Steeltown Sizzle

Lamar Patterson scored the first five points of the second half as the Pitt Panthers easily dispatched the visiting Mountaineers 71-58 last night. The reserve finished with a career high 11 points for fourth ranked Pittsburgh. Patterson replaced the injured Talib Zanna and sparked the Panthers’ second half home comeback against Big East rival, West Virginia. Nasir Robinson led Pitt with 15 points, while Casey Mitchell knocked down 22 for the Mountaineers. Pittsburgh has a two game edge in the conference. West Virginia sits at a three-way tie for ninth place. The Panthers beat WVU for the tenth time in their last 11 tries.
Gilbert Brown poured in 11 points during the first half but the Panthers quickly found themselves in a 7-0 hole. The Panthers stormed back to even the score against the hard charging team from the Mountain State. Pitt fell behind to trail 31-30 at the break but the Mountaineers couldn’t maintain their advantage after halftime. West Virginia’s second half collapse began early. The Mountaineers missed five of their first seven attempts and were crippled by cold shooting. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, shot 65% in the final 20 minutes and finished with 57.4% for the game.
Patterson and the Panthers built a 47-36 lead with just under 12 minutes left. Brad Wanamaker put up 11 points, eight assists and added seven rebounds in the win. Pittsburgh’s transition defense hobbled Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers and WVU never threatened again. Gary McGhee was a force on defense with two blocks as Jamie Dixon won for the 213th time as Pitt’s head coach. Joe Mazzulla scored nine and pulled down six rebounds for the Mountaineers, who were outscored 41-27 in the second half. The Panthers also bested the Mountaineers in rebounding by three. The win pushes Pitt’s record to 25-3 overall, including a staggering 9-2 road record. There are three conference games remaining before the Big East tournament. Pitt looks like a top seeded team who can pummel just about any opponent.

Parting Points: Song of the day- “I’ve Got My Mind Set on You” by George Harrison

Duke Devils Derail Defense in Domination

Duke will seek their fourth national championship in men’s basketball Monday night after shredding West Virginia 78-57 in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament. The Blue Devils rocked the Mountaineers, recording 13 3-pointers in coasting to a comfortable win. Duke guard, Jon Scheyer, hit 5-of-9 from beyond the arc and finished with 23 points in lighting up West Virginia’s defense. The top-seeded Devils will play Butler University for the title game. The hometown Bulldogs defeated Michigan State 52-50 in a gritty defensive battle Saturday.
Mike Krzyzewski’s Devils dominated and drubbed Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers from the opening tip-off. The Devils grabbed an early 11-4 advantage against struggling West Virginia. They extended the edge to 18-11 with eleven minutes remaining in the first half. West Virginia, a team known for solid defense, had few answers for Duke’s 52.7% shooting. The Devils solved the Mountaineers’ zone defense, demonstrating their preparedness for the game. Duke led by eight at the intermission and took a double-digit lead with just over twelve minutes on the clock. Wellington Smith collected 12 points to carry the Mountaineers. West Virginia took a major blow in the second half, when Da’Sean Butler was knocked out of the game. Butler, the team’s top offensive playmaker, went down with a knee injury nine minutes before the end of regulation. He scored 10 points and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. The Mountaineers were already playing without their point guard, Darryl Bryant. Butler’s absence most likely would not have made a difference Saturday against Duke. The Devils trounces and thrashed the tight Mountaineer defense. West Virginia’s ten game winning streak was snapped with the loss to the ACC champions.
The 34-5 Blue Devils clogged the middle and out-rebounded the Mountaineers. Senor Brian Zoubek’s defensive prowess landed him a team high, 10 boards. Kyle Singler donated 21 points and nine rebounds. Nolan Smith added 19 points for Duke and was 4-of-9 from downtown. West Virginia cut the deficit to two points before the break but the Devils surged to take a sizable lead. Duke broke the game open in the second half and never looked back. The Mountaineers couldn’t keep the Devils off the offensive glass Saturday marked the first time the Mountaineers had given up 30 or more points in the first half since February. It was the first time this post-season West Virginia has allowed 70 points in a game. The Devils rolled to their 10th win over a Big East opponent this season. Duke is back in the title game for the first time since 2004. They join Butler, a mid-major vying for its first title, in Monday’s championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium for one EGG-cellent ending.

Parting Points: Happy Easter—and Opening Night. Go Yankees!

Song of the day- “Thank God I Found You”- Mariah Carey, Joe and 98 degrees

Defense Dominates the Dance

K-State, Kentucky KO’d

The Butler Bulldogs are headed to their first Final Four in team history after besting second seeded Kansas State in Saturday’s West regional final. Butler beat the Wildcats 63-56 to advance to Indianapolis next weekend. The underdog Bulldogs clawed the Cats with fantastic defense to extend their winning streak to 24 straight games. Butler’s in-your-face defense propelled them to a 27-20 halftime lead, and the Bulldogs held K-State’s top two scorers to two first half points. Butler hounded Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen as they shot a combined 11 for 30. A late Kansas State comeback fell short. The Bulldogs were relentless despite falling behind briefly in the second half. Sophomore Gordon Hayward was the Bulldogs’ most consistent vessel, scoring 22 points in leading Butler to the Big Dance Final Four.
The Wildcats entered Saturday’s contest with a decided size benefit, but Butler grabbed a plus-12 rebound advantage in establishing their ferocity. Hayward collected nine of the team’s 36 rebounds. The teams scored an even 36 in the second half due in part to senior Clemente’s passionate effort. Clemente carried K-State with 18 points, including three from beyond the arc. Butler boasted their own big man downtown in team leader, Shelvin Mack. Mack, the Bulldogs’ sophomore guard, went 3-for-6 from long range and finished with 16 points. Pullen and Curtis Kelly added 14 apiece for the Big 12 Wildcats. Willie Veasley and Ronald Nored smothered the Wildcat shooters who scored a combined 53 points their double overtime victory over Xavier. Forty hours later, K-State looked lethargic and tired against the Cinderalla Bulldogs. Pullen clanked floating jumpers off the rim time after time, and Clemente hobbled throughout most of the game with a bruised thigh. The Bulldogs shot 38% and did not hit a basket outside 15 feet in the first half. Butler controlled the tempo and pace of the ball game and gave every indication they wanted it more. Clemente’s 3-pointer with 4:49 remaining capped an 8-0 run and the only K-State lead of the day. Butler continued to pack the zone, eliminating any driving chances for the offensive-minded Wildcats. Now it’s on to their hometown Indiana for a Final Four meeting with the winner of today’s Tennessee-Michigan State pairing.
Top-seeded Kentucky is the third number one to be ousted in the tournament. John Calipari’s favored Wildcats were downed by the dance darlings, West Virginia. The Mountaineers topped Kentucky in Syracuse last night, 73-66. Second-seeded West Virginia returns to the Final Four for the first time since Jerry West’s junior season in 1959. The Mountaineers played Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium against the victor of Duke-Baylor. The 31-6 Big East champions were fuled by junior, Joe Mazzulla’s career-high 17 points. Cold-shooting Kentucky was shocked from the opening tip in this one-two matchup. West Virginia made eight 3-pointers in the first half and succeeded in slowing the scintillating sensation, John Wall. Wall, an NBA-bound freshman, scored 19 points for the young and overmatched Wildcats. The aggressive and athletic Mountaineers used solid defense and played exclusively out of the 1-3-1 zone to puzzle the Wildcats. Kentucky’s inability to sustain runs and solve the WVU zone was a major factor in just their third loss of the year.
The Wildcats were dismal from long range, connecting a mere 12.5% of the time. Kentucky missed their first 20 attempts from deep. DeAndre Loggins ended the 3-point drought with 3:29 left, but it was too late for Kentucky. West Virginia allowed few chances for the Kentucky guard to penetrate as the defense and long range shooting kept the Mountaineers in the game during the first half. Bob Huggins’ team were held without a 2-point field goal the entire first half but still led by two points at the break. They were 8-of-15 beyond the arc. Kentucky’s inexperience showed as the ineffective Wildcats misfired following an 11-0 run to open the contest. Da’Sean Butler guided the Mountaineers with 18 points. West Virginia denied the top seed easy shot by committing fouls and forcing the Wildcats to make free throws. The Wildcats were just 16-of-29 from the line. Wall was 7-of-18 from the floor and hit half of his eight freebies. Kentucky outrebounded West Virginia by nine, but four Mountaineers reached double digits in this team effort. Kevin Jones and Devin Ebanks combined for 15 rebounds and 25 points. Patrick Patterson, the junior forward snatched 13 rebounds in Kentucky’s attempt to reject the Mountaineers. WVY deployed a second half strategy to get to the rim and implement layup opportunities. It paid off to play to their offensive strengths. The Mountaineers built a ten point advantage to begin the second half. The spurt put WVU in control the remainder of the game. The mighty Mountaineers exited the Carrier Dome with an encouraging upset to grab the spotlight in this unpredictable tournament.

Parting Points: Happy Palm Sunday!

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.

Butler Buzzes Bearcats

Thursday’s quarterfinal matchups at the Big East tournament were filled with drama and upset specials. The final feature was most theatrical. Bob Huggins’ nationally ranked seventh seeded Mountaineers bested his former Cincinnati Bearcats 54-51. The Bearcats, who defeated Louisville to reach the quarterfinal round, were a long-shot to advance. West Virginia was the only one of the four top ranked conference seeds to move on to semifinal Friday. Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Villanova were all defeated in the earlier games Thursday at Madison Square Garden. Maybe the double-bye is to blame for the disappointing play or maybe the underdogs were just finely tuned machines. It’s more likely the 16 Big East teams were somewhat evenly matched heading into the tournament. The Big East boasts some of the best players in the country and the most competitive conference. Third-seeded West Virginia squeezed out the lone win among the top four teams on Da’Sean Butler’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Butler’s clean trey lifted the Mountaineers to victory, breaking the hearts of Bearcat fans everywhere. WVU meets Notre Dame at 9pm tonight in a semifinal game. The Fighting Irish knocked off the number two seed, Pitt.
Cincinnati and West Virginia both struggled offensively. The offensive ineptitude shifted hands over the final three minutes. The Bearcats at least had an excuse. Cincinnati played for the third time in three nights, clawing their way to the quarterfinal Thursday evening. They did not dominate the glass in yesterday’s loss like they did Wednesday against the Cardinals. The Bearcats shot 33.3% and were led by freshman Lance Stephenson’s 19 buckets. The 25-6 Mountaineers’ leading man, Kevin Jones shot 50% from the field and finished with 17 points. West Virginia was aggressive on defense but blew an 18-4 first half advantage. Offensive woes are not new to WVU, a team that thrives on defensive prowess. Huggins’ squad has the worst shooting percentage of top 25 teams. The Bearcats made it a game with their durable free throw shooting (75%) and solid rebounding. Cincinnati turned to its perimeter shooting to get back into the game after trailing by three points at the break. Both teams scored 28 second half points. Cincinnati overcame a nine point deficit in the final six minutes of the game as WVU’s suddenly ugly defense allowed nine consecutive baskets.
Big East Rookie of the Year, Stephenson, drained a downtown shot to notch the game with 42 seconds remaining. The errant Mountaineers turned the ball over on a shot-clock violation instead of getting the shot off with six seconds left. Cincinnati’s Dion Dixon had a chance to win the game but fumbled the ball on the sidelines. Butler, who was covering Dixon on the play, took the ensuing inbounds pass from Devin Ebanks with three ticks on the clock. Ebanks notched 10 points and 5 assists. Butler sunk the game-winning shot on a high arching attempt from the arc. The Mountaineers were just 4-of-20 from long range, but Butler’s 3-pointer was the one that mattered most. Butler entered Thursday’s contest less than a week removed from a buzzer-beater against Villanova. Yancy Gates tallied 11 points and a team high seven rebounds for Cincinnati.

Parting Points: So many of the usual suspects will miss out on the NCAA’s this year. No UCLA. No North Carolina.

Jose Reyes is out two to eight weeks with a thyroid condition. Those Mets are pitiful.

Colorado signs lifetime Rockies slugger, Todd Helton, to two year deal.

Chill song- Paramore’s “Brick by Boring Brick”

March Madness in Morgantown

March is finally here. Set the madness in motion. The menacing Mountaineers pounded Georgetown 81-68 in the season’s final home game in Morgantown Monday night. WVU senior, Da’Sean Butler, posted 22 points in the hammering of the 19th ranked Hoyas. The university’s third leading scorer behind Jerry West and Rod Hundley also holds the school’s record with 100 games scoring in double figures. West Virginia’s emphatic thumping of their Big East rival clinches them a double bye into the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Georgetown’s free fall continued. The Hoyas trailed by as many as 27 points in the early second half before losing their fourth game in five tries.
Number ten West Virginia honored three of their senior players before 13,211 fans Monday (Butler, Wellington Smith and Cam Payne). The Mountaineers tallied 24 points by forcing 20 Georgetown turnovers. The Hoyas committed 12 turnovers in the first half. The home team had nine the entire game. The Georgetown giveaways resulted in a crushing 43-26 halftime lead for Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers. Georgetown entered Monday’s contest without leading scorer, Austin Freeman. Hollis Thompson replaced Freeman, but was held to three points. Greg Monroe collected 22 points and nine rebounds and Chris Wright added 21 and 7 assists for the Hoyas. The visitors shot 67% from the charity stripe. Monroe went 6-of-9 on free throws attempts, hitting the rim and falling short on three near misses. Georgetown outshot WVU from the field and from downtown, but the Mountaineers broke the game open during the second half. West Virginia sailed ahead so far the Hoyas were playing catch-up the entire night. The Mountaineers’ up-tempo transition offense and tenacious defense produced enough pressure to stymie any Hoya chances.
Kevin Jones notched six points to push the home team’s lead to 53-26 in the second half. Jones finished with 14 points and Devin Ebanks turned in 15 for 23-6 WVU. The helpless Hoyas had four giveaways in the first three minutes of the second half. Wright pounded in 10 of his 21 points during the span as the Mountaineers went without a field goal for five minutes. The hosts still held a comfortable lead until the game’s final five minutes. Georgetown used runs of 9-0 and 8-0 to whittle the deficit to eleven points with less than seven minutes remaining. West Virginia did not sleep on their advantageous lead. A few bad Georgetown turnovers ended in crucial conversions on West Virginia’s end in the closing minutes. Butler helped pushed the margin back to double digits with an uncontested layup and a pair of free throws with three and a half minutes left. The Mountaineer lead never fell below double digits from that point on. WVU finished with a 12-2 home record this season. Glory-less Georgetown is 6-5 in road games. The Mountaineers currently sit in third place in the conference standings. They visit Villanova Saturday for the season finale. Some writers have the Mountaineers tagged as darkhorse title contenders in the NCAA tournament. It’s true the massive Mountaineer front line is explosive. WVU can punish and overwhelm most teams. They have been ranked high all year long but are also prone to giving up too many points early. WVU won’t have a lengthy tournament stay if they dig themselves a hole against top opponents.

Parting Points: I am very happy for Syracuse landing the number one ranking this week. However, as Jayhawks fan, I am disappointed Kansas dropped out of the top spot.

“Tomorrow never knows what it doesn’t know too soon”- Oasis’ “Morning Glory”

Three Tallies after Three Times

Pittsburgh pulled off a miraculous comeback in triple overtime Friday night at Petersen Events Center. The 25th ranked Panther upset the nation’s number five, West Virginia, in the second installment of this season’s backyard brawl. The Big East game was completed in three overtimes. Pittsburgh erased a seven point deficit in the final 45 seconds of regulation to send the game into the first extra session, and eventually outlasted the Mountaineers 98-95. The low scoring contest ended with Gilbert Brown snagging two free throws. The Panthers’ junior hit the winning buckets with 28 seconds left in overtime number three to hand West Virginia their fifth loss of the year. Pittsburgh improved to 19-6 overall and 8-4 in the Big East. The triumph ties the Panthers with West Virginia and Georgetown for third place in the conference.
Da’Sean Butler lead all players with 32 for the Mountaineers. Butler added 11 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Darryl Bryant sunk a satisfying 20 points for the visitors and sophomore, Devin Ebanks had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. The Panthers were paced by their two gritty guards, Brad Wanamaker and Ashton Gibbs. Both finished with 24 points. The Panthers improved to 6-0 at home against top five opponents, but it was a back-and-forth battle all night. The game was tied 12 times and had 12 lead changes. The Mountaineers took a 37-32 advantage over their rivals into halftime. Pitt surged back to tie the game before the regulation buzzer. Gibbs drilled the game-tying 3-pointer from the corner on an inbounds pass from Wanamaker with 22 seconds left in the fourth. Gibbs was 6-of-13 from the arc Friday night. West Virginia was error-prone in the second half. They held a seven point lead after dominating the Panthers for 39 minutes, but let it slip through their fingers. Pittsburgh responded to WVU’s missed opportunities and turnovers at the end of regulation. The Mountaineers allowed Tavon Woodall (12 points, 7 rebounds) an open look down the lane before he drove it home to pull Pitt within three points. They failed to make easy layups. Bob Huggins’ squad fumbled the basketball and couldn’t make their shots even when they virtually had the Backyard Brawl won.
The Panthers looked like they had the game won in the first overtime. Gibbs muffed a second foul shot with seven ticks and Bryant drilled one from downtown to keep the Mountaineers in the game. Jamie Dixon’s Panthers led by three points with 20 seconds left in overtime number two when Butler was fouled. The 6’7” WVU senior pocketed three free throws to force the third extra session. In the final overtime, Butler cruised past the Panthers to put West Virginia ahead by one point with 40 seconds left. Brown dropped two foul shots in the basket to recapture the Panther edge, 96-95. Ebanks, 7-of-14 from the field, missed a shot on the next Mountaineer possession. Gary McGhee grabbed the last of his 12 rebounds and swung the ball out to Gibbs, who was fouled. Gibbs made a pair of charity stripe points with 11.8 seconds remaining for the game’s concluding three point margin. The Panthers took out the Mountaineers in triple overtime by posting clutch free throws and smartly using the clock to their advantage. It was a fitting and fantastic finale.

Parting Points: It’s nice to see Wayne Gretzky involved in the opening ceremonies.

Song for Saturday- Eleanor Farjeon’s “Morning Has Broken”

WVU's Wacky Whipping

An assemblage of fans in Morgantown witnessed something that hasn’t happened in nine years to the Pittsburgh Panthers. They were out in force and at times, too excessive in the stands. The hometown Mountaineers pasted Pittsburgh 70-51 at the WVU Coliseum Wednesday night. The loss marked the Panthers’ fourth straight in five games. Sixth-ranked West Virginia held the usually tenacious 22nd ranked Panthers to 30% shooting from the field. Pittsburgh coasted through their first five Big East games unscathed, but has now lost four against conference opponents. The Panthers are 6-4 in the Big East, while the Mountaineers hang tough at 7-2. West Virginia fans gave a new meaning to the coin flip. During the contest, Pitt assistant coach, Tom Herrion, was pelted in the face by a coin. West Virginia was charged with a technical foul after one of their fans foolishly flicked the object. Wild and wacky West Virginia backers also threw bottles and T-shirts on the court. The unruliness prompted Coach Bob Huggins to address the crowd. The 18-3 Mountaineers have plenty to cheer about this season. The disruptive student section in the Coliseum is not one of them. Play even got physical in the second half. Pitt’s Gary McGhee and two WVU players got into a scuffle under the basket. The referee broke up the fight and charged the players with fouls. It’s too bad the rowdiness didn’t ignite the Panthers’ offense. It’s also a shame the home crowd can’t be as classy as the coach.
Jamie Dixon’s Panthers were outrebounded and outworked by Huggins’ team Wednesday in Morgantown. Da’Sean Butler scored 18 points to lead West Virginia. Butler had a trio of treys in the hardwood version of the Backyard Brawl. Kevin Jones added 16. Turkey native, Deniz Kilicli, had nine points in seven minutes for WVU. The freshman was a factor in the first half, going three of three from the field. The Panthers trailed by six at halftime and trimmed the lead to two following the break. J.J. Richardson, the little-used first year Pitt shooter, tallied five points in the span of one minute. Jermaine Dixon, playing injured, led the Panthers with 13 points, and Ashton Gibbs finished another sluggish night with 11. The visitors gained momentum during the second half but each highlight was halted by West Virginia. The Mountaineers resumed control of the game to take a ten point lead again. The Panthers did not record a field goal in the game’s final four minutes and missed on ten consecutive shots. Pitt wouldn’t get any closer than 43-41 and failed to pick up a rebound in the final 12 minutes. West Virginia went on a 15-4 run after the coin throwing incident to pull ahead 56-43 with six minutes on the clock. The Mountaineers were steady from long range and fed off the energetic home crowd to hand Pitt their sixth loss of the season. WVU was near 74% from the free throw line and had 11 takeaways. The Panthers were outrebounded 45-31. Devin Ebanks had 16 rebounds for West Virginia, more than half the total of the entire visiting team. Stunningly, Pitt’s second leading scorer, Brad Wanamaker, was held without a basket.

Parting Points: Can Kansas please not do this to be anymore? KU squeaks by 11-11 Colorado in overtime and Jayhawks fans are supposed to rejoice?

Thursday’s tune- Foo Fighters’ “Big Me”

Morgantown Madness

March Madness is rapidly approaching and Buckeye basketball is heating up. Right? Maybe not. The menacing Mountaineers snapped Ohio State’s three game winning streak with a come-from-behind 71-65 victory at WVU Coliseum Saturday. The 21st ranked Buckeyes were swept off the court in Morgantown by the same Big East opponent that handed them their worst loss in Columbus’ Value City Arena a year ago. The Mountaineers, ranked 11th in the polls, erased a 12 point deficit at the half to outscore Ohio State 43-25 in the second half. The finesse and fluid Evan Turner scored 18 points for the Buckeyes, but was only 6 of 14 from the field. Sophomore scarlet and gray guard, William Buford’s 22 points gave the Bucks’ early momentum to stage a first half lead on the road. But West Virginia answered after heading into the locker room down 40-28. The Mountaineers posted the first ten points of the third quarter to take control and nearly wipe out the Ohio State lead. Da’Sean Butler commandeered the Mountaineers with 16 second half points. Butler finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds as Ohio State dropped the first nonconference contest on their demanding schedule.
West Virginia improved to 15-3 overall by overcoming first half difficulties. They out-rebounded Ohio State in the second half 20-12, while the offense stepped up and drove the lane for easy buckets. The Bucks were armored from the get-go, netting the game’s first eight points. Butler turned the ball over three times for WVU. OSU led by as many as 14 midway through the first half. Sophomore, Darryl Bryant, added 14 points and 4 assists for Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers. Bryant nailed a 3-pointer with just over ten minutes remaining to give West Virginia their first tie of the game. Butler’s hit from the arc two minutes later provided the first lead for the home team. The sophomore snagged another three with 6:28 remaining for a comfortable 62-58 Mountaineer edge. WVU’s defense turned Turner away from the rim in the second half to essentially take him out of OSU’s offensive game plan. The surefire shooter scored 13 points in the first before remaining quiet in the second. He did keep the Bucks in the game with five free throws in a two minute stretch. The home team defense made necessary second half adjustments to stall the best player on the hardwood.
Ohio State shot 68.8% from the charity stripe. They limited the Mountaineers to 38.5% from the field and forced eight first half turnovers. Ohio State’s defense matched up well in size to handle WVU’s height. The Bucks’ torrid first half shooting was overshadowed by second half offensive woes. West Virginia forced fouls and made things happen in the paint. OSU’s Jon Diebler had 11 points, and David Lighty clocked 40 minutes but secured only six points. Diebler dropped a pair of free throws with under two minutes on the clock, and Dallas Lauderdale pulled the Bucks back to within four with 56 seconds, but it wasn’t enough. Buford drained deep shots as the Bucks tried to claw back, but it seemed the Mountaineers had an answer for every one he drained. Lauderdale pulled down 8 rebounds and tallied 8 points. West Virginia’s senior starting forward, Wellington Smith, dribbled his way to 11 points, including three baskets from downtown. Huggins’ team took 23 three point attempts and succeeded on swooshing ten. That’s good for 43.5%. The Mountaineers resorted readily to long range shooting. Lofting threes kept West Virginia in the game. For the Mountaineers, it was their second Big 10 test. WVU was punished by Purdue early in the season. The ‘Neers, at 4-2, are fifth in the Big East.

Parting Points: Federer vs.Hewitt---GO LLEYTON!

The Nets are now 3-40.

At least the Devils weren’t blanked by the Islanders again. I can’t say the same thing for the Rangers, who were ringed up in a second straight shutout. The Blueshirts have been held scoreless in four of their last seven games. What gives?

Sunday ballad- “Rush Rush” by Paula Abdul

Bobby Bowden's Bowl

This hasn’t been the best decade for Florida State football fans. Amid player scandals and preposterous performances, the mainstay of the Seminoles in the ‘00s was the head coach. Bobby Bowden will coach his final game New Year’s Day against his former team, West Virginia. The legendary Bowden transports a 21-9 record in bowl games as FSU’s head coach. The 6-6 Seminoles barely belong in this game but it will be Bowden’s farewell to football. The Mountaineers finished 9-3 in the somewhat firmly established Big East conference. WVU is favored to upend Bowden in his last appearance in Tallahassee. A sellout crowd is expected at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium to cheer Bowden for 34 memorable years with the Seminole headset. Hopefully the ‘Noles will have enough to warrant a win in the new year.
I became a fan of Florida State following their 1999 National Championship. The Seminoles knocked off Michael Vick’s Virginia Tech Hokies in the Sugar Bowl to wrap up a 12-0 season. The ‘Noles ended the 90’s with 109 victories, highest among any college team. It marked Bowden’s second title at FSU. His coaching greatness can be summed up in one sentence: Bowden is second all-time in wins by a Division I coach. Bowden is a winner, and has always been one of the easiest coaches to root for because of his engaging personality. He elevated FSU into the national spotlight after inheriting a four win team in 1976. Since Bowden took over, the Seminoles have only had one losing season (1976). FSU went from the Independent Conference to the elite ACC in 1992. They were undefeated in conference play the first three years in the ACC and finished in first place nine consecutive seasons. The Seminoles snagged the Orange Bowl over stoic Nebraska, by escaping on a Cornhuskers missed field goal. The Bowden-led Seminoles began the 00’s with another first place finish, but lost in the Orange Bowl. Losses started to compound each of the next two years, and in 2006, the Seminoles were fifth in the conference at year’s end. The 2008 season signaled a return to the top, although FSU was tied for the spot after a 9-4 overall record. Last year, Bowden’s team squeezed out a two point victory in the Champs Sports Bowl.
This season has been a roller coaster for the up-and-down Seminoles. They were the preseason pick to win the ACC. The 2009 ‘Noles dropped their home opener in a shootout to Miami, 38-34. They cruised to a back-to-back wins before losing three straight to ranked opponents. Florida State ended October with a pair of three point wins, only to fall to Clemson 40-24 in early November. The loss likely didn’t conjure memories of the 1988 Puntrooskie call that lifted FSU over Clemson late in the game. Two conference wins put FSU back in the ACC title hunt, but a season final crushing by Florida pitted them against the Mountaineers today. No one would be happier than FSU fans to see Bowden’s final season culminate in a Gator Bowl basking. The number 18 Mountaineers will be a challenge for the mediocre ‘Noles. Bowden is hoping to avoid the program’s first losing season since 1976. The alluring matchup features to comparable quarterbacks in FSU’s E.J. Manuel and WVU’s Jarrett Brown. Jermaine Thomas is the Seminole’s leading rusher, but pales in comparison to the fleet-footed Noel Devine for WVU. Florida State should not be overlooked and their .500 record is slightly deceiving. The Seminoles are better than advertised. The Mountaineers were 6-1 at one point during the season and have half as many losses as FSU. West Virginia has won three of their past four games, including a momentum boosting Backyard Brawl defeat of Pittsburgh. But, the Seminoles narrowly lost some hardly fought battles and won some in difficult places to play. The Seminoles have scored more points and picked up more first downs than the Mountaineers. Bowden’s offense has more than 1,000 more yards. For Bowden’s bittersweet sake, let’s hope the inconsistent Seminoles don’t conclude his career with a collapse.
The 80 year old coach seeks his 389th win. To use an antanaclasis, today is the last of the Bowden ara. If you know anything about constellations, you’ll understand this sad attempt at a pun.

Parting points: Will today be the day Ohio State rewrites the script that has plagued them in past bowls?

Morgantown Melee

Kickoff is still three days away, but it’s never too soon to begin discussing the annual Backyard Brawl. Morgantown’s Mountaineers host the Pittsburgh Panthers on Black Friday for the 102nd meeting between the Big East neighbors. West Virginia comes in to the game with a 7-3 record. The Panthers are 9-1 overall and boast one of the top offensive lines and strongest defenses in the conference. Pittsburgh is 5-0 in Big East play but will be playing the Backyard Brawl on enemy territory. Anytime the Mountaineers play in Morgantown, they have a chance to win. It will take a very solid West Virginia effort and possibly a few Pitt mistakes for the home team to escape victorious.
Pittsburgh prides itself pillaging yards and pitching their perplexed opponents for losses. The Panthers’ defensive front three account for nearly 75% of the team’s nation-leading sacks. The Mountaineers’ occasionally unyielding offense will be tested Friday. WVU running back, Noel Devine, is expected to be healthy for the game. Devine is capable of steamrolling defenses while leading the Mountaineers in yards. Devine is not at full strength for Bill Stewart’s squad. The Mountaineers will be forced to get by Pitt with their feature back dinged up. If the Panthers contain dashing Devine, the Mountaineers may have a tough time finding ways to score points. Pittsburgh is more powerful up front than any other defense West Virginia has faced this year. Their smash-mouth style has the edge over the inconsistent Mountaineer offensive line. West Virginia needs to be able to protect against the exceptional Pitt pass rush.
Dave Wannstedt built the Panthers around an unconventional power running game. Offensively, the Mountaineers use a spread-option system compared to Wannstedt’s more traditional pro-style. The offense will get a glimpse of WVU’s 3-5-3 defense. The Panthers haven’t seen anything like that defensively, save for Navy. But, it shouldn’t really be an issue for Wannstedt’s winners. Pitt has thrived with their decision to throw a pro-style offensive so far. There have been few low points for the Panthers since employing the flummoxing offense. The 8th ranked Panthers will try to avoid the road upset Friday and add to their two year winning streak against the Mountaineers. In 1997, Pittsburgh kept the then-number two Mountaineers from playing in the national title game. Miami Dolphins quarterback, Pat White and West Virginia suffered a 13-9 defeat in Morgantown that year. This year’s Mountaineer signal caller, Jarrett Brown, was on the sidelines hoping his team would cement a spot in the BCS title game. The underdog Panthers rose up to defend and stuff WVU’s dreams, but not before Brown entered the game. He replaced the injured White and provided a 6 yard touchdown run for the Mountaineers. Brown came into the 2007 Backyard Brawl with few expectations because he was essentially an unproven and unknown passer. Friday he has an opportunity to give the Mountaineers a ten-win season. Brown can create a confident boost to an otherwise disappointing season, where WVU fell short of expectations.
The Panthers have gone 18-5 and been a persistent presence in the top 25 since that turning point contest. Stewart’s squad is unranked this season. The Mountaineers will encounter a new face in freshman running back, Dion Lewis, on Friday. Lewis leads the Big East in rushing yards per game and is 38 yards shy of breaking LeSean McCoy’s rookie rushing mark. The speedy back is currently sixth in the nation in rushing. The game won’t affect the Panthers standing in the Big East. It could help decide how the Panthers finish in the final polls. Pittsburgh can lessen their chances of playing in an upper-tier bowl with a loss to WVU and Cincinnati on December 5th. It could also determine whether the Mountaineers complete an undefeated home record in 2009, however. West Virginia has not lost a game in Morgantown this year. This series demands a loud crowd, and none other than the one Friday in Morgantown will present an emotional atmosphere. The Panthers are equipped with explosive and exquisite athletes. I expect Pitt to take this year’s Black Friday Backyarder.

Parting Points: Kudos to Albert Pujols on claiming yet another NL MVP honor.
Is anyone in the NFL healthy for this week?
Listening to some Rod Stewart on the last Tuesday of November.

'Neers Nipped at Nippert

The Cincinnati Bearcats pulled even with five minutes left before halftime and clawed back in the second half to defeat West Virginia 24-21. By downing the Mountaineers, the Bearcats continued an inconceivable, unbelievable unbeaten 2009 under head coach, Brian Kelly. West Virginia hopes of capturing the Big East title or becoming bowl eligible were dashed in the defeat.
Cincinnati running back, Isaiah Pead carried the football near the goal line in the final minutes of the second quarter. Pead was stripped of the pigskin by West Virginia safety, Robert Sands. Nose tackle, Chris Neild jumped on the loose ball and the Mountaineers seemingly recovered the fumble. The officials overturned the call they originally signaled a fumble and instead ruled it a game-tying Cincinnati touchdown. A 14-14 game stood as both Big East teams headed to the locker room for the half.
Oft-injured quarterback, Tony Pike, completed Cincinnati’s opening possession of the game with a touchdown to give the Bearcats a 7-0 lead. The Bearcats turned around a West Virginia three-and-out to drive 73 yards for the score behind Zach Collaros in his fourth start for Pike. Kelly utilized Pike deep in West Virginia territory and in limited situations because of the senior injured his forearm a month ago. Pike sharply hit Armon Binns from ten yards across the middle of the zone. West Virginia signal caller, Jarrett Brown threw for 188 yards and a touchdown. He bulled in from eight yards past Bearcats lineman, Dan Giordano, to notch the game at 7-7 with 3:19 left in the first quarter. The rapid fire, yellow-and-white clad Mountaineers were not going to give in and lie down. Mountaineer kicker, Ryan Clarke, provided the visitor’s their first lead when he legged a 37 yard field goal in the second. Pead responded with the controversial two yard rush for Cincinnati. The Bearcats mixed it up offensively to start the second half. The strategy awarded the unblemished Bearcats a 21-14 advantage. Pead carried the ball on the first four plays of the drive and Collaros’ three completions put the Bearcats at the six yard line with a chance for seven. Pike was prompted to perform off the sidelines and quickly whipped the ball to D.J. Woods on a pass route. It was the quarterback’s second touchdown pass. He needed only four throws to score twice this game.
The mighty Mountaineers took advantage of Cincinnati mistakes to keep it a close game. They missed key opportunities in the first half, especially on a fourth down play before the intermission. Brown was pressured into throwing the ball incomplete from the Cincinnati 24 yard line, and the Mountaineers came up empty-handed. Collaros was a calamity for Cincy as he struggled with sacks and incompletions in the fourth quarter too. West Virginia tailback, Noel Devine, rushed for 88 yards and was effective in the final minutes. Jock Sanders scrambled for first downs, but Brown remained unable to find the end zone. Cincinnati settled for three during the ensuing drive on Jake Rogers’ 38 yard field goal with 2:08 left in regulation. Brown completed six passes to propel the promising Mountaineers to the 3 yard line. He hit Bradley Starks with 39 seconds left to narrow the outcome by three points. Binns cut across the field to recover West Virginia’s attempted on-side kick. Fifth-ranked Cincinnati was in position to finish it off, sending the Mountaineers home losers for just the third time this year. The swagger of a seasoned Cincinnati squad was enough to sour the dreams of WVU. Binns finished with 62 yards to lead all receivers and Pead scampered for 175 on the ground. The Mountaineers take on Pittsburgh in 2009’s installment of the Backyard Brawl on Black Friday. The 10-0 Bearcats welcome 3-6 Illinois to Nippert Stadium next week before a December 5th cat-fight with the Panthers. It’s all pawprints on deck for cursory Cincinnati.

Parting Points: November 14th song- “Name” by Goo Goo Dolls
Did you know…a bearcat is neither a bear nor a cat and its natural habitat is in trees?
Hawkeyes vs. Buckeyes!

B.J. Boo-tiful in Bulls Brew Bash

Trick-or-treating in Tampa
It was a turf of terror for 20th ranked West Virginia on the ghostly gridiron Halloween Eve in college football. The South Florida Bull brewed up a spine-chilling contest behind B.J. Daniels to mash the Mountaineers 30-19 in Tampa. Daniels monstrously managed the Mountaineers through the air and on the ground. The frightening freshman passer scampered for over 100 yards and threw for 232 more. If the Bulls had any trepidation facing the ‘Eers, it was well-founded. But the Mountaineers played more like stiffened mummies than blood-sucking vampires. The Bulls mixed in a little of Love potion number nine, err eleven. A.J. Love, the USF’s junior receiver caught for 71 yards on three receptions. Number 11 recorded a second quarter touchdown from Daniels to give the Bulls a 17-9 lead. Wideout, Carlton Mitchell, scared up a score of his own in the first quarter. Mitchell managed to the game at seven with a 49 yard bomb from his quarterback. The two connected fives for 132 yards.
Jarrett Brown, the starting signal-caller for WVU, completed 19 of his 32 passes. He found the endzone from three yards out on an 80 yard drive in the opening quarter. The senior quarterback had sporadic success against South Florida’s petrifying defensive pressure. The West Virginia offense was sharp to start the game but never got into a rhythm. Noel Devine, one of the Big East’s best tailbacks, was limited to 42 yards on 17 carries. It was a rude homecoming for the Florida native. Devine entered Friday averaging 103 yards per game on the ground. The speedy 5’7” back only carried the ball twice in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineer pass defense was exposed at Raymond James Stadium. Jason Paul-Pierre and George Selvie were like Frankenstein and Frankenstein Junior to the WVU offensive line. The lineman tandem disrupted everything Brown sought to do with the ball last night. They were electrifying in sealing up the lanes and preventing Devine from slipping through open holes. Daniels and the Bulls made it look easy on offense. They beat the Mountaineer secondary twice on deep throws by Daniels. Keith Tandy, cornerback for WVU, was especially prone to missing receivers. WVU trailed 20-12 at halftime. The visitors were able to register a safety in this haunted house of horrors. But the Mountaineers ineffectiveness resurfaced as the Bulls pulled further ahead to victory. When WVU doesn’t get their breathtaking back involved, the team usually swallows a setback. Such was the case in a sweltering South Florida stadium. Bill Stewart’s team now has a svelte chance of winning the Big East title.
South Florida upset the Mountaineers as Daniels went without an interception. The wicked win over WVU served as a respectable rebound game for the Bulls, while the Mountaineers suffered their first conference loss of the year. Daniels sustained drives for Jim Leavitt’s reeling Bulls. Last week, he threw only eight passes and two interceptions before leaving the disaster in Pittsburgh. After two straight losses, Daniels looks ready to put the Bulls back in the Big East picture. The defense attacked and didn’t fold when things got tough. USF devoured and stymied their foes from the Mountain State and more importantly, reduced their total penalties. Even after West Virginia closed the gap to 20-19 in the third quarter, Daniels responded, answering with his third touchdown pass of the night. Mitchell snagged his 15th career pass of 30 or more yards and the receiver’s speed was on full display on Mischief Night down south. The receiver also has eight catches for more than 50 yards in his three year career. The depth displayed by the Bulls means the team won’t deteriorate. They have the talent to keep winning as their Big East schedule gets more completive by the week. Last night, South Florida has everyone spooked. They showed some of that grit that made them national title contenders just a few years ago. Daniels gobbled up yardage and Mitchell flashed his feet in a must-needed win over a ranked conference opponent. Perhaps a tune-up was all the Bulls needed. One thing is for sure: Daniels looked like a gifted green goblin in that USF uniform. For a guy making his fifth career start, enough can’t be said about his gridiron witchcraft Friday.

Parting Points: Dandy Andy will make Philly look Silly!
Happy Halloween!

Meeting Marshall

Morgantown, W.V. must be miffed with the malfunctioning Mountaineer football squad. The mayhem began 20 days ago when Mullen’s offense scored three puny points against the upstart, eager to electrify, BCS hopeful East Carolina. After opening the season with a convincing coup over Villanova, Bill Stewart’s WVU Mountaineers don’t appear the same shootout team.
The Villanova victory included a career high five touchdown passes by Patrick White. The 48-21 win made a believer out of Big East fans assuming a West Virginia undertaking of the conference. Before the trophy is tendered to them, let’s recap the results from the following two trouncings.
The ECU loss was heartbreaking enough, but an overtime overwhelming occurred when the Colorado Buffaloes convened in Boulder for the first time against WVU. Mountaineer kicker, Pat McAffe, missed a 23 yarder in OT. Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of that loss was the fact Noel Devine rushed for over 100 yards and the Mountaineer defense remained rock-hard.
Marshall’s Thundering Herd arrive tomorrow in Morgantown. They are coming in with a two game winning streak. Their only loss was a week two drubbing by the Big 10’s overbearing Badgers of Wisconsin.
I was high on this year’s Mountaineers despite the dent created by Steve Slaton and Owen Schmidt departing for the NFL. When Rich Rodriguez retreated to the Big House, I believed in Bill Stewart’s blend of offensive experience and special teams brilliance. White has new weapons in redshirt junior wide receiver, Alric Arnett and sophomore, Jock Sanders. Both made their presence felt against Villanova and need to maximize more against Marshall. Noel Devine was a second string tailback to the talented Slaton last season. On a backfield ranked fifth nationally coming into the season, I really want to see Noel become the big back for White. Jeff Mullen is an inventive coordinator and Devine would be prolific as a pass-blocker. This tactic could retool the offense and accentuate White’s capabilities behind center. I predict WVU pounces early and often against their inner-state adversary tomorrow. But beware the Marshall running game, led by Darious Marshall. WVU’s defense will have a hart time containing the sophomore.

Taking a look at the rest of the schedule, WVU likely ends with an 8-4 record at best. I think they will win against Marshall, Rutgers and Syracuse at home. On the road against Auburn will be rough and a probable loss. Away against UConn should prove another win despite the Huskies being undefeated thus far. Returning to West Virginia, the Big East opponents, Cincinnati and Louisville, I predict wins. And away at Pitt is a fun game and one of the game’s best rivalries. However, the Panthers are underachievers this year and the Mountaineers should win that contest. Finally the toughest road test will be the final game against the undefeated USF. That will likely be a road loss, the fourth of the year for WVU. Once this team gets rolling the next few weeks, they will reestablish that confidence they had previously.

Parting points: I think the wrong OSU beat USC. It wasn’t supposed to be the Beavers..the BUCKEYES!