By: Jonathan K. Martin | WV Sports Chat
The West Virginia Mountaineers are headed to Las Vegas for a shot at postseason redemption in the 2026 College Basketball Crown.
After finishing the regular season and conference tournament play at 18-14 overall in their first year under head coach Ross Hodge, WVU missed out on the NCAA Tournament but accepted an invitation to the second-annual event.
The Mountaineers will open against the Stanford Cardinal in the quarterfinals on Thursday, April 2, at 8 p.m. ET from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The game will air live on FS1.
If the Mountaineers were to win they would play the winner of Rutgers and Creighton on April 4, at 4 p.m. ET on FOX.
This matchup gives West Virginia a fresh opportunity to extend their season and compete for a meaningful prize pool that includes significant NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rewards for participating teams and players. The tournament’s $500,000+ payout structure has helped position the Crown as a compelling alternative to the traditional NIT for select mid-to-high-major programs snubbed by March Madness.
