The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board Because that's our custom

Deja vu

Not going to comment on the (non)goaltending at the end of Saturday night’s game other than to say it as a great play to end a great game. I will say, however, that it felt very familiar, from the foul free throw shooting to the finish. Remember the 2005 Guardians Classic?

After the Mountaineers’ Johannes Herber and Kevin Pittsnogle missed the front ends of 1-and-1 opportunities, Tucker’s follow shot got Texas within 75-74 with 15.4 seconds remaining. Pittsnogle missed another 1-and-1 with 14.7 seconds to go, and Aldridge converted after misses by Paulino and Brad Buckman. 

“Our usual trademark is to make foul shots down the stretch, and tonight we didn’t,” West Virginia coach John Beilein said. “We had two of our best free throw shooters at the line.” 

After his game-winning putback, Aldridge blocked a last-second layup attempt by Gansey, who led the Mountaineers (2-1) with 28 points. 

“We’ve run that play for years, and it’s never been that wide open,” Beilein said. “We had a clear layup. I don’t know where Aldridge came from.” 

Replays appeared to show Aldridge leaving his feet and making contact, but no foul was called. 

“The referee made the right call,” Gansey said. “Texas made a great defensive play. At the end of the game, the referees don’t want to determine it and kind of let us play. It was the right call not to make the call.” 

Aldridge declined to comment on the no-call, but Texas coach Rick Barnes said there was no foul. 

“I saw it. It was a clean block,” Barnes said. “There’s no need to talk any more about it.”