It’s always easier to talk about these things when they don’t happen, and I doubt West Virginia would have been as forthcoming after a loss Sunday, but the Mountaineers seemed to believe the season would have been over had they not beaten Providence.

And for a long time yesterday, it looked like that was an outcome they were going to have to deal with going forward. At the very least, another loss to a bottom-four team on the road would have extended the three-game losing streak into something that would threaten to turn into a tailspin. Really, they said, it wasn’t that far from happening.

“This close,” he said. “We were real close to the end today.”

Bryant scored 24 of his 32 points after halftime and the Mountaineers (16-8, 6-5 Big East) ended the longest losing streak in six years before a crowd of 8,122 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. WVU went 36 minutes, 5 seconds between leads, erased a 32-15 deficit and won despite one of the more uncharacteristic games of the season from senior Kevin Jones.

“If we didn’t win this, we’d be playing in the NIT,” Kilicli said. “If we don’t win another four games, we’re going to the NIT.”

So, a season-saver, from what I gather. This doesn’t do anything for the resume, apart from add a win and a road win and keep WVU comfy in the RPI top 30, but it’s a heck of a lot better than a loss.

Asked what he thought would have to happen had WVU lost, Bob Huggins said simply, “We’d have to win one we’re not supposed to.”  He’ll have some occasions to do just that, but to back up a victory instead of picking up after aloss. WVU plays host to Notre Dame Wednesday and Louisville Saturday.