Barring a stunning revelation Cam Payne is ineligible and WVU must forfeit the eight wins in which he’s played and the Mountaineers are thus only able to play in the NIT, where they’d probably get a home game, tonight is the final night Da’Sean Butler and Wellington Smith play in the Coliseum.

Now we may have to be open to the possibility this is the last we see of Devin Ebanks at home and that Cam Thoroughman, Jonnie West and/or Joe Mazzulla may take their diplomas and walk away from basketball, but let’s not include them in what we’re about to do here.

Before you get to the open post, feel free to throw in an opinion about Smith and Butler and what they’ve meant to you and to WVU.

Butler, despite his shooting struggles of late, has an ability. He can get the ball into the basket. He’s not an extraordinarily fast or athletic player and he’s not tall or long or strong, but he scores and he’s going to make a last run at 2,000 career points.

Truly one of the more enjoyable guys I’ve been around no matter the outcome of a game or the way he’s played. Funny, self-deprecating, insightful, conversational. I wouldn’t say he comes across as eloquent or brainy, but he has a way of answering a question or addressing a topic and painting a big picture that has all sorts of features you likely didn’t expect. When his playing days are done, Coach Butler will be fun to play for at some level.

 This is a kid who came to WVU to play for John Beilein and shoot jumpers and play zone. Now? He’s everything for WVU. He can guard anyone on the other team and he can play four of the five positions on offense — and I don’t doubt he could be effective at center. He’s a shooter. He drives. He rebounds. He passes. He guards. He wants to take the big shots and he obliges by making them.

Butler wants to win and doesn’t mind what it takes to get there. Go back through the past few years. Is there someone else you’d want with the ball late? Along the lines, who’s been more dangerous when he got on a roll? True, there’s another side of that streaky personality, but that’s part of the ride. He’s gotten better and better at everything and become among the most complete players in the Big East … and perhaps beyond. Butler is an interesting player — so good at so many things, not “great” at any one … a lot like Mike Gansey in that way — but he’ll have a spot at the next level.

And as for WELLS, here’s a kid who is undeniably better because of what he went through at WVU. Better in basketball, better in life. Nothing was easy, but the rest will at least be easier because of what he’s thus far experienced.

Blessed with athletic gifts and dripping with potential as a freshman, he, too, would have thrived for Beilein. Just imagine him playing the 2 or 3 and being an outside-in player. That’s probably how it was going to turn out for him. Yes, Butler gave up a lot to play a different way for a different coach, but I would argue Smith sacrificed more and changed more.

When WVU changed coaches, Smith swapped futures and now he’s probably 25 or 30 pounds heavier than he would have ever imagined and has given up so many points, dunks and 3-pointers for a rather anonymous, regularly up-and-down career. But it’s ending on the up and the way he’s grown and matured this season, the way he’s played the last 12 or so games, is actually remarkable. Just a good ending to a good story for a good guy.

This is another player who’s been fun to be around, who’s realized there were tough questions to be answered and situations to be addressed and he never shied away and never took anything personally. Not in public, at least. Heck, last season he never mentioned playing with painful and debilitating shin splints. As articulate as you might expect for a guy named Wellington, he’s also been very open and honest in good times and in bad. Who knows what the coaching staff’s contacts and connections provide at the next level, but I have no doubt he’d be a fantastic overseas talent and that he’d enjoy the game and the life abroad.