MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — Now that the West Virginia Mountaineers men’s basketball have reportedly accepted an invitation to play in The Crown, a postseason tournament set to take place next month in Las Vegas, attention immediately turns to one question: Who will the Mountaineers play first?
And there’s one potential matchup that would instantly grab headlines across the college basketball world.
A meeting with former West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries and the Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball.
Make it happen @CBBCrown pic.twitter.com/qTrqPQ7NfI
— The Voice of Morgantown (@voicemorgantown) March 14, 2026
A Familiar Face in Las Vegas?
DeVries’ brief and controversial connection to West Virginia still lingers in the minds of Mountaineer fans.
After just one season in Morgantown, DeVries left the program to take the head coaching job at Indiana, bringing his son, standout guard Tucker DeVries, with him.
The move left many WVU supporters frustrated, as the program once again found itself searching for stability on the sidelines.
Now, just months later, there’s a chance the Mountaineers could see their former coach across the court.
Indiana’s Season Ends on a Disappointing Note
Indiana’s first season under DeVries didn’t go exactly as planned.
The Hoosiers finished the year 18–15 overall and 9–11 in the Big Ten Conference, results that will likely leave them outside the field for the NCAA Tournament.
That record places Indiana squarely in the type of range that could land them in The Crown, the same postseason event West Virginia is now expected to play in.
If both teams are selected and the bracket breaks the right way, the Mountaineers could potentially face Indiana in the opening round.
A Dream Scenario for Mountaineer Fans
For many fans in Morgantown, that matchup would be must-watch television.
Not only would it pit West Virginia against its former head coach, but it would also provide an opportunity for the Mountaineers to deliver a bit of payback on a national stage.
College basketball is full of storylines, but few would be as intriguing as West Virginia facing DeVries just months after his departure.
Las Vegas Could Deliver the Drama
While the official bracket for The Crown tournament has not yet been released, the possibility of a West Virginia–Indiana matchup is already generating buzz.
Las Vegas is known for dramatic moments and unforgettable matchups.
If the bracket makers decide to lean into the storyline, Mountaineer fans might get exactly what they want — a chance to face their former coach and settle a score on the court.
