Conference. Known for their tough, defensive-minded style of play, the Mountaineers typically contend for both conference titles and NCAA Tournament spots. However, the 2024-2025 season saw West Virginia underperform significantly.

West Virginia finished the regular season with an 18-14 record and was left out of the tournament, despite competing in one of the most difficult conferences in college basketball.

Key Factors for West Virginia’s Exclusion:

• Conference Play Struggles: West Virginia’s performance in Big 12 play was a key factor in their exclusion. Despite having a solid overall record, the Mountaineers struggled against top-tier teams in the Big 12. They were unable to secure key wins against the elite programs in the conference, such as Kansas, Baylor, and Texas. These losses on their résumé were damaging and ultimately led to their exclusion from the tournament.
• Inconsistent Offense: West Virginia’s offense was often a liability. While the Mountaineers are known for their tough defense, their inability to score consistently in critical moments hurt them throughout the season. The team struggled with offensive efficiency, and their poor shooting percentages were evident in losses that could have been avoided with better execution.
• No Standout Performers: Unlike previous years, West Virginia lacked standout performers who could take over games when needed. While the team had some talented players, they didn’t have a player who could consistently be relied upon in clutch moments. This lack of leadership and star power was a significant reason for their exclusion.

4. Indiana: A Disappointing Campaign for the Hoosiers

Indiana basketball, with its storied history, entered the 2024-2025 season with high expectations. Under head coach Mike Woodson, the Hoosiers had shown signs of improvement in previous years, and many thought they were ready to make a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament. However, the 2024-2025 season turned into a disaster for Indiana, as they were left out of the tournament.

Indiana finished the season with an overall record of 19-13 and a 9-11 record in the Big Ten, which was not enough to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Key Factors for Indiana’s Exclusion:

• Lack of Consistency in Conference Play: Indiana, like Ohio State, struggled with consistency in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers were able to win some big games but were often undone by poor performances against lower-tier conference teams. These up-and-down performances hurt their résumé, and their inability to gain traction in one of the nation’s most competitive conferences left them on the bubble.
• Struggles in Close Games: Much like Ohio State, Indiana had difficulty closing out games. The Hoosiers were involved in several close contests but failed to secure key victories in crunch time. Their inability to finish games and make adjustments in the second half contributed to a series of losses that ultimately cost them a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
• Injuries and Roster Issues: Injuries played a role in Indiana’s struggles throughout the season. The Hoosiers were forced to play without some of their key players for extended stretches, and this put a strain on their rotation. The lack of depth and key absences hindered their chances of competing at a high level in the Big Ten, and the NCAA Tournament berth slipped away as a result.

The Broader Context: A Competitive Landscape

The exclusions of Boise State, Ohio State, West Virginia, Indiana, and other notable programs from the 2025 NCAA Tournament underscore the increasing competition within college basketball. In a season where the margin for error was razor-thin, teams that could not perform consistently, secure key wins, or avoid bad losses were left out of the tournament.

In addition, the growing influence of the transfer portal and NIL (name, image, likeness) deals has significantly altered the landscape of college basketball. Teams must now balance roster turnover, player development, and the evolving dynamics of recruiting, which adds additional layers of complexity to an already difficult season.

The exclusion of these teams also highlights the difficulty of earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. With so many programs vying for limited spots, a team’s overall record, conference performance, and key victories—or lack thereof—can determine whether they make it to March Madness.