There were 70 seconds remaining Tuesday night and WVU trailed Connecticut 57-55. Alex Ruoff was 4-for-14 and had missed his previous six 3-point attempts when on a 3-on-1 fastbreak he took a pass at the 3-point line and didn’t really even think before shooting. He missed, finished 4-for-16 and 2-for-11 from 3-point range as the Mountaineers lost 61-55.

“You can say it’s a team loss and all the stupid, cliché crap like that, but I missed the last three shots,” said Ruoff, who was averaging 17.1 points and shooting 40.7 percent from 3-point range. “That’s reality.”

Yikes. Here, though, is the great debate. Was he, at that moment and in that situation, the leading scorer and deadly accurate shooter or the guy having a miserable night? Was it a good look or was he excited to be open and unencumbered for a change?

Basically, was that a good idea or a bad idea?

– I understand the opposition, but I say fire away. No, he wasn’t getting open a lot and WVU was grinding to find good shots., but what was going to be better than that? Plus, if he hits, we’re talking about something different — maybe a victory. I also think Cam Thoroughman was in the middle of the lane with a defender on his hip, which would have made any inside shot more difficult for Ruoff. Oh, and Cam got the rebound and was fouled, but missed the front end of a one-and-one.

– The Mountaineers are going to play a bunch more games like that this season so it would behoove them to find a way to follow through, especially at home. That said, WVU really couldn’t script a better scenario than what unfolded last night. They were prepared to be bullied on the glass and struggle to get open looks and knew they’d have to limit turnovers, play great half-court defense, score in transition and keep it close until it was late. Then they’d have to make a few shots and get a few stops, neither of which happened. Rationally, it’s not the end of the world. Realistically, it’s going to be like that a lot this year.

– Crowd was fantastic.

– The three freshmen — Truck, Ebanks and Jones — were averaging 25.3 points per game. They got 15 against the Huskies and Jones actually went scoreless.

– John Flowers didn’t have it and that was pretty significant. He had a three-point play early on that gave WVU a lead and seemed to serve as the “Hey, it’s going to be all right. We can play with these guys” moment. He then picked up two quick fouls, played 14 total minutes and finished with those three points.

– Thoroughman had two points, five rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes. He’s feeling better and playing better, though some of his contributions do not show up in a box score. I think he rattled Thabeet a little and the general way he played — arms-waving defense, diving all over, throwing his body around under the basket — bugged the Huskies, who instead do it with athleticism. And no one sets screens like Thoroughman. He freed Ruoff for both of his 3s and once knocked two people over to get him open.

– Joe Mazzulla wore a casual short-sleeved polo and dark jeans. Jonnie West went with a sweater and a collared shirt … and gelled his hair.