We’re a few days removed from WVU Men’s Basketball (16-10, 7-6) effectively ending its postseason hopes. The Mountaineers fell behind early against the easiest team remaining on the schedule, summing up the program’s trajectory for the past several seasons. It stings more when you realize how great the defense is. Read more: On the topic of offense: an elite defense going to waste.
Trap games exist, sure.
Handing Utah its first road win in over 400 days and its first conference win of the season, though? Coming off an improbable comeback against UCF in Orlando?
Unreal.
Slow starts
They’ve been a trademark of this year’s team.
WVU’s early scoring is abysmal, ranking 287th in first half points per game (32.4), according to the teamrankings.com database. Wednesday’s outing proved to be even worse, as the Mountaineers scrounged up a measly 21 points.
They wouldn’t have to attempt comebacks every night if they had more than 5-10 points halfway through the first.
Wasting a genuinely elite defense
This is the infuriating part, at least from a fan perspective.
WVU boasts the no. 5 scoring defense in the entire country. The Mountaineers don’t allow much at all in the form of offensive production, only giving up 63.7 PPG.
The number is even lower at home, down to 57.1 PPG. Mind you, the Utah travesty happened in Morgantown.
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Seeing these guys put on a defensive clinic nightly, only to either chuck up a prayer of a three right away or spend the whole shot clock trying to find something, is nuts.
Take a player such as Jasper Floyd, for example. One of the starting guards for a Big 12 Men’s Basketball squad is averaging 6.4 PPG in conference play. That doesn’t help, but it’s a universal problem.
Blame whoever you want, everyone is guilty in some regard. A team that banks on threes shooting 29% from behind the arc doesn’t work.
The free throw debacle
It seems to be a negative trend across the country.
While efficiency from the charity stripe is down overall, WVU is beyond bad. The Mountaineers rank — wait for it — 333rd in the country (out of 365 programs).
Misery loves company, as Cincinnati is one spot ahead of WVU. It still makes the old gold and blue dead last among the Big 12 ranks in the category.
At least Pitt is even lower at 346.
Glass half-full
It’s time for my trademark optimism.
I, personally, loathe watching a generational defense go to waste. That type of prowess doesn’t come around every year.
What I do know, and look forward to, is that it may be something that comes around more often. WVU Head Coach Ross Hodge said it from the day he got hired; defense comes first.
It’s year one under Hodge, so expect the program to balance out the defense with transfers that can shoot the ball. On paper, this year seemed to have that covered, but alas.
It seems like WVU, at the very least, possesses a coach that won’t leave after one year. One can hope.
The Mountaineers have a few games left to leave it all out on the court. Maybe the NIT comes calling in March.
What’s next?
WVU returns to action against TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. against the Horned Frogs.
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