Many West Virginia fans did not handle the news of Darian DeVries’ sudden departure well.
And that’s understandable.
Just days after learning the Mountaineers were snubbed by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, DeVries was announced as the new head coach of Indiana.
Two gut punches in just a few days.
Perhaps in part a byproduct of frustration, a wave of silliness ensued from the country roads.
In the eyes of West Virginia fans on the fringe, it goes something like this:
Tucker DeVries, who was already a likely NBA Draft choice ahead of the 2024-25 season, and who, off to a great start, had done nothing but enhance that draft stock, chose to postpone his multi-million dollar NBA career for a year by faking an injury, while also sabotaging his father’s first season (also off to a great start) as a high major college basketball coach. And likewise, Darian was on board with stalling his son’s professional career for an NIL deal worth far less than an NBA contract, while also risking a blemish on his coaching resume.
Okay, that’s not what they think at all, but it is effectively what one is saying in order to believe the nonsense that’s out there.
For his part, West Virginia AD Wren Baker seems to understand that lunatic fans are a net negative to his school, so he’s having no part of their conspiracies.
Baker says what really happened is what DeVries said happened — Indiana came calling after they announced Mike Woodson’s retirement, and it was one of those rare opportunities he couldn’t pass up.
“There were multiple other schools who had reached out to Darian because there were several jobs that were open before the season closed. I know factually that he declined to talk to those schools. The only one that I’m aware of that he entertained at all was Indiana,” Baker said on Big 12 Today.
Some of the other jobs that opened before the end of the season included Miami, Florida State and Virginia. Impartial national observers all agreed Indiana was the best available position.
Why would DeVries find IU compelling? The facts conspiratorial West Virginia fans want to ignore are staring them right in the face: Indiana is a more prestigious program, has better resources, is in a better conference, is closer to DeVries’ Midwest roots, and it pays better.
It’s a no brainer for a basketball junkie like DeVries.
And Baker acknowledges it while squashing the sour grapes.
“In situations like this, people will conjure up a lot of ‘this happened and that happened.’ I probably have more knowledge of the facts because I was inside,” Baker said. “Whether it was Tucker’s injury or there’s all kinds of crazy things that are out there. I believe that for whatever reason, he felt like Indiana was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it was one of the few he would probably leave for, and it just happened to open at the wrong time.”
No doubt frustrated by having to replace DeVries after just one season in Morgantown, Baker is taking the high road, and setting a good example for WVU fans to follow.
“Coach DeVries did a really good job coaching the basketball team this year. He deserves credit for that,” Baker said. “We should have been in the NCAA Tournament. I’m not somebody who cries and moans in public a lot, but that was an absolute travesty that team didn’t get in.
“Darian and I enjoyed a good relationship, and I’m grateful for the progress we made in our program last year and wish we would have been able to continue.”
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