Mountaineer Muscle

Memories of Pat Ewing, Jr. swatting Da’Sean Butler’s drive from the left baseline a few years ago are now forgotten. Butler’s Mountaineers topped Georgetown on a grander scale last night. West Virginia University capped off a tremendous tournament to win the Big East championship for the first time since their inception into conference fifteen years ago. The Mountaineers halted the Hoyas with one final maneuver by Butler in the waning six seconds of the Saturday’s final at Madison Square Garden. Butler, a familiar hero for Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers, nailed a shot with 4.2 seconds left to give third-seeded WVU their first Big East conference crown. The 60-58 West Virginia win gives the Mountaineers a chance to snag a number one seed in the NCAA tournament during Selection Sunday. The Mountaineers, winners of six straight games, have 18 top 100 wins.
The Mountaineers are comprised of several metro NY area players. Newark native, Butler, drained all five of his free throws and finished with a 20 point night. Devin Ebanks, from Queens, grabbed nine rebounds but only mustered two measly points. Madison Square Garden was close to their home, but they failed to take charge from the tipoff against Georgetown. WVU took nearly six minutes to notch a field goal in the opening period. The abysmal start was salvaged by a solid first half from Wellington Smith. The 6’7” senior had 11 points and pulled down ten rebounds. He scored nine first half baskets to help the Mountaineers overcome a pair of turnovers and missed free throws. The Mountaineers missed four shots on their first seven possessions. The only one of the top four seeds to advance in the conference, WVU recovered to carry a four point lead into the locker room at the break.
Georgetown was led by junior guard, Chris Wright. Wright and Butler logged forty minutes for their respective teams, were perfect from the charity stripe and both scored 20 points. The 23-10 Hoyas shot 25% from the arc. Wright missed all five of his 3-point attempts but redeemed himself in the paint during the fourth period. Austin Freeman and Greg Monroe also tallied double digits in points for John Thompson III’s Hoyas. West Virginia needed Butler’s heroics after blowing a nine point lead in the second half. Freeman hit a trey from the wing with 51 seconds to tie the game before Wright inexplicably fouled WVU guard, Joe Mazzulla, near midcourt. Mazzulla broke the tie by swishing both shots from the line. Wright’s mad dash for a layup knotted the game at 58-58 with 17 ticks remaining in regulation. WVU called a timeout and designed a scheme to put the ball in the hands of their premier playmaker, Butler. The tournament MVP threw up a heave that bounced off the rim into the basket for the deciding points. Wright had one more opportunity to give Georgetown an eighth Big East crown, but his length-of-the-court drive fell short. The Hoyas are guaranteed a higher seed in the NCAA’s than the one afforded in the conference tournament. Saturday’s championship was a proud prevailing moment for the Mountaineers. WVU has done enough to prove they are darlings of the Big East and they deserve consideration for a number one seed. I still think the selection committee chooses Syracuse, despite Onuaku’s injury. Neither WVU nor Syracuse is a lock, however. We’ll just have to wait until tonight’s announcement.

Parting Points: Congrats to Siena for another MAAC title.

Here’s hoping OSU defeats Minnesota and lands a number one seed in the tourney.