Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which sees three teams playing for the last pair of two-round byes in the Big East Tournament. Last night was a good one for WVU in that Notre Dame again couldn’t win on the road and Louisville … well, let’s leave that to the Louisville Courier Journal.
After spending much of Thursday refuting claims he wants to coach the New Jersey Nets, University of Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino watched his team play like them.
These standings are fluid and tricky and as evidence look no further than Marquette, once forgotten but now back in the mix … though with work still left to do as WVU has a two-game lead and a head-to-head edge. As it stands and figures to stand the rest of the way, Syracuse and Villanova are likely locks for two-round byes and WVU, Pitt and Georgetown are likely to battle for the final two two-round byes. As of this morning, the edge would have to slightly favor the Mountaineers for one spot. They’re alone in third place, a half-game ahead of Georgetown with a home game remaining against the Hoyas, and a game ahead of Pitt, though the Panthers can grab this thing by the nape of its neck and even the season series against WVU tonight.
Then again, at this point, what’s more important? Seeding for the Big East Tournament or seeding for the NCAA Tournament? Chicken and egg, I know, but I’d argue Big East seeding. Say WVU earns the three-seed — or the two seed, which isn’t impossible given the regular-season finale at Villanova — and gets two byes in the Garden. Obviously, they get a more favorable path to a tournament win and the championship, but that’s getting too far ahead.
To remain in contention for a two- or three-seed in this league is a pretty significant feat. WVU would have to keep winning and take some big games at home and on the road, which stands to solidify and maybe even improve an already strong RPI. By then, WVU has really proven its case for a high NCAA seed in the regular season. Subsequent success in the Big East Tournament only improves it.
It sounds cliche to hear players and coaches say it, but every game matters and this little Friday night affair in the middle of February in Oakland really matters as much as a Thursday afternoon quarterfinal in the middle of March in MSG. Well, maybe tonight’s game is a bad example. Begin with the obvious and the crowd at WVU and the tenacity in the game last week.
A few WVU players said last week they might need umbrellas or football helmets when they take the floor. Wednesday night during the UConn-Syracuse game ESPN’s John Saunders said he hoped batteries would not be included in tonight’s game.
“We joke about it, but if anything were to happen we have people smart enough to get people out of situations like that,” Butler said. “It’s not like anything stupid is going to happen, but if some random student decides to do something, we’ll go from there. I honestly don’t think anything will happen, but if it does, that’s life. Things happen.”
(Quick question: Does a WVU fan buy a Pitt shirt and attend tonight’s game and pick a moment to throw stuff on the floor? Hypothetical, that’s all.)
To that, no one on this team has ever won at Pitt, which is 5-0 all-time against top-five teams at the Petersen Events Center. WVU hasn’t swept the Panthers since 2005. Da’Sean Butler had probably the worst career game his last time there … and promptly followed it with his best against Villanova. So, yeah, this one is pretty important. Or not?
“All (a win) means is we still have three losses and we’re still two games behind (Syracuse and Villanova in the standings),” Huggins said. “We don’t try to get too up or down or make any game bigger than the other.”
Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, just follow directions.
Mr. M said:
Just imagine yourself coming to WVU as a freshman and attending every home BASKETBALL game through graduation four years later — and NEVER SEEING THE ‘EERS LOSE! Of course, his teams deserve a lot of the credit for that (from ‘56-57 through ‘59-’60), but what a legacy as a coach!
The Fred Schaus tributes and memories have been pretty neat to see. Sad to see the occasion, but happy to see him remembered so fondly.
StraightOuttaNorthCentral said:
Too bad they don’t name things for people anymore without a multimillion dollar donation attached. Seems to me the “Schaus Basketball Practice Facility” has a nice ring to it.
And wouldn’t that be a fine way to ensure he’s fondly remembered for years and years to come?
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