–West Virginia won this basketball game, let’s get that out of the way first but you definitely didn't walk away with a ton of confidence as the Mountaineers had to hold on for a 62-58 win with some plays late to really seal things up. This is a team that is out-manned by basically anybody they play right now in terms of depth and Bellarmine did a good job exploiting that and making the Mountaineers defend and cutting them up with some nice passes. Truthfully, that's a veteran Bellarmine team but things are going to have to be better moving forward against a difficult schedule that lies ahead. It's only three more games until the return of Kerr Kriisa but the Mountaineers need others to step up.
--Jesse Edwards finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 2 assists but it's fair to say he could have played even better. He's receiving a lot of attention right now every time he touches the ball but needs to be able to make the right decisions and get the ball to shooters. He is being asked to carry a lot right now, but he has to be stronger with the ball despite all of that attention because 5 turnovers isn't going to get it done. Still, he's by far the best and most skilled player on the floor for the Mountaineers and it really isn't close.
--Quinn Slazinski has been the second best this year and plays a smart brand of basketball for the most part. Sometimes he has to step outside what seems like his comfort zone and take on a bigger role given what has unfolded but he has made some significant plays this year where the offense has needed it. Today wasn't even his best effort as he finished finished here with 16 points on 6-13 shooting with 5 rebounds and 3 assists but -10 overall. Still, West Virginia needs his production.
--It's much better offensively for this team when Kobe Johnson is able to not only score the basketball but hunt for those opportunities. He made some big baskets at times when nobody else was in this one and finished with 13 points on 5-10 from the floor.
--To help Edwards, somebody needs to step in and make some shots. Outside freshman Ofri Naveh who was 2-3 from deep and had arguably the biggest shot in the game with a late three, the rest of the team combined was 1-12. That is a problem especially because teams are collapsing on Edwards and shooters have gotten open looks. They need to confidently step in and hit them or things are going to be even more difficult.
--Josiah Harris is one of those as he is 0-10 from the field over the past two games. Still, even without scoring he is able to produce in other areas with 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks but he has gotten some great looks and can't find the bottom of the net. Another in that department has been Seth Wilson as he is just 15-54 from the field this season. That's 27-percent from a guy that you need to have put the ball in the basket.
--West Virginia was at .954 points per possession. That isn't going to get it done. Neither is the fact that despite a size advantage the Mountaineers had just 7 offensive rebounds on 30 misses. Some of that is boiled down to shot selection and not playing within the offense, but some of it is simply fatigue.
–On the plus side the Mountaineers were 17-21 from the line. That obviously played a major role in this one given how close the final score was in the end. This team did struggle to finish around the rim going 12-24 even on some that weren't really all that contested.
--Of the 62 total points, only six came from the bench. The sixth, seventh and eighth player right now just hasn't been able to give much.
--Things are about to get a lot more difficult with St. John's coming to town Friday. This is another good test at home with the record now back to 3-3. Still, West Virginia needs to find a way to win one of these games and this will be a golden shot.
