(Edit: Oh, boy, did I butcher the opening to the original post. Thought next Friday was good Friday. Got my dates confused. Thanks to Homer for pointing it out. We’ll procede without the clever stupid intro and get right to the content. Plus, I’ve got to head to the airport so I may endure more delays and hopefully arrive in Newark, N.J., some time before tip-off tomorrow. And despite my bad memory, yes, I know the game is in NYC. I choose to stay in Newark. Not because of the lower hotel prices, but because of the scenery.)   

Granted, there are still games left to be played and those who have followed WVU know that one game can change everything, but if I’m a coach entering the Big East Tournament next week, there are a few teams I wouldn’t want to mess with. One is West Virginia — defense, guards, shooting, Joe Alexander. That list would also include Lousiville (obvious), Seton Hall (streaky with a NYC presence) and Providence (the enigma). Guess what! WVU probably plays Providence or Seton Hall in the first round.

Earlier in the season, a colleague and I looked at the Big East and picked the sleeper team, a prediction that has enjoyed a great history of accuracy through the years. We agreed Providence was it … and laughed about it last month as chants of “Fire Welsh” came from the Friars student section. Yet here we are now, on the eve of the mini dance, and P.C. completes a season sweep of Connecticut! The Friars have a bunch of good pieces and if the coach, Tim Welsh, can align them properly — and consistently — look out. He may have saved his job, too. The roster is all underclassmen, so why make a change when it’s perhaps been building to next season? Or even this week?

Onto the Feedback. As always comments appear as posted.

thacker said:

That was a damn good ballgame. Don’t know about Huggins’ suits or lapel flowers but did notice Boyd in the background of one of the crowd shots during the telecast.

Boyd is a hell of lot more important than Huggins’ apparel in winning ball games. Get that kid on the road during the NCAA.

Forgive this tangent, but it has to happen. Ryan J. Boyd is indispensable. There. I said it. His performance Monday night was memorable. It was a 40-30 WVU lead at the half and the Mountaineers scored the first five points of the second half. I have to think they were setting the stage. Pitt called a timeout, the music hit and the crowd went wild. RJB did his thing, then went to mid-court and fired up the rest of the crowd. Everyone was on their feet, the second verse started and RJB went back to work, only to be cut off. Huggins should have called a timeout immediately. As it was, WVU went on a 9-2 run and the game was over. Over. As for RJB in the NCAAs, it has to happen. He has some sort of association with the pep band, which travels with the team, so maybe it’ll happen. If not, I and we will make it happen. WVU basketball resurfaced in the 2004-05 season and the record at home is 53-8 since the beginning of that season. I’ve covered all but a few games this year when I was instead with the football team for road games. I covered just a few last year for reasons I can’t and won’t explain, but instead need to be studied by a psychologist. Or a jury. So let’s say I’ve covered 45 of those home games and did not witness last year’s lone home loss to Pitt. I don’t believe RJB became a “fixture” until the 2005-06 Sweet 16 season. I could be wrong. Still, I can think of only a handful of instances when RJB hasn’t danced and I’m pretty sure WVU has lost two of those games — Cincinnati this year, LSU in 2005-06.

jmbwvu said:

Why can’t this guy accept the fact that he would not be considered for the job because he was in Michigan with RR the day he was announced as coach! Who in their right mind would even give him any sort of consideration?

Here’s a thought that could stir up some debate but it has to be said. The Black Coaches and Administrators puts a large amount of pressure on universities to interview and consider black candidates for vacant coaching positions. Why? Shouldn’t these programs be allowed to interview whomever they want without some sort of fear of reprisal coming from the BCA? And what about the candidates who do get the interview or consideration, do they not feel like they’re being pursued simply because the BCA put some pressure on a college or university as opposed to their skills and credentials? If memory serves me correct Mike Lockney even stated that he did not want to be considered for the WVU job just because the BCA selected him as their candidate.

Magee’s agent is none other than Mike Brown. Enough said.

Obviously, a reference to Cal Magee, who has assumed a role of some sort of a Michigan Mercenary. The more I think of it, the more I think we’ve heard almost nothing about this lately because there is almost nothing to the allegation. As for the BCA, it’s a great presence in the checks-and-balances sort of way, so long as it doesn’t intercede as someone’s parent making sure his/her child gets to play. Typically, either no one wants to pick that kid for the team or that kid doesn’t want to be picked for the team that way. Trouble is, the very reasons jmbwvu highlighted show the organization in that manner far too often and you have to wonder if coaches do shy away when the BCA gets involved.

Rod said:

What Magee has done by making unfounded accusations of racism is make it difficult on all minorities who are truly victims of this insidious social ill. He must of learned all he knows from the liar to whom he has declared his allegiance.  

And therein lie the problem. It happens because it can happen. Strong point, though.

Shannon said:

Before I entered seminary, I was working for an organization that from time to time would examine affirmative action policies in higher education. The policies are outdated. Not that they weren’t needed at a certain time in American history, but I believe we are long past the time when these policies were beneficial. In fact, I believe it leads to situations like this where someone will cry race as why they didn’t get a position when the qualifications or other circumstances would prevent a hire.

In Magee’s case, the fact he was at Michigan to support the coach of his choice would prevent West Virginia University from hiring him as its next head coach. Magee might have been a quality choice, but that move prevented his hire. When he left for Michigan and all but said he was coming with Rodriguez, that took his name out of consideration.

Now, if someone in WVU’s administration was bigoted enough to tell Magee that his race was an issue then that administrator should be fired. But, who is he or she? That, my friend, Magee needs to give up or else you are chasing another poor lead presented by Mike Brown and his ilk.

I hate to say it, but I don’t believe there is anything here other than a lot of smoke and some mirrors. I’m not saying this as a WVU alum, but as someone who looks at the entire picture and just can’t make the number add up.  

I think we all agree the solution is pretty easy here. Magee need only name the person he alleges said he would not be hired because he is black. Trouble is, is what’s easy not also hard? Does Magee not commit some sort of career suicide by outing an athletic administrator? You know what, I say no. What’s so bad about outing a person in a position of authority who has an ignorant set of values? Nothing. The longer it goes on, the worse it looks for Magee.

glibglub said:

“It’s a court proceeding, Mr. Pastilong is being called up for cross examination and I can ask him anything,’’ [Rodriguez attorney Marv] Robon told the newspaper. “My job is to search for the truth.’’

Search for the truth? Robon must have stayed home sick on the first day of law school.

Or graduated on the first day. I want to clarify something, too. When I noted the request to see Pastilong’s diary, I included a mock entry. It was not meant to mock Pastilong, but rather to point out that there is likely nothing pertinent contained within his cataloged thoughts. No one said anything to me about it, but as I re-read it, I thought it was somewhat shady. That said, what’s in Pastilong’s diary?

thacker said:

My job is to search for the truth.

Truth? Justice? The American Way?

Oh, boy!

Does this mean that Robin will be in his superman outfit and jumping from the aircraft along with the “Flying Richs” at the promotional opening of the new Kroger in Ann Arbor??

Seriously, there may be some culpability on the University. People generally don’t get into these types of disagreements without some merit to both sides of the argument, albeit there is the appearance of some genuine juvenile pouting that went on.

Hopefully, through depositions, a large enough club will be found that will force both parties to settle this thing and move on.

One interesting thing was Robin stating the following:

[the University] thinks they’ve got $4 million coming to them, but they are ignoring the fact that they probably breached the agreement […]

The word “probably” caught my eye. This is the first that I recall wherein a position of doubt has been reflected. But, then it could very well have been intentional to coincide with a planned change in PR and that ’search for truth’ thing, perhaps. On thing about PR and attorney posturing, both should wear diapers over their faces.

Back to flippancy.

Casazza, if you get called maybe locate the wild screaming banshee from the ESPN segment, place Groucho Marx glasses on her and let her accompany you into depositions as your attorney?

Glad someone pointed out the “probably” problem. It speaks for itself and really reflects on how absurd this is becoming. I mean, isn’t Team Rodriguez countering WVU’s lawsuit by suing? And isn’t Team Rodriguez claiming Rodriguez was promised certain things in a verbal contract and that contract was broken? What gives here? The best hope is the depositions convince the combatants to finish this out of court. Oh, and I’m not getting deposed. I’m quite sure the court stenographer would make sure it never happened.

Mack said:

I applaud you for working Gottlieb’s past into your blog. I saw the comment on television about Ohio University and remember thinking, “Ohio’s good this year? How did that slip past me?”

I think the reason for the conspiracy theories are because people just simply don’t notice it when ESPN congratulates the Mountaineers. Two years ago, WVU had a worse record than several bubble teams yet was always considered as being a definite tournament team. That was because West Virginia had beaten Oklahoma, Villanova, and several other teams that I can’t even remember any more.

This year’s team is strange because although it hasn’t beaten anyone that is great (other than Marquette), it hasn’t lost to bad teams either.

This comment preceded the Pitt game, but still stands — Pitt’s not fooling anyone. WVU’s resume is solid, but not flashy. Funny thing is, that’s all you really need. It’s a weak year for mid-majors and the Ohios of the at-large world aren’t taking up to so much space. In most of the major conferences, there’s a larger gap between the top and the bottom than there is in most years. The at-larges are a little easier to define, I think. I also happen to think one of WVU’s best stats is not RPI or strength of schedule, not conference record or road/neutral record, but that it’s 15-0 against RPI 101+. They’ve beaten and mostly mauled the teams they should beat. The Cincinnati loss remains terrible, but when you consider WVU has never shot that poorly, it’s forgivable. Villanova was a nightmare too, but it was on the road, where nightmares happen, and the Mountaineers have recovered quite nicely since.

glibglub said:

No question that Joe can bring it. However, I generally do not condone the destruction of State property, or the public removal of Wellington Smith’s shorts. (Just imagine what Wellington might do if Joe does smash a backboard.)

By the way, in the name-is-destiny department, why is Wellington Smith not an English manservant? Of course, I know why, but still . . .  

glibglub (also) said:

I have nothing substantive to say about this depth chart.

I do hope Thor Merrow works out though, just because I think more people should be naming their children after Norse gods. And if they don’t want to go that route, they should consider obscure Jackson brothers / Cold War era Czechoslovakian strongmen (i.e. Tito).  

I have no reply here, but I thought we needed to share, discuss and possibly examine glibglub’s thoughts on names…

Mack said:

This guy here is dead.

Cross him off!

Speaking of cross him off — “Major League” reference, in case you’re lost — we’re crossing my dad off. Apparently, spring training is fun and he’s been lacking in his updates. Plus, he’s a Yankees fan. Anyway, he texted me from Wednesday’s Indians-Braves game, which was obviously intriguing to me.

Dad: No-hitter through seven innings. Your team has the no hits.

Well, we ended up with one hit. Enjoy the weekend. I’m in search of Jobu.