UVA had a double digit RPI if you care about such things. Having no one in the room (think that ever happen with the old conference) is the only viable reason.
It needn't be sinister either, OK Cincy in the east Memphis a 8/9, UConn in Buffalo/NYC seed doesn't matter, UL and SMU, oh they didn't play anybody.
Whatever hair brained argument that were put forward went unchallenged because everyone in the committee kept there powder dry for other battles. Seen it a hundred times in committee style meetings.
Sometimes it isn't worth the energy to constantly fight a never ending string of stupidity.