NCAA Basketball FanHouse

West Virginia's Ebanks Still M.I.A.

Tom Ziller — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:32:00 EST

Filed under: West Virginia, NBA Prospects

Bob Huggins has West Virginia flying high in the top 10, and a light pre-Thanksgiving schedule should keep the 1-0 Mountaineers from much Kentucky-style heartburn or any Carolina hiccups. But to keep those lofty expectations realistic heading into Big East play -- and before that the 76 Classic in Anaheim beginning Nov. 29, headlined by UCLA and No. 11 Butler -- Huggins certainly needs big things from standout sophomore forward Devin Ebanks.

For that to happen, Ebanks would have to actually be playing with the team. Which, as of right now, he's not, with no timeline for his return in place, nor even an explanation of why he is not with the team.

The Morgantown media corps checked in with Huggins Friday, asking why Ebanks had been suspended by the coach a week prior, and when the star would return. According to the Charleston Gazette, Huggins refused to disclose the reasons for Ebanks's suspension and said he didn't know when the forward would be allowed back in the gym.

Ebanks could very well quietly return to the fold this week, with enough time to get back into rhythm before the California trip. But so long as Huggins gives the same vague answers about his star's status, that's a question only time can answer, and that should rightly cause worry in Morgantown.

West Virginia's Ebanks Still M.I.A. originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Big East Tournament Preview: Everyone Is Playing, Except Bubble Teams

Chas Rich — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Cincinnati, Connecticut, DePaul, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia, Big East

The Big East Tournament gets underway Tuesday, and this year the Big East Tournament (BET) matches the construction of the conference -- oversized, a bit confusing and very clearly divided.

The Big East at this point has seven teams that are definitely going to the NCAA tournament and one team that lies way out on the fringe of the bubble. This year, the BET is all about teams trying to improve or maintain their projected seeding for the Big Dance.For the first time, the BET includes all 16 teams. The Big East, though, did not want the top teams to have to play too many games in a row before the NCAA Tournament or risk damaging their seed with the possibility of a really bad loss. To protect the top teams, the top four get a double-bye and do not play until Thursday. The next four teams seeded from No. 5 to No. 8 get a first-day bye. That leaves teams No. 9 through 16 to face each other.

Those teams in the bottom half have no chance of going to the NCAA Tournament, and to win the BET they would have to win five games in five days. The odds are prohibitively stacked against that. So much so, that the opening day is not televised anywhere. There are free webcasts at the Big East site.

Matchups

Tuesday: DePaul (16) vs. Cinci (9); St. John's (13) vs. Georgetown (12); Rutgers (15) vs. Notre Dame (10); USF (14) vs. Seton Hall (11).
Wednesday: 16/9 Winner vs. Providence (8); 13/12 Winner vs. Marquette (5); 15/10 Winner vs. West Virginia (7); 14/11 Winner vs. Syracuse (6)

You can view the bracket and times here (PDF).

What Teams Want

Playing for No. 1 Seed: Pitt, UConn and Louisville
Trying to improve seed: Villanova, Syracuse, Marquette and West Virginia
Hoping to find a golden ticket: Providence
Next stop, NIT: Notre Dame, Georgetown, Cinci
Where is the CBI: Seton Hall, St. John's
Just stopping by to say hello: USF, Rutgers, DePaul

Storylines

The Bubble is an Illusion for Providence
Every conference is supposed to have a bubble team. The Big East really does not. Nonetheless, for purposes of keeping punditry with standard storylines, Providence will be proffered as a Big East bubble team.

The Friars' RPI is hovering around 70. With the exception of knocking off Pitt and Syracuse, they were the beneficiary of an unbalanced schedule that gave them six five games against the bottom four of the Big East. That gave them the edge in finishing above .500 in the conference. They did beat Cincinnati twice, which only made the Big East bubble more barren.

Will the Big East Get Three No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament?
That will be the most discussed issue in the BET. Pitt seems like a virtual lock for a No. 1 seed even if it goes out and loses its first game. They have the No. 1 RPI, they are No. 2 in both polls. They have been a top-five team all season. UConn was considered another lock, but how do you deny the regular season Big East Champion in Louisville? It just does not seem possible that the NCAA selection committee would pick three No. 1 seeds from the same conference. UConn and Louisville do not meet unless both get to the championship game. If so, that could decide the issue.

How Far Will Marquette slide?
The injury to Dominic James has been devastating. Before that, the Golden Eagles were looking like a No. 2 or 3 seed and seemed like a guard-heavy team that could go far in the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Eagles played tough against UConn, Louisville and Pitt but still lost. That was not so bad, even encouraging. But then Marquette lost at home, on senior day to Syracuse. That was damaging. If Marquette does not win a couple games, they could see themselves as a No. 6 or 7 seed by Sunday night.

The Big East is a Beast: It is the biggest and was supposed to be the toughest conference. With four teams in the top 10 and six teams ranked in the Top 25, there is plenty of quality in the conference. The issue is that the bottom is so weak. DePaul went 0-18 in the Big East. Rutgers is a wreck. South Florida is very slowly improving. The sheer size is the issue. Teams at the bottom have a hard time getting out from under the pile.

Predictions

Day one: Cincinnati over DePaul; Georgetown over St. John's; Notre Dame over Rutgers; and USF surprises Seton Hall.
Day two: Providence over Cincinnati; Marquette over Georgetown; WVU over ND; and Syracuse beats USF.
Quarterfinals: Louisville over Providence; Villanova over Marquette; Pitt over WVU; and UConn over Syracuse.
Semifinals: Villanova upsets Louisville and UConn finally beats Pitt.
Championship: UConn

Big East Tournament Preview: Everyone Is Playing, Except Bubble Teams originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Louisville Wins the Big East

Chas Rich — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:25:00 EST

Filed under: Louisville, West Virginia, Big East

Louisville survived in Morgantown to win its first Big East regular season title. What it means immediately is that the Cardinals will be the No. 1 seed in the Big East Tournament and will not have to worry about the possibility of facing UConn or Pitt until the Big East Championship game. It also keeps alive the possibility of Louisville stealing a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament -- most likely from UConn.

West Virginia nearly got the win, despite a no-show from Da'Sean Butler and Alex Ruoff. Louisville completely locked down those two, but freshmen Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones picked up the slack. The player WVU could not contain, though, was Terrance Williams. The Louisville forward did everything with 20 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 6 steals. He was the best player on the court and carried the Cardinals.

No. 6 Louisville 62, WVU 59: Recap | Box Score | RPI | Scores

Louisville Wins the Big East originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Bob Huggins Still King of Queen City

Chas Rich — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:36:00 EST

Filed under: Cincinnati, West Virginia, Big East

Cincinnati fans still have great affection for their Huggy Bear. The man who brought the Bearcats back to national prominence is still greatly loved in the Queen City. When West Virginia hired Bob Huggins in 2007, the Big East just happened to produce a schedule that only had Cincinnati visit West Virginia in the 2007-08 season, with no return trip. So tonight was his first trip to the Fifth Third Arena as the coach of the Mountaineers.

And Cincinnati responded in a way that made the coach a little misty.

Cincinnati 65, West Virginia 61: Recap | Box Score | RPI | Scores

The Bearcats provided a pregame tribute that put a little dew in the former coach's eye. Some fans wore mustard yellow jackets in homage to Huggins sartorial selection.

Then there was the actual game.

Freshman forward Yancy Gates had a big game to lead the Bearcats to victory, finishing with 22 points and 11 rebounds. The Bearcat defense absolutely shut down the Mountaineers, especially their two leading scorers Alex Ruoff and Da'Sean Butler. The two shot a brutal 7-for-26 from the floor and the whole West Virginia team shot only 33 percent..

Not everything went right for Cincy. The Bearcats were whistled for three technical fouls and couldn't hit free throws. The Bearcats were a unbelievably bad 9-for-21 at the charity stripe. Cincy, in fact, actually shot better from the field (47.2 percent) than at the free throw line (42.9 percent).

This was a big win for the Bearcats as it moves them closer to the NCAA tournament. Cincinnati has a very good chance of finishing 10-8 in the conference and with a win in the Big East tournament, would definitely be in the mix for one of the final at-large bids.

Bob Huggins Still King of Queen City originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Bracketology Busters: No. 1 Pretender

Jacob Wheatley-Schaller — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma, West Virginia, Big 12, Big East

Each week, ESPN's Joe Lunardi predicts the NCAA tournament field if the season ended today. While he's good at this, Lunardi only focuses on past performance, and wins and losses. Bracketology Busters looks at which teams should be expected to perform significantly better or worse than their projected seeds.

With less than a month until Selection Sunday, things are starting to shake out, but there are still some large gaps between perception and reality. This week, we feature an emerging Big East team, and a Big 12 power that might be overrated.

Oklahoma | Current Seed: 1 | Status: Overrated

If they beat Texas Saturday night, the Sooners will not only be No. 1 in their region in Bracketology, but also the top-ranked team in both polls. It's easy to see why. A win against the Longhorns would move the Sooners to 26-1 overall and 12-0 in the Big 12. Likely national player of the year Blake Griffin's ridiculous stat lines in the frontcourt are a huge plus for public perception as well.

But Oklahoma hasn't been nearly as dominant as any of those numbers would indicate.

They've been winning, but not convincingly; six of their 11 conference wins have come by eight points or less. Sooner or later, the ball isn't going to bounce their way in one of these close games. And it's not like all those tight wins have come against elite teams. One of them was a five-point victory at home against Colorado; that same Buffaloes team found themselves down 37-9 at halftime of their next game against Iowa State.

Griffin is obviously fantastic, there's no disputing that. His teammates, offensively at least, are excellent as well. Freshman guard Willie Warren is hitting 60-percent of his attempts inside the arc and senior Austin Johnson hitting more than his share of big 3-pointers. But on defense, Griffin's supporting cast leaves a lot to be desired.

The 6-foot-10 sophomore is one of the best defensive rebounders in the nation, but Oklahoma's overall defense is pretty ordinary. The Sooners perimeter pressure in particular leaves a lot to be desired; they struggle to force turnovers, and are just average at defending the three. In this sense, the 2009 Sooners are reminiscent of 2008 UConn: one obvious, memorable defensive presence on an otherwise pedesterian unit. (That team, for the history challenged, flamed out in the first round to 13th-seed San Diego. Though, in Connecticut's defense, leading scorer A.J. Price played just nine minutes before injuring his knee.)

From a performance standpoint, Oklahoma really hasn't done anything in Big 12 play to separate itself from either Kansas or Missouri. They'll be given that opportunity though. Along with their visit to Austin Saturday night, they face both the Jayhawks and Tigers down the stretch. With their gaudy record, the Sooners could lose one, and maybe even two, of those three marquee matchups and maintain their No. 1 seed. But even if they do end up on the top line, in reality they're just not in the same class as teams like North Carolina and Pittsburgh.

West Virginia | Current Seed: 7 | Status: Underrated

The Mountaineers have seen the forces of luck and scheduling conspire against them over their first 12 games in Big East play. Despite their 6-6 league record, they've actually outscored their opponents by an average of almost four points per game. On a per-possession basis, West Virginia has been the sixth best team in the conference, just behind Villanova.

And they've done it against an incredibly difficult schedule. As impressive as the Big East is this season, it does have four teams -- South Florida, St. John's, Rutgers, and DePaul -- that just aren't very good. In their first 12 conference games, West Virginia has faced those four teams a total of two times; in their final six games, they'll go against three of them, including a home game against DePaul, easily the worst team in the league. The Mountaineers have also already played the conference's two best teams, in Pittsburgh and Connecticut, and don't have to face either over the final three weeks of the regular season.

Another reason West Virginia has flown under the radar is that nothing about the Mountaineers really catches your attention. With Joe Alexander gone to the NBA, they don't have a star on their roster. They excel at two things that you'll never notice by just watching highlights: offensive rebounding and perimeter defense. Ken Pomeroy's efficiency ratings have them ranked 16th and second in the nation in those two categories, respectively. Putbacks and guard defense may not be as exciting as dunks and blocks, but when it comes to winning basketball games they are just as, if not more, important.

Thanks to the easy closing schedule, West Virginia will likely finish with 11 or so conference wins, and rise above their current seven seed. But because of their bad fortune thus far in the year, they'll probably still be underseeded come tournament time; if you're a No. 1 seed, the Mountaineers are not a team you'd want to face in the Sweet 16.

Bracketology Busters: No. 1 Pretender originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

West Virginia Takes Out Frustration on Shell-Shocked Villanova

Chas Rich — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:25:00 EST

Filed under: Villanova, West Virginia, Big East, Fans

West Virginia really needed a signature win. The Mountaineers had one quality win over Ohio State earlier in the year but, aside from that, the best they could claim was a win over Georgetown back when the Hoyas were still ranked. They finally got another marquee victory with a blowout of Villanova 93-72.

West Virginia had lost three of four, with all three losses coming on the road. It had been swept and embarrassed by Pitt earlier in the week. The Mountaineers were facing a team that had won six straight including wins over Pitt, Syracuse and Marquette -- they knew they really needed a win, and played like it.

Da'Sean Butler completely dominated the game. After playing only limited minutes in West Virginia's last game because of foul trouble and being held to only four points, he more than compensated. Butler scored a career-high 43 points against Villanova, and helped bust the game open in the first half.

The Mountaineers handled the Wildcats' trapping and ball pressure. They made extra passes and found room to attack the basket. It prevented Villanova from double-teaming and positioning themselves to take charges in the lane.

Villanova, which had great success attacking teams in its win streak and getting the opponents in foul trouble, got a taste of their own medicine. Dante Cunningham found himself sitting on the bench for most of the first half when he picked up two quick fouls. That opened things up inside for West Virginia to cut to the basket, and it removed a vital part of the Villanova offense.

Villanova had no inside presence to put the ball inside in the fist half, and that left no chance to kick it out. It meant that Villanova was forced out on the perimeter or to simply drive to the basket.

In the second half, both Reggie Redding and Scottie Reynolds fouled out, and both did so on frustration fouls after making mistakes. Redding was beat on a cut to the basket and simply hacked. Reynolds had a turnover and tried to get it back on the other end.

This game really helps West Virginia with their NCAA Tournament resume. It gives the Mountaineers a second win over a team in the RPI top-25. Their schedule gets a little easier, so they should be able to finish the Big East schedule with a winning record.

West Virginia Takes Out Frustration on Shell-Shocked Villanova originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Foul Trouble Can't Slow Pitt

Chas Rich — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:27:00 EST

Filed under: Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Big East

Anyone who has followed college basketball with some interest knows that when Curtis Shaw is listed as a referee for the game, there are going to be a lot of whistles and likely a technical foul. Shaw is the guy who tossed the Rice Owl mascot earlier. On this past Saturday, his crew blew 53 fouls in the Syracuse-Villanova game.

So, really, was it any surprise that there were 38 fouls called between West Virginia and Pitt, including a technical foul and two players fouling out? In a game that had little flow and had Jay Bilas exclaim, "My ears hurt from all of the whistles," Pitt beat West Virginia 70-59. That's a sweep of the season series.
In a game that had both teams sitting their top two players for most of the first half with foul trouble, Pitt held the decided advantage. Pitt has more depth and experience. Not to mention, Pitt has more than just two top players. Sam Young was still on the court for Pitt.

The depth and experience really came into focus in the second half. Pitt made better adjustments to the way the game was being called and avoided the foul calls early in the second half. West Virginia did not and with their best players unable to defend or having to sit, Pitt converted 10-for-14 to race out to a double digit lead in the second half that they never relinquished.

This was a brutal loss for the Mountaineers. They fell below .500 in the Big East and still lack a big win in the Big East as that Georgetown win looks a lot less impressive. They do not have any bad losses, but their best wins are at Ohio State and at Ole Miss. Solid, but not great wins. They are a true team living on the bubble.

Foul Trouble Can't Slow Pitt originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Kevin Pittsnogle Teaching Middle School

Will Brinson — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: West Virginia, Big East, Fans, Media Watch, Rumors

When you receive All-America recognition as a senior in college, odds are pretty good you will have a future in professional basketball. Bear in mind that the NBA is much more exclusive -- just based on sheer numbers of "applicants" and job availability -- than either football or baseball, but still, if you're an upper-echelon performer as a college athlete, that success usually translates to the pros.

College Basketball Where Are They Now?

Then: Kevin Pittsnogle, Center, West Virginia 2002-06 | Accomplishments: After spending his first two years coming off the bench, Pittsnogle was inserted into the starting lineup late in 2005 and the Mountaineers never looked back. The 6-foot-11 big man with a soft shooting touch, led West Virginia to the Elite Eight in 2005 and the Sweet 16 the following season.

Elsa, Getty Images

Now: Surprisingly, Pittsnogle went undrafted in 2006. He played for nine different teams, including the Boston Celtics and a number of NBA Developmental League clubs, before washing out of basketball after a major weight gain, likely caused by a thyroid problem. Pittsnogle is now teaching middle school in West Virginia.

Garrett Ellwood, NBAE / Getty Images

Then: BJ Armstrong, Guard, Iowa 1985-89 | Accomplishments: Armstrong finished as the Wildcats' career assist leader and one of the nation's top long-range shooters (.443 from three-point range). He would go on to be selected in the first round by the Chicago Bulls.

University of Iowa Sports Information

Now: Armstrong works for Wasserman Media Group, representing pro athletes and entertainers. NBA No. 1 pick Derrick Rose is one of his clients.

Juan Ocampo, NBAE / Getty Images

Then: Dwayne "Pearl" Washington, Guard, Syracuse 1983-86 | Accomplishments: From Big East Rookie of the Year to All-America as a junior, Washington was known for putting on a show. Lacking extradordinary leaping ability or a great outside shot, Washington relied on his ball-handling skills to ahake opponents en route to the basket.

Syracuse / Collegiate Images / Getty Images

Now: Washington is in his first season as coach of the Jefferson High School girls basketball team in New York.

Nathaniel S. Butler, NBAE / Getty Images

Then: Dennis Hopson, Guard, Ohio State 1983-87 | Accomplishments: He completed his career as the Buckeyes' all-time leading scorer. He was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1987 as he averaged 29 points a game.

Ohio State University Athletics

Now: Hopson is an assistant coach for Northwood University's men's basketball team in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Northwood University Athletics

Then: Shawn Bradley, Center, Brigham Young University 1991 | Accomplishments: The 7-6 freshman led the nation in blocked shots and helped the Cougars advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He went on a two-year mission for the Mormon church before being becoming the NBA's No.2 overall draft pick (Philadelphia)in 1993.

Getty Images

Now: Bradley is athletic director at West Ridge Academy in West Jordan, Utah, a school for at-risk youth

Tim Heitman, NBAE / Getty Images

Kevin Pittsnogle is one of the exceptions. After not being drafted in 2006, he played for nine (nine!) different teams before giving up on basketball. He has since quit the game and realized that the weight issues he dealt with were the result of a thyroid problem. So what exactly, you might ask, is Pittsnogle doing these days? He's teaching middle school.

No, seriously.

Inside one of the trailers last Friday stood a tall man with a familiar face. He wore a Bugs Bunny tie and a gray dress shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows. Tattoos spilled to his wrists. He spoke kindly to two of his special education students, who called him Mr. Pittsnogle.

On the inside of the door was a sign: "You are who you choose to be."
For now, this is who Kevin Pittsnogle chooses to be.

Obviously, that snippet isn't the summation of Pittsnogle's life: he's assisting young children, volunteering as a basketball coach, and contemplating a return to the NBA. See, normally, these brief glimpses into the shattered dreams of people we saw on a national level -- if only for a microscopic few moments -- are snarky fire for bloggers. But Pittsnogle's story is pretty touching, especially when you hear that he's using his money and fame (where they came from, I'm not sure) to make their lives better.

Kevin Pittsnogle Teaching Middle School originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Marquette Just Outworks West Virginia

Chas Rich — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:05:00 EST

Filed under: Marquette, West Virginia, Big East

After trailing at halftime through a mostly tight game, Marquette just blew it open. It was 52-48 Marquette with eight minutes left, but the Mountaineers only scored five more points. Marquette blew West Virginia out of the Bradley Center late for a 75-53 win.

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins and many WVU fans will no doubt point to the 27 free throw attempts for the Golden Eagles versus only 10 for the Mountaineers as the main reason for the loss. Heck, Huggins got a technical during that stretch while arguing with an official during a timeout. That wasn't why West Virginia lost. The Mountaineers were simply outworked and out-hustled by a smaller, faster team.

Marquette ended up with a slight rebounding advantage for the game despite having a size advantage inside. A mere plus-two in rebounds may not seem like much, but against a team like Marquette that shoots a lot of jumpers and does not have much size inside it is a big deal.

That was strictly due to the Golden Eagles moving to the ball and being in better position. All the while the Mountaineers stood around waiting for the ball to come to them. That not only put Marquette in a position to get the board, but it frustrated West Virginia players into dumb fouls as they realized too late that they weren't getting the rebound.

In the first half, Marquette was completely held in check. They only shot 33 percent and were a dismal 1-for-10 on three-point shooting. West Virginia even kept Marquette off the free throw line, with only six free throw attempts. Despite that, West Virginia only held a 31-29 lead. Why? Because Marquette kept getting second and third chances off of rebounds.

It is just odd to see a team coached by Huggins get outworked on the glass this consistently. It happened against UConn earlier in the week, but that was excused due to UConn's superior size and talent in the front court. No such excuse exists for getting beaten on the glass by Marquette other than desire and hustle.

Marquette Just Outworks West Virginia originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

West Virginia Spanks No. 13 Ohio State

Shiloh Carder — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:42:00 EST

Filed under: Ohio State, West Virginia

The Ohio State Buckeyes have surprised many people this season. They began the season 9-0 with impressive wins over Miami, Notre Dame and Butler. Their nice start vaulted the Buckeyes to the No. 13 ranking in the Coaches' Poll and among the Big Ten's elite.

It's hard to use the word "elite" when you get beat at home by 28 points to West Virginia. Yeah, the Mountaineers went into Columbus and pounded Ohio State, 76-48. Counting their N.I.T. championship last year, the Buckeyes had won 14 straight games heading into the day.

West Virginia used a late 35-9 to turn the game into a laugher. Ohio State was pitiful with just 31% shooting from the field and missing nine of their ten free throws.

The game was sweet for West Virginia's Bob Huggins. When Huggs was at Cincinnati, Ohio State refused to play them despite a push to make something happen. Huggs also tried and failed twice to get the head job at Ohio State.

West Virginia Spanks No. 13 Ohio State originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Fanhouse in the Stands: Curry Electrifies MSG

Nathan Fowler — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:39:00 EST

Filed under: Davidson, West Virginia, Fans

We all went to the Garden tonight to see Stephen Curry put on a show. Sure, there were some West Virginia fans, but I bet even they were kind of hoping to see Curry go off while they still pulled out a win. The Villanova and Texas fans were certainly pulling for Davidson. There was a large contingent of Curry jerseys and bright red "Witness" hats and t-shirts in the crowd. It was one of the biggest crowds in the history of the Jimmie V Classic, largely just to see Curry. Everyone was excited - the spectacular scorer was coming to the big city to dazzle us.

For the first 35 minutes of the game, as Curry deferred to his teammates and struggled to hit shots against the suffocating Mountaineer defense, it appeared we were going to be let down. I wasn't the only one starting to think that Curry was simply not capable of living up to the venue and the attention, that maybe being an unknown in the NCAA Tournament had been one thing, but being a star in the most famous arena in the world was just too much for him. As 3 after 3 clanked off the rim you could feel the frustration in the crowd - this wasn't the script for the evening. The Garden is where big time players put on shows for the fans, not where they go 1-13 from 3. Maybe New Yorkers are spoiled, but that's the expectation.

And then he delivered for us. When he hit a 3 pointer with just under 5 minutes to go, the cheers started. When he drilled an impossibly difficult shot from the left elbow beyond the NBA line, the Garden exploded. This is what we wanted to see, and the fact that he was carrying his team from behind just made it more impressive. And then Curry hit the final 3 of the night to give Davidson a lead they wouldn't relinquish, a shot a mere mortal wouldn't have even gotten off, let alone buried without touching iron. Curry was more than redeemed.

Some players just have a flair for the dramatic, and an ability to deliver on the big stage. Curry has that in spades. New Yorkers love players that live up to expectations, and the expectations are very high. I'm sure this won't be his last game in the Garden, and he'll have some that are better and some that are worse, but he won't have another chance to make a first impression - and nobody is going to remember the first 1-13 from 3, all we could talk about was the final 3-3. Curry earned his New York chops tonight.

Fanhouse in the Stands: Curry Electrifies MSG originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Stephen Curry Takes Manhattan

Chas Rich — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:26:00 EST

Filed under: Davidson, West Virginia, Big East, Mid-Majors

Davidson-West Virginia was supposed to be the undercard for the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. Not a chance this year. Not with the way Stephen Curry has come out from the start of the season. The Davidson guard has been electric and has been destination viewing, barely a month into the season.

West Virginia, while having lots of young talent like Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones, was beaten up. Their starting point guard Joe Mazzula had a shoulder injury that limited him significantly. Alex Ruoff, the Mountaineers second leading scorer was out for the game with his own shoulder injury.

This was, however, a Bob Huggins coached team. They made it a tough, defensive struggle. The Mountaineers crashed the boards, to get a slew of second chance opportunities. They trailed by double digits early in the second half, but fought to a tie and took the lead late in the game.

Stephen Curry struggled miserably shooting for most of the game. He was solid on defense and dished out 10 assists, but the crowd and NBA scouts were not there to see that he is a complete player. The expectation was that Curry, like in the last NCAA Tournament, would rise on the big stage and media glare. Instead, it looked like he was going to have a horrible game. That was, until the final five minutes.

Then Curry took the game over and he put down 13 of Davidson's final 15 points. He had been 5-22 with 14 points, but shot 4-5 including two 3-pointers and a couple free throws in the final five minutes. The performance not only pulled the win out for Davidson, but it furthers the monstrously increasing legend and aura of Stephen Curry as the best college player this year.

In Curry's case, the gushing seems justified. He has such a beautiful shot. He does involve his teammates. Plays great defense. Plus, he makes those with whom he plays better.

Stephen Curry Takes Manhattan originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

How I Spent My Summer Vacation: The Big East Conference (Part 2)

Chas Rich — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: Connecticut, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Villanova, West Virginia, Big East

With the fall beginning and college basketball just around the corner, it's time to look back at what our favorite teams did during their summer vacations. Some did some good things; some had a bad time. So let's look back at who did what in our How I Spent My Summer Vacation series.

Today's look is the Big East Conference. Since the conference is a 16-team beast, this will be in 2 parts. Part 1 looked at the group of teams that missed the NCAA Tournament last season. Part 2 takes a look at the teams that made the NCAA Tournament.

The Big East sent half its teams to the NCAA Tournament. That was the good news. The bad news was that not a one made it to the Final Four, and even worse only three made it out of the opening weekend.

This year the Big East looks to be even better. The conference is actually deeper and has four teams being discussed as legitimate Final Four teams. There are a lot of strong teams behind them. Every team in this part made the NCAA last year, and are expected to do it again this year. The top four teams in the conference -- Pitt, UConn, Louisville and Notre Dame -- are all being projected in most preseason prognostications in the top ten, nationally. All four are fully capable of winning the Big East.

West Virginia
You don't have to like Bob Huggins. You can rail against his behavior. Express disgust at the academic and criminal records of the players he has had. That said, he is an excellent basketball coach. He came to a team that was built to shoot from the perimeter. They played a quirky zone defense, and generally didn't rebound. He made them tougher, better rebounders, and better defensively. All without much sacrifice on the offensive end. The big offseason fun came for starting point guard Joe Mazzula and reserve forward Cam Thoroughman, as they got themselves pepper sprayed and arrested at a Pittsburgh Pirates game. They eventually pleaded guilty to public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

Marquette
The Golden Eagles spent the offseason getting to better know their new head coach, Buzz Peterson, after Tom Crean left for Indiana. Yes, Peterson was an assistant last year, but that was his first year with Marquette. Guard Jerel McNeal explored his NBA options, but came back for his senior season for one more go with Dominic James and Wesley Matthews as the most dangerous backcourt in the Big East. Marquette did have one surprising loss when Trevor Mbakwe transferred out for personal reasons. Mbakwe was expected to provide muscle and toughness in the frontcourt.

Villanova
A team that underachieved for big spells, most of the season, ended up overachieving by making the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. They had a very quiet offseason. The only person they lost was guard Malcolm Grant, a sparkplug reserve guard who shot well, but found himself in Coach Jay Wright's doghouse late in the season. Otherwise, this is essentially the same guard-heavy team as last year with just another year of experience.

Georgetown
Life without Big Roy Hibbert begins. That's okay, because here comes Greg Monroe, a forward-center that was one of the top recruits in the country. There's additional front court help with Julian Vaughn a center that transferred from Florida State, and received a hardship waiver due to family issues allowing him to play this year. Still even with DeJuan Summers and some other very talented players in the frontcourt, the backcourt lacks depth.

Notre Dame
Coach Mike Brey got a contract extension and a veteran team coming back. They do lose Rob Kurz but they have redshirt freshman Carleton Scott and senior Luke Zeller to try and make up his numbers. Whether they make up his intangibles -- he was their glue-guy -- is not their responsibility. They had a late departure in little used guard Ty Proffitt. The sophomore transferred to Morehead State. Otherwise, it's been a blissfully uneventful summer for the Irish.

Louisville
Derrick Caracter. Derrick Caracter. Derrick Caracter. Derrick Caracter. Derrick Caracter. Derrick Caracter. That's what most of the Louisville summer centered. First he's turning pro, then he changes his mind, Rick Pitino doesn't want him back, Caracter keeps begging, Pitino keeps saying no, Caracter's academics turn out to have him ineligible, he still wants back, Pitino sets conditions, Caracter accepts them, then he gives up and goes home. It continues for Caracter, but it no longer concerns Louisville.

Lots of expectations on this team. Addition by subtraction with Caracter gone, but pure subtraction with Scott Padgett finally graduating. The team has lots of talent, and even more coming in with Samardo Samuels as the headliner. The question is heart and leadership. Padgett had both in spades, but now Edgar Sosa, Earl Clark and Terrence Williams have to supply that. The Cards also have to contend with playing without Williams, possibly until December. Williams suffered a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.

UConn
There has been plenty of drama, stories and goings on in Storrs. Hasheem Thabeet declined to go pro. Coach Jim Calhoun had another go-round with skin cancer. He responded well to the treatment and seems ready for another year. Point guard A.J. Price is recovering from his torn ACL right on schedule and should be ready for the season. A very talented freshman forward from Australia, Ater Majok, was cleared by the NCAA, so that will help with the frontcourt depth. That was the good news over the summer vacation.

Now the bad stuff. After more off-the-court trouble for Doug Wiggins last year, he was strongly encouraged to consider other options. Curtis Kelly was also encouraged to look elsewhere as he just wasn't good enough, and the scholarship was needed. Both transferred. Then there was enigmatic power forward Stanley Robinson. Lots of talent, but rarely showing heart. His academics cost him at least the first semester, if not his time at UConn.

Finally it was seeming good news gone wrong with incoming freshman swingman Nate Miles. He managed to get cleared academically by the NCAA, but quickly found himself expelled from the school. He was accused of trying to force a woman -- his girlfriend at the time -- to have sex with him, and then arrested for violating the restraining order she got against him. A whole 20 minutes after he received the order. The complaint was dismissed, but the expulsion still stands.

Pitt
Coach Jamie Dixon got a nice raise and extension. Forward Sam Young did not even test the water in the NBA draft. So the team returns its strong trio with point guard Levance Fields, forward Young and forward/center DeJuan Blair. It could have been a core of four, but the NCAA denied Mike Cook a medical redshirt. The goal of this team is to be the first Pitt team to make the Final Four. A Pitt basketball team has never won more than two NCAA Tournament games -- ever.

The team also has to figure out who will take over for Ronald Ramon at the shooting guard spot. Ramon was the reliable perimeter threat, and it isn't clear who will win the spot. Sophomore Bradley Wanamaker struggled as a freshman, and shot horribly. Junior college transfer Jermaine Dixon will certainly be given a shot, but his outside shooting was not particularly impressive. The spot may fall to one of two incoming freshmen in Travon Woodall or Ashton Gibbs. Both are decent three-point shooters. Woodall is the more accurate of the two, but being able to play defense will really determine which one gets out there.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation: The Big East Conference (Part 2) originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

West Virginia Players Pepper Sprayed and Arrested While Enduring a Pirates Game

Chas Rich — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:51:00 EST

Filed under: West Virginia, Big East, Police Blotter

Given the way the Pittsburgh Pirates have been for the last 15 plus years, a little pepper sprays to the eyes probably is less painful than extended viewing. Two members of the West Virginia basketball team, Joe Mazzulla and Cam Thoroughman, just did not have a good night at PNC Park.

Police had to call for backup because Mr. Mazzulla and Mr. Thoroughman, both 20, were refusing to provide identification as they argued with the officers, according to a complaint.
...
Police said Mr. Thoroughman, a 6-foot, 7-inch forward on the Mountaineers team, reached across a counter toward an officer.

This led to at least two officers grabbing him as they demanded that he place his hands behind his back.

He continued to struggle with the officers after police used a burst of pepper spray to control him. Eventually officers dragged him to the floor, police said.

While Mr. Thoroughman was down, Mr. Mazzulla tried to intervene, pulling his teammate away from the officers, even throwing a punch at one of them before he, too, was subdued, according to officers.

Both players smelled of alcohol -- big shock -- and were charged with underage drinking along with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. For the punch Mazzulla was alleged to have thrown, aggravated assault was tacked on to his charges.

Both players have been arraigned and released. Coach Bob Huggins has fallen back on the standard response of, "We are aware of the situation. We will let the judicial process take its course and the matter will be handled internally."

Mazzulla is expected to be the starting point guard for West Virginia in 2008. Thoroughman was a minor bench player as a redshirt freshman and isn't expected to see a tremendous increase in playing time.

West Virginia Players Pepper Sprayed and Arrested While Enduring a Pirates Game originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

No More Flirting for the NBA Draft

Charles Rich — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Kansas Basketball, West Virginia Basketball, NC State Basketball, ACC Basketball, Big 12 Basketball, Big East Basketball, NBA Prospects

Today's the day. No more maintaining eligibility and torturing angst-ridden college basketball fans. Today's the drop dead date for either pulling out of the NBA Draft or staying and committing.

So, since last night three more names have unsurprisingly decided to stay in the NBA Draft.

West Virginia's Joe Alexander finally made it official. This was no shock, as Alexander's draft stock soared to the point where the junior is expected to go anywhere from 8th to 13th in the draft. It's unlikely he would move that much further up the draft board if he stayed for his final season. He's only the second Mountaineer player to declare early for the draft. The unforgettable Gordon Malone was the first.

J.J. Hickson from NC State is staying in the draft. He gets to add his name to the list of one-and-dones. Not a surprise, but a bit of a comedown for Hickson. He came to the Wolfpack expecting to win and then go in the first round. He didn't win at NC State and is a likely pick in the second round (end of the first, at best).

Mario Chalmers becomes the 3d Jayhawk to stay in the NBA Draft. There is a chance that all 3 players could go in the first round. The only mystery surrounding whether Chalmers would stay was because his father is Director of Basketball Operations at Kansas.

No More Flirting for the NBA Draft originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Huggins Gets Alexander's Replacement for West Virginia

Charles Rich — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: West Virginia Basketball, Big East Basketball, NCAA Basketball Recruiting

He was once a jewel in a top recruiting class at Indiana. Then the Kelvin Sampson stuff started hitting the fan. Devin Ebanks became one of the hottest late signees out there after being released from his scholarship. Memphis, Texas, UConn and other top schools came calling for the 6-8 forward out of New York City. A consensus 5-star, top-15 player nationally available in the late signing period. Ebanks narrowed his choices to Memphis, Texas, a local choice in Rutgers and West Virginia.

After Tyreke Evans signed with Memphis, many expected Ebanks to join John Calipari's crew. Instead, he chose Bob Huggins and West Virginia.

The Mountaineers were the last team to jump into the Ebanks second-chance sweepstakes, but Huggins quickly impressed the youngster.

"He visited me, and he was in the right places," Ebanks said. "(Saturday night) he told me he'll really take care of me."

Huggins has the perfect role for Ebanks. After leading the Mountaineers to a surprise Elite Eight spot in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, [Joe] Alexander declared for the NBA draft, although he hasn't hired an agent and could potentially return.

Joe Alexander increasingly looks to be a top15 pick in the NBA Draft and most don't see him coming back at this point. Getting Ebanks now is a huge coup for Huggins and fills a big void in the middle. It also rekindles old recruiting battles between Huggins and Calipari that go back to the days when Calipari was at UMass and Huggins was in Cinci.

Huggins Gets Alexander's Replacement for West Virginia originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 20 May 2008 11:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

West Virginia's Bob Huggins Hospitalized After Bumping His Head

Shiloh Carder — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:17:00 EST

Filed under: West Virginia Basketball, Big East Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Charlotte

West Virginia head basketball coach Bob Huggins was in a Charlotte, NC hospital after bumping his head. Huggs was talking on his cell phone as he was deboarding a plane when he tripped over a cone.

Haley Gentry, public affairs manager at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, said, "Upon exiting the plane, apparently he became dizzy and required medical attention." Gentry said a report of the incident did not say Huggins fainted.

Huggins was in Charlotte to meet with an alumni group.

Though the story sounds somewhat funny now, hearing that he was in the hospital is no joke. In 2002, Huggins suffered a massive heart attack while in an airport in Pittsburgh. He had to be shocked back to life three times. Since then, his health has been a topic of discussion -- including during West Virginia's recent Sweet 16 run.

Though it doesn't seem serious, here's wishing for a speedy recovery for Huggins.

West Virginia's Bob Huggins Hospitalized After Bumping His Head originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 09 May 2008 03:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

House Cleaning at West Virginia

John Radcliff — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:16:00 EST

Filed under: West Virginia Football, Big East, West Virginia Basketball, West Virginia

Rodriguez might not be such a jerk after all! I'm just kidding. Nothing will ever justify the way things have gone down between Rodriguez and West Virginia. It's been one stinking mud slinging mess that hasn't benefited either party. Suggestions of racism that probably aren't true. West Virginia fans shredding Rodriguez along with a slew of youtube's taunting Rodriguez. And of course, the WVU administration enslaving Rodriguez. Hell, I just want the season to start just so we can get out of this silly off season.

But it's hard not to look at the new contract signed by West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins, and not wonder how screwed up the lines of communication are at West Virginia.

Yet, the deal was a surprise even to some who shouldn't have been stunned. That's because WVU's administration -- continuing to be battered by the Heather Bresch bogus degree scandal -- did this deal behind the backs of its athletic leaders. It was a spin move right out of a Joe Alexander post-up. The WVU athletic staff had no knowledge of the "lifetime" contract talks until WVU Athletic Director Ed Pastilong finally was informed about it 24 hours before the dog-and-pony show to announce it.

The Bresch thing, if you don't know, is about Governor Manchin's daughter receiving a masters degree from West Virginia without earning it. The whole story is best read here (language warning). Back to my point though, who's in charge of the athletic department if the athletic director doesn't know a coach is getting a raise?

West Virginia's president, Mike Garrison, probably wanted to make a splash in his first year. But I doubt this is what he was looking for. He's single handedly ushered out the most successful football coach in Mountaineer history and has 80% of the faculty calling for his resignation over the Bresch scandal. Not bad for just over seven months on the job! And now leaving the athletic department in the dark about contract negotiations. It's been a bad year off the field for West Virginia. A little house cleaning might be in order before it works it's way onto the field. My suggestion would be to start at the top.

House Cleaning at West Virginia originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 05 May 2008 19:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

West Virginia Gets Its First Installment From a Michigan Coach

Charles Rich — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, West Virginia Basketball, Big East Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches

No, not Rich Rodriguez. It's John Beilein making the first of his 5 annual payments to West Virginia on his contract buyout. Beilein and WVU agreed to reduce the buyout from $2.5 million to $1.5 million over 5 years.

You would think Beilein would make the payment quietly and with at least some satisfaction that he got it brought down and spread over time. No, he's still not happy.

Beilein wrote that he made the first payment under protest, calling the buyout clause "unenforceable" and "grossly disproportional" to actual damages incurred by the university. WVU hired Bob Huggins away from Kansas State two days after Beilein's departure.

In the letter, Beilein left open the chance he might contest the settlement later.

"I urge the University to stop using the liquidated damages provision in its employment contracts because such provisions are illegal, onerous, and violate public policy," Beilein wrote.

Um, no it isn't. Liquidated damages are perfectly valid. If they were any of what Beilein claimed, the clause would be void and illegal under present contract law.

This seems more like Beilein is waiting to see what happens with the Rich Rodriguez lawsuit. If Rodriguez somehow wriggles out of his buyout, you can bet Beilein won't be far behind to file his own suit to avoid paying his buyout.

West Virginia Gets Its First Installment From a Michigan Coach originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 02 May 2008 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Joe Alexander's Missed Free Throw Will Haunt Him For a Long Time

Shiloh Carder — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Xavier Basketball, West Virginia Basketball, A-10 Basketball, Big East Basketball, March Madness, West

With all due respect to my fellow FanHouser Charles Rich, I think that Joe Alexander's missed free throw towards the end of regulation is the biggest un-clutch play of the tournament.

I hesitate to use the word choke because he made a sensational shot just to get the "and-one" play and tie the game 64-64 in the first place. He isn't a goat so much because his production was there in the second half and led to West Virginia's comeback effort.

But, let's get real: his missed free throw cost them the game and a chance to play UCLA in the West Regional Finals. He will be haunted by this for a long, long time.

And it was something that maybe Xavier's Stanley Burrell had to do with, as he tells SI.com:

The most glaring example of West Virginia's bungling came at the end of regulation. Star forward Joe Alexander was at the free-throw line with 14 seconds left, looking to convert a three-point play after his quick turnaround tied the score at 64.

Burrell jarred at him, "Come on, you are going to miss this one," and Alexander responded with a comment that, as Burrell put it, "You don't want to put in any [article]." After a longer-than-usual approach, Alexander's free throw rimmed out, and the game went to overtime.

The thing that stuck out was the "longer than usual approach" comment. The pressure got to him. A free throw shot in the first minute is the same as one shot with :15 remaining. You. Rim. Not to blame the kid for noticing because that is tremendous amount of pressure. But that happens in sports when so much is on the line and you are the star player in the clutch situation.

As Charles said in his piece, the Mountaineers would never have mounted that comeback without Alexander's outstanding play. Him fouling out in the overtime was so tough to overcome. And, yes, that missed defensive assignment on the B.J. Raymond three point shot was a dagger. But none of that would have happened if Alexander makes the free throw, gets the defensive stop on the other end (which they did) and sticks around Phoenix to play UCLA on Saturday.

I use the word haunt because it is very meaningful in college basketball this year. North Carolina has been haunted by that meltdown against Georgetown in last year's Elite 8. Memphis has been haunted by not getting over the hump and into the Final Four. UCLA has been haunted by two consecutive Final Four appearances and no titles. Kansas is always haunted.

Xavier has been haunted by a ... missed free throw ... that would have put away Ohio State in last year's tournament.

All of those teams are still alive. West Virginia goes home.

I honestly hope that Alexander does come back next year and can take the same kind of motivation that the teams above have been taking and make another tournament run. Of all the individual performances that have caught my eye ... it is him. I knew about Kevin Love and Courtney Lee and Stephen Curry. I didn't know the kind of game this kid had. I want to see him take it further next year and exorcise the demon of the missed free throw.

Joe Alexander's Missed Free Throw Will Haunt Him For a Long Time originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments