I don’t think there’s any use arguing this tonight: Devin Williams has to be good — as in, as good as he’s been the last three games, and certainly better than he was twice against Texas — if WVU is to have a chance against Texas.

The Mountaineers are attaching their fate to him.

“I’ve just been trying to prepare the best way I can,” Williams said. “Coach says all the time if you put the work in, if you put the time in, then you get what you’ve been trying to do. I never know what I’m going to come out and do, but I know now that if I come out and play as hard as I can, hopefully the chips fall my way.”

Texas leads the Big 12 in field-goal percentage defense, rebounding and blocked shots and has feasted on WVU’s shortcomings inside. The Longhorns have rendered WVU’s post players immaterial in two wins, outrebounding the Mountaineers 49-30 and 41-26 and scoring 40 baskets in the paint – and WVU had just 49 baskets from anywhere on the floor in those games.

Williams was 1-for-7 and didn’t get a rebound in 16 minutes in a loss at home in January and then went 1-for-5 and grabbed three rebounds in 19 minutes in the second game. Coach Bob Huggins believes that was Williams at his worst this season.

“Devin understands,” Huggins said. “He got his butt kicked last time. He understands that, but it was a good learning experience for him.”