Why not us? Now is the time to make a run
The WVU Coliseum ahead of the Mountaineers game against the Kansas Jayhawks on Feb. 6, 2021. (Photo Rush Bishop)
For the second time this season, No. 14 West Virginia has beaten No. 7 Texas Tech with a final score of 82-71. While the final score does not indicate how close this game really was, Sean McNeil had the night of his life. The 6’ 3’’ junior from Union, KY finished the game with 26 points, shooting 5 of 7 from 3-point range.
McNeil “stepping up” this game was especially important due to the fact Miles “Deuce” McBride and Derek Culver faced foul trouble throughout the game. The contest was capped off by Texas Tech head coach, Chris Beard, being ejected.
Beard argued that on the play prior to his ejection, McBride had called a timeout while recovering a loose ball on the floor, but Texas Tech’s guard, Kevin McCullar, was called for a foul on McBride instead. After being ejected from the game, Beard walked over to West Virginia head coach, Bob Huggins, gave him a fist bump, then proceeded to the locker room while giving one last verbal jab to the officials—this series of events was a humorous way to end a serious game.
Since the embarrassing 85-80 loss to Florida at the WVU Coliseum on January 30, the Mountaineers have now won three straight as they prepare for a home game against No. 12 Oklahoma at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
With eight games remaining and four of the opponents being ranked (West Virginia still needs to play No. 2 Baylor twice) now is the time for the Mountaineers to be asking themselves, “WHY NOT US?!?”
The great Bob Huggins getting ready to win his 895th!!! game (Photo courtesy of WVU Basketball)
“While of course it was unfortunate at the time, but the 10-day COVID break we had after the Texas game ended up helping us,” said Ryan McIntyre, Video Coordinator of the West Virginia Basketball team.
McIntyre was referring to multiple players within the program testing positive for COVID-19 after the 72-70 heartbreaking loss to Texas at the WVU Coliseum on January 9.
McIntyre explained, “at the time, we had recently lost Oscar Tshiebwe, Isaiah Cottrell tore his Achilles, and Texas beat us in a game where we should have won. We also had players that were ‘banged up’ that needed to heal, and they were finally able to do so during the break. Of course, I do not wish COVID on anyone, especially our players, but looking back, and knowing our players are safe, we needed that break.”
McIntyre was right. Tshiebwe had left the program to go to Kentucky. Cottrell, a talented young player that will bless the Mountaineers for years to come, was out for the season. And in a game that West Virginia led the whole way, ended in heartbreak when cancer survivor Andrew Jones hit a game-winning 3-pointer—the team needed a mental and physical reset.
“In the beginning of the season, we knew we had the offensive strength to make a run, our defense is what was in question. The break allowed us to piece together our defense and you saw the result last night at Texas Tech. When playing a team like Texas Tech, there is no secret, no game plan, none of that. The tougher team wins, and we were the tougher team. Now is the time to make a run,” McIntyre concluded.
As mentioned earlier, No. 14 West Virginia will face No. 12 Oklahoma this Saturday at home. West Virginia fell short in the first match up, 75-71, but has the ability to “flip the script” this time around.
According to the ESPN Matchup Predictor, West Virginia is favored to win the game. The next three “scheduled” games are as follows: West Virginia will be at No. 13 Texas on Saturday, February 20 at 3 p.m. on ABC. Since the Baylor games have been postponed again due to COVID-19 (this time within the Baylor program), West Virginia will have a week to prepare for their matchup with Texas. West Virginia will then face unranked TCU on the road and Kansas State at home, which should be two wins.
The four games that still need to be made up are three home games against TCU, Oklahoma State, and Baylor, and then one game at Baylor.
It is well known that the Big 12 is the best conference this year in the NCAA. If the Mountaineers can finish 5-3 or, even better, 6-2 in their last eight games, there is no reason they cannot make a deep run in the Big 12 Tournament and more importantly, the NCAA Tournament.
If the Mountaineers continue to play at this level, and play this well in the Big 12, then they can play anyone, anywhere, and at any time.
The Big 12 Tournament starts March 10 in Kansas City, MO. The NCAA Tournament starts with the First Four, Thursday, March 18. The whole tournament will be played in a “bubble” in the state of Indiana due to COVID-19.
