The Diehard Breakdown: ISU 74 WVU 72

[WvuDieHard]

WV battled Iowa State tonight much like Ali and Frazier did in Manila many years ago. This was a thrilla but it wasn't in Manila, it was in the Coliseum in Morgantown. An absolute street fight where 50 fouls were called and then some blatant ones that were missed. Yet, you can't blame the referees in this one as WV couldn't throw in the ocean. At the 7:30 mark of the 1st half, the Mountaineers had scored 14 points and found themselves down by 8 points. WV fights back to a 35-35 tie at the half and looked like in was still in prime position to take this game in the second half.

The 2nd half saw WV get behind again and trail by as much as 7 points before it clawed back to a 55-55 tie at the 7:37 mark of the 2nd half and take the lead 58-57 at the 6:03 mark. Yet, WV could never get over the hump against a good basketball club who averages 18.7 assists per game and generally protects the ball well. WV did not execute very well in the last 4 minutes of this game and eventually lose 74-72.

WV was led in scoring by Jawan Staten with 23 points while Devon Williams has 14 with 15 rebounds. WV gets 18 more shots than the Cyclones but by only shooting 32% from the field, it didn't matter. Generally this is where WV gets an advantage but they couldn't make shots against the long defenders ISU put on the floor. WV gets another 18 turnovers tonight and 9 steals with their 40 minute full court pressure. ISU shoots 50% for the game and that was enough to overcome the WV defense.

Observations: As a coach and a player, it is hard to argue with the game plan for WV. As Huggins says, "Do what you do best and don't do what you are not good at". Obviously, when we press--it is what we do best; however, I thought we could have tweaked that a little bit. I felt a 3 quarter court press would have prevented the pass going in the middle and over the top which is when they beat the press. I counted a good 5-6 easy buckets in the first half because we had to many players up on the press. This team was the best passing team WV has faced and they were well coached on how to handle the press . I think they are the hardest team in this league to press. I guarantee you that. In the end, we lose tonight because we didn't get good looks at the rim and when we did, we missed them. I saw way to much standing around tonight on the offensive end of the floor only to see the shot clock go down and force Staten to try to make a bucket. I don't care how could you are, it is tough to score from the point with the shot clock winding down while your teammates stand and watch you go one on five. Our offensive woes really reared it's head tonight. Yet, we still got the turnovers, the extra shots--all the things we have been doing to win 14 games. You just have to log this one down and move on. Have great weekend Mountaineer fans wherever your country road has taken you this cold Saturday night!

 

[bbwvfan]

WVU shot around 25% in the 2nd half. I did not count the number of lay ups they missed in the 2nd half.

Give ISU credit, they handled the chaos and would make a 3 or a chippy when the ball and play was all over the court.

Amazing... to shoot as poorly as they did and lose by just 2 must mean something....

 

[Anotherwvufan]

I normally don't watch mountaineer basketball. Unfortunately, when I do we seem to lose. I also watched The LSU loss. I don't like how the NCAA rules make most games end up in foul shooting matches. The flow of the game is so disrupted that it gets harder and harder to watch.

I am amazed that this bunch has won 14 games with the way they shoot. I must give kudos to Huggins. Rule changes last year made me think that his game as a defensive coach was done and the game had passed him by. The pressure and using multiple players has really changed the game. Looks to me like we have a bunch of scrappy guys who can't shoot. Full court pressure gives us more possessions and more chances to score. This team would be very dangerous if they had a couple of shooters and could sink free throws.

 

[WVUDAD]

I normally don't watch mountaineer basketball. Unfortunately, when I do we seem to lose. I also watched The LSU loss. I don't like how the NCAA rules make most games end up in foul shooting matches. The flow of the game is so disrupted that it gets harder and harder to watch.

I am amazed that this bunch has won 14 games with the way they shoot. I must give kudos to Huggins. Rule changes last year made me think that his game as a defensive coach was done and the game had passed him by. The pressure and using multiple players has really changed the game. Looks to me like we have a bunch of scrappy guys who can't shoot. Full court pressure gives us more possessions and more chances to score. This team would be very dangerous if they had a couple of shooters and could sink free throws.

College ball has been all about the fouls at the end of the game for a long time, I remember a game against Louisville several years ago that WVU was way behind with like 2 mins left, that last two minutes lasted almost a half hour, but because UL missed free throws we won the game, so once in a while it DOES work. I dont remember what year it was, I hope BB doesnt take offense to me saying several............You arent lying, though, it really disrupts the game, makes it boring to watch.

 

[Anotherwvufan]

College ball has been all about the fouls at the end of the game for a long time, I remember a game against Louisville several years ago that WVU was way behind with like 2 mins left, that last two minutes lasted almost a half hour, but because UL missed free throws we won the game, so once in a while it DOES work. I dont remember what year it was, I hope BB doesnt take offense to me saying several............You arent lying, though, it really disrupts the game, makes it boring to watch.

I understand when a team fouls at the end of a game for strategy. What I'm talking about are the charging and screening foul rules. It makes it hard to play defense in the paint. That made it hard for hugs as he was a rough defensive coach. Now he uses then press with double teams to play D. I like the strategy. It fits well with the rules. Unfortunately, that means we see 40-50 fouls per game. If it keeps getting us wins, Huggs shouldmget coach of the year.

 

[WVUDAD]

I understand when a team fouls at the end of a game for strategy. What I'm talking about are the charging and screening foul rules. It makes it hard to play defense in the paint. That made it hard for hugs as he was a rough defensive coach. Now he uses then press with double teams to play D. I like the strategy. It fits well with the rules. Unfortunately, that means we see 40-50 fouls per game. If it keeps getting us wins, Huggs shouldmget coach of the year.

Just as in football, it seems that the rule changes always favor the offense. Before the shot clock and three point arc, 70 seemed like 120 does today.

 

[bbwvfan]

I normally don't watch mountaineer basketball. Unfortunately, when I do we seem to lose. I also watched The LSU loss. I don't like how the NCAA rules make most games end up in foul shooting matches. The flow of the game is so disrupted that it gets harder and harder to watch.

I am amazed that this bunch has won 14 games with the way they shoot. I must give kudos to Huggins. Rule changes last year made me think that his game as a defensive coach was done and the game had passed him by. The pressure and using multiple players has really changed the game. Looks to me like we have a bunch of scrappy guys who can't shoot. Full court pressure gives us more possessions and more chances to score. This team would be very dangerous if they had a couple of shooters and could sink free throws.

Agree that the college game can be a foul fest since they emphasized hand checks and blocking/offensive fouls last year. I agree with the return of the game to one which allows offense to be played the way the game was intended to be played. I felt the game had become much too physical.

Players need to adjust to the way the game is being called.

Last night's shooting performance was one of their worst in awhile. They had shot close to 50% from the field in games over TT and TCU.

 

[WvuDieHard]

We really were befuddled when ISU went to a Zone late in the 2nd half. Quite frankly, I felt like that move won the game for ISU. They have a very good coach on that sideline and he has a good squad. We still should have won that game though. You figure, all of their key players had foul problems. When the game was tight in the 2nd half and their players in the paint had foul trouble, we should have been pounding it inside every time. We didn't. Plus, short of being on the front of the press, Holton has been a big disappointment so he was not an option. Offensively, Holton is poor. No moves, dribbles with his head down and is not patient by letting the game come to him. Great physical ability for a guy that can't score it off the dribble. Plus, please stop shooting the 3. That is also good advice for Adrian. What is he now? Like 6-38 on the year?