Well, that’s … I’m just … why wait? Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, watch your fingers.

Bill said:

All these scoring droughts are starting to wear me down. Its almost like I am watching Bill Stewart/Jeff Mullen_ brand of football.

It needs a shot of Red Bull.

The Artist Formerly Known as EER96 said:

My two cents…WVU will beat the bottom feeding teams like they have and lose to superior opponents the rest of the way. They just don’t have the bodies and depth to compete against the upper teams in the Big East this year.

Eh, I don’t know. Louisville was beatable at home and WVU, like every team, is better at home. UConn hasn’t looked like a no-doubt top 10 team for a while now. And conversely, that Rutgers game is going to be tricky. Remember, a lot of these worries go away when someone starts making some shots.

Foul Shot said:

Nobody can consistently put the ball in the hoop.
Somehow we need to develop or recruit this type of talent.
Hopefully we can get to 20 wins – really would be a step backward to head back into the NIT.
Mitchell may be seeing a lot more pine if he keeps up the attitude that Dakich was noting. Not like he made an impact when he was in today.
Definitely the difference between this year and last is someone who the team can count on for a chance at a basket each time down the court.

Agreed on all of that, but beyond Da’Sean, and you can’t underestimate the loss of Devin and WELLS. When was the last time you saw someone cut hard and catch a pass and score on the move, like Ebanks did quite often? When was the last time a WVU “center” drew his defender 20 feet from the rim and either made a 3 or simply moved the defender away from the basket? Yeah, Da’Sean’s shot-making is gone, but the offense has struggled to replace those other elements. Additionally, 20 wins isn’t a magic number. WVU’s RPI and SOS are healthy enough that eight or nine Big East wins and 17 or 18 regular-season wins will be enough out of the regular season. I think. The field of 68 isn’t impressive that season. WVU, with those qualifications, would be among the at-large selections. I think.

overtheSEC said:

What’s this I’m hearing about Kevin Jones saying “We score 70, 71 points, I already know it’s a victory in the books.”

Yes!

Sam said:

Seriously though, how does a player bump a ref without response?

And not just a ref, but Timmy Higgins, who is known for his dramatics and stage presence. I did get around to reviewing the game this week and watched that and really couldn’t believe it. Not from that guy. And Taylor was even trending toward something like that, so I’m fiurther shocked Higgins wasn’t preparing himself for something. I wonder what Bob Donato thought when he saw that.

rekterx said:

What Huggs does with his players to compete with the best teams is nothing short of amazing.

What Huggs doesn’t do when it comes to recruiting and developing guards is nothing short of perplexing.

Couldn’t agree more with the first point. I get hung up on the second point. It’s a popular point to make today and I suppose that given the environment in basketball and football, it’s even relevant. I’m just not sure it’s right. And that’s possibly just me. Try and follow me here and correct me if I’m wrong or just wildly off the mark — it’s OK, honest. This season he was supposed to have Truck, Casey, Pepper and Cottrill at guard … and that doesn’t include Mazzulla, who, as as far as recruiting goes, wasn’t supposed to be here. So count the first four. That’s not bad. Truck hasn’t transitioned quite as quickly or as smoothly as most would have liked from undersized shooting guard to Big East point guard, but he was a big deal when he signed and I don’t think three years ago it was unreasonable to expect him to make that transition. Pepper was the player of the year in the biggest classification in Pennsylvania and really hasn’t had an extended burn until just recently … and he’s playing pretty well. Mitchell was the national junior college player of the year and absolutely fit a need when he signed. When he stays out of his way, he’s a big, big part of the offense. Cottrill was just a mistake and I’m not sure Huggins can be entirely blamed for that one. Still, he was a highly coveted player that WVU got with early and kept throughout the process. In a pure recruiting perspective, those were four quality additions. So, in what I admit may be a questionable POV, he recruited the right guys … and  he also happened to recruit two guys who have personal problems, one who has performance problems and one who didn’t have an expanded roll until recently. Apply your first point to the second one and maybe it all changes.

Karl said:

I was just looking over the records on ESPN, and DePaul is now 21-75 in Big East play since joining in 2005-06. What’s scary is that’s actually a little better than what I expected.

Hey! Good seats are still available tomorrow. Everyone points to Chicago basketball and the future of DePaul hoops. Every time I’ve been to Chicago, though, I’ve left with the impression it was a Big Ten market.

Hunterdon said:

I see us finishing with 17 wins and in the NIT. I know I’m a pessimist, but I just don’t know if I can find 4 more wins on the schedule (including the BE tournament). We should beat DePaul and Rutgers, but I’m not even 100% confident in those games (especially after a 2pt win over DePaul last time we played). And I would hope that whatever match-up we have in the BE tournament, we could beat a lower seed in the first round. But that’s where it ends. Scoring 56 points isn’t going to beat anyone left on the schedule.

Whoa. That’s the low end of the projections I’ve seen. DePaul is a really bad road team, but that Rutgers game just looks tricky. Noon on a Sunday at the RAC? And the Scarlet Knights are starting to believe in themselves just a little bit. As some point, though, don’t you have to begin to believe, “Hey, WVU will make some shots soon. And then, watch out!”

Monmouth  said:

I think we take the RU and DePaul games and go 2-3 against the five remaining top 25s. We were right in the Pitt and Louisville games. It can be done. I also think we take a game in the Garden. A .500 mark in the Big East this year is good enough to get in the tourney, definitely.

A win at the Carrier Dome would be a significant boost for WVU and Syracuse has some problems right now, much like WVU. I’ve been really impressed watching Notre Dame lately, but that’s a team that hasn’t played its best on the road. And those are two games many people think WVU can lose. Let’s circle those and see what happens. I believe they’re barometers.

The Artist Formerly Known as EER96 said:

As an outsider looking in, my take is that this just doesn’t look good. I do not know the gentleman who represented Mr. Stewart and helped set the salary of President Clements – he could very well be an outstanding and upright citizen. From the article, it seems that he did nothing wrong and I have no reason to believe that he acted unethically in any way. However, given the recent history of WVU and the folks involved in this particular situation, perhaps other counsel should have been used. Again, it just doesn’t look good.

I’ve spoken with Mr. Hendrickson a few times — Aside: I didn’t write the story this week — and he was always transparent with me. I can only speak of my own interactions with him. And then you read the story and see proper procedure was followed and you feel pretty good about the situation. All of that, though, doesn’t allow everyone to get past the point you make: “…given the recent history of WVU and the folks involved in this particular situation, perhaps other counsel should have been used. Again, it just doesn’t look good.” 

JP said:

Meh. Sounds like Hendrickson did everything he needed to do to make sure there was no conflict of interest. Further, Stew can always waive any objection to the conflict after full disclosure by Hendrickson

True and true. Let’s lay this out, just to be clear: We know Stewart never had an agent. We now know he was represented at times in the past by another gentleman. We know that when Stewart became aware he needed  a lawyer to deal with the NCAA, and later with WVU, he reached out to Mr. Hendrickson. We know Mr. Hendrickson is, in essence, in charge of the group that OKs a raise for President Clements. Doesn’t all of that, at the very least, intrigue you? It doesn’t mean you indict, convict or acquit anyone. It means you are simply curious. Critical thinking is OK.

Jeff in Akron said:

I don’t think it would matter to Stewart who is lawyer was/is. To me, the underlying tone to this deal was to keep it out of the press for as long as possible. Based on Stewart’s decisions, and his proclaimed lack of knowledge about the media, there was never going to be major litigation regarding this deal to begin with.

Stewart was offered legal representation that the university paid for, he accepted. He could have refused and found his own attorney, he didn’t. Just because someone opens a door for you doesn’t mean you have to walk through it.

I could have it wrong, but, the question this raises with me is how long was this decision made before even Stewart was made aware. If an attorney had enough time to check with the ethics committee, and the state bar association the plan was put in motion far earlier than the November 14th signing. I doubt Hendrickson just called a friend at either and asked if everything was okay, an attorney would want documentation to the process, that takes time.

It seems to me that the decision to replace Stewart was already in the works prior to the losses to Syracuse and UConn. There just seems to be a lot of undertones to this process that could not have been completed in one week.

Jeff, you’ve spent way too much time inside my mind. Again, not accusing anyone of anything, but I have to admit I find it all — and have for a long, long time found it all to be — very interesting.

Jeff in Akron said:

Another question that comes to mind, were the losses the final straw for the eventual coaching changes, or were they a by-product of the process?

Again, a good point. I think it was part of the process, but surely a significant part of the process. I always thought it was an everyday thing. Mr. Luck was the “control,” the events on and off the field were the “variables” and we’ve since seen the results.

Dave said:

I took the allegation statement as a clue to Stewart that he would need representation. I guess it’s plausible that he was either proactive or advised to seek counsel prior to the “decision” and/or options that were presented.

Not sure why the line between Stewart and Clements is being drawn. Good attorneys generally get good clients and with both being state employees on the subject of compensation, it seems like a natural fit. Given that the proper procedures were followed, whether they are in question or not, it seems like a non-issue.

With an option presented, it doesn’t seem as likely to be questioned as if it were a fight.

Oll Stewart has all the answers. And he ain’t talking. Ever. I don’t want to get too deep into things, but there are some dots that can be connected to construct a curious picture. Doesn’t take too much imagination. Doesn’t mean it’s accurate, either. Personally, I have no reason, based on my dealings with the people involved, to suspect any misdeeds. Personally, I am, by nature and by trade, a suspicious person who asks questions. Frequently I’m relieved.

Drew said:

In honor of tonight’s FNL series finale:

Which QB would make a better trick video – Jason Street, Matt Saracen, or Vince Howard?

Street. He was a blue chip prospect. Could make all the throws … and was literally modeled after Huston Street. It’s true. Vince Howard never completed a pass on screen. Saracen couldn’t get the ball through the tire outside gramma’s house, much to the chagrin of “Lance.”

ccteam said:

I say Jason. Matt had the most heart, and Vince the most athletic, but Jason had the most flair. Plus doing the tricks from a wheelchair would add degrees of difficulty.

Indeed.

The 25314 said:

I don’t know how you leave J.D. McCoy off that list. He was a master of the spread and could make all the throws. I don’t even consider Vince because I am a Panther fan, not a Lion. I don’t change my allegiance to the program based on the coach. *Cough* Buddy.

Is J.D.’s dad to be included on the list? One of the  most unusual things about that show was J.D.’s surprising and inexplicable heel turn. He didn’t really do anything and I was supposed to believe the once fragile kid got benched by Coach Taylor, humbled by life, smacked by his dad and then accepted by his new team and invigorated by … mediocrity? … I need to stop.

JL said:

I coulda done that in my day. Back in ‘82, I could throw a football a quarter mile

Is that Vince Young or Uncle Rico? What, you didn’t know they throw the ball the same?

hershy112 said:

Betcha I can throw a football over those mountains.

Ah, Uncle Rico.

glibglub said:

It must’ve taken a lot of no playing time and no practice reps and no film study in order to master those throws.

Clearly.

AnxiousEER97 said:

If this kid is that accurate, then perhaps he should have taken some snaps for them during the bowl game.

And receivers should have been running routes holding buckets or nylon nets. Pasqualoni is all over this.

Karl said:

That’s absolutely insane. But as incredible as this kid is, I have seen better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iK7vRYeY3U

Enjoy a perfect weekend!