The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board Because that's our custom

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March 11, 2016 by Mike Casazza

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I need to let it go, I know, and maybe now I will. But there are really only two types of people associated with West Virginia — these are fans, employees, media, etc. — who come to this event. They’re either fine with the Big 12 tournament or they are not fine with it because it’s not the Big East tournament.

Notice neither one is excited about it. Not yet, at least. It’s still got the feel of new shoes, and going 0-3 wasn’t breaking anyone in at the outset of this experience, this transition from the greatest conference tournament at the World’s Most Famous Arena to a conference tournament in a place named after a leading wireless service provider that cannot provide wireless internet.

But maybe that’s changing.

WVU has a really good team here that a lot of people believe can win this event. It’s being treated and revered as a lead actor. Last night’s win guaranteed the Mountaineers another night in the city for the first time, and today gold-clad folks will have a chance to float around and see what this area has to offer before the 9:30 p.m. tip.

And I’ll be honest: For me, last night was the first All right, this is pretty great moment I’ve experienced here as Buddy Hield put on a show and was later met by Georges Niang. That was a lot of fun to watch. The crowd was terrific. It felt special. It was the sort of thing you just don’t see very often, and that was followed by something I’d never seen outside of a boxing ring as Hield and Niang were interviewed together after the game.

Then again …