Wonderful game in the Garden Saturday, which was good for WVU in so many ways, including, of course, that it ended in victory. Yet it was a perfectly timed simulation of what to expect in the Big East Tournament this week and — is it safe to say this? — in the NCAA Tournament next week. You really had to see the Mountaineers discussing the final play of regulation in the huddle. It was intense, which means it’ll be a little less intense the next time — and you know WVU will find itself in a huddle again soon planning a play with the game or perhaps even the season on the line.

When Joe Mazzulla scored, the bench erupted and you could sense a season’s worth of frustrations in similar situations fade away a little. Jamie Smalligan battled through a group of people to find Mazzulla and hug him. There was no way they were losing in overtime. None.

Joe Alexander remained on a role and his two games against Pitt (31 points, six rebounds) and St. John’s (29 and 10) earned him Big East Player of the Week. One wonders if he’ll be first-team all Big East. The hunch is he will since 10 players make that list, but when did the coaches submit their ballots? That could be a factor. (Edit: Joe made the first-team. Fourth WVU player in three years and only the sixth ever to make first-team all-Big East.)

The Big East Tournament opens at noon Wednesday with Syracuse-Villanova and both teams are absolutely desperate for a win to get into the NCAA Tournament. That will be an excellent table-setter. WVU plays Providence in the 5-12 matchup at 2 p.m. It’s the third time in four years and the fourth time in six years the two schools have played in the first round. WVU has won the last three in the tournament. Oh, and thanks to Providence for making the most of my endorsement Friday. They tanked at home against Villanova and backed into the tournament.

The evening games look good too — Pitt-Connecticut and Seton Hall-Marquette. Winners advance to play Georgetown, Connecticut, Louisville and Notre Dame, respectively, on Thursday.

And in case you’re wondering, the streak lives on. My flight home Sunday morning was canceled and US Air, which wouldn’t have cared less, would guarantee me no way home before a 6:45 flight left Newark this morning. I ended up renting a car and driving home yesterday, which was a fun six hours. The sad part is I’m doing it all over again tomorrow and fly from Morgantown to Newark. The god news, though, is our favorite Newark billboard is gone and has been replaced by an advertisement for Corona.