Five Thoughts: #25 BYU 77 WVU 56....OK, this is it.

[eer2000]

My Fiver on WVU's loss to BYU in Provo, Spain, on Saturday late into the night....

1. With 3 minutes to go in the first half, Sincere Harris drove in and converted a layup to give WVU a 19-15 lead in what had been a fairly miserable offensive performance from both squads. Rockfight basketball. Then, the final 2 & half minutes of the first half was a complete meltdown on the WVU side. Over the final 2 & a half, WVU would commit two fouls, go 0-4 from the field, and give away a live ball TO. Predictably, BYU took a 25-19 lead into the half, and if you've followed WVU sports like I have, you knew the game was essentially over.

2. The next time WVU would score from the field would be a rare Jon Powell trey with 16:24 left in the game, to cut the lead to 24-35. This ended a 20-2 BYU run over 7 game minutes.

3. Toby Okani has missed more bunnies off the front of the rim than any other WVU player I can recall in a long, long time. For the love of God, try to bank it in - at least give it a chance. For a 6'8" dude with some serious bounce, he is really bad at finishing at or near the rim.

4. Fousseyni Traore - BYU's 6'6" monster in the middle, loves playing WVU. 20 points and 10 rebounds for their "big" who gave up a couple inches to Amani Hansberry, and up to 5 inches to Eduardo Andre. This was Traore's first double-double of the season, first game over 20 in Big 12 play. Obviously Darian DeVries & Co. worked to take away BYU's three-point shooting ability, and decided to see if BYU could and would beat us inside. Well, that worked for around 17 game minutes. Then, BYU and Traore worked us inside, and hit a few from the outside in the 2nd half en route to 52 2nd half points. Traore just big boy'd us.

5. OK, this is it. Tuesday, WVU plays at Utah at 9pm EST to determine whether or not WVU makes it to the Big Dance. We will beat UCF at home Saturday. 19 wins and we are "in", absent some sort of complete meltdown in all of the conference tournaments. 18 wins and we will need to win one, maybe two, at the Big 12 Tournament. So, WVU's NCAA fate runs through Josh Eilert.

 

[wvweatherman]

I 100% agree with Okani. Other players have had good moments here and there but he’s struggled this season. Honestly this team hasn’t looked like a tournament team since the Iowa State win. Teams can now all out harass Small and no one can consistently step up and make them pay.

 

[BigC]

My Fiver on WVU's loss to BYU in Provo, Spain, on Saturday late into the night....

1. With 3 minutes to go in the first half, Sincere Harris drove in and converted a layup to give WVU a 19-15 lead in what had been a fairly miserable offensive performance from both squads. Rockfight basketball. Then, the final 2 & half minutes of the first half was a complete meltdown on the WVU side. Over the final 2 & a half, WVU would commit two fouls, go 0-4 from the field, and give away a live ball TO. Predictably, BYU took a 25-19 lead into the half, and if you've followed WVU sports like I have, you knew the game was essentially over.

2. The next time WVU would score from the field would be a rare Jon Powell trey with 16:24 left in the game, to cut the lead to 24-35. This ended a 20-2 BYU run over 7 game minutes.

3. Toby Okani has missed more bunnies off the front of the rim than any other WVU player I can recall in a long, long time. For the love of God, try to bank it in - at least give it a chance. For a 6'8" dude with some serious bounce, he is really bad at finishing at or near the rim.

4. Fousseyni Traore - BYU's 6'6" monster in the middle, loves playing WVU. 20 points and 10 rebounds for their "big" who gave up a couple inches to Amani Hansberry, and up to 5 inches to Eduardo Andre. This was Traore's first double-double of the season, first game over 20 in Big 12 play. Obviously Darian DeVries & Co. worked to take away BYU's three-point shooting ability, and decided to see if BYU could and would beat us inside. Well, that worked for around 17 game minutes. Then, BYU and Traore worked us inside, and hit a few from the outside in the 2nd half en route to 52 2nd half points. Traore just big boy'd us.

5. OK, this is it. Tuesday, WVU plays at Utah at 9pm EST to determine whether or not WVU makes it to the Big Dance. We will beat UCF at home Saturday. 19 wins and we are "in", absent some sort of complete meltdown in all of the conference tournaments. 18 wins and we will need to win one, maybe two, at the Big 12 Tournament. So, WVU's NCAA fate runs through Josh Eilert.

Couldn’t agree more with this !! I couldn’t understand what we were doing at the end of the half, we ran no offense. We basically went into stall ball and tried to run the shot clock down inside of 10 seconds before even starting our offense. As far as Okani goes, like you I’ve never seen a guy that size with pretty good athletic ability not be able to get a layup over the rim. He’s actually a better 3 point shooter than foul shooter or on layups, it amazes me he can be that bad on foul shots and layups. Also it’s impossible to run offense with Tenner on the floor when the man guarding him doesn’t leave the lane.

 

[eer2000]

I 100% agree with Okani. Other players have had good moments here and there but he’s struggled this season. Honestly this team hasn’t looked like a tournament team since the Iowa State win. Teams can now all out harass Small and no one can consistently step up and make them pay.

Let's be honest - We are not a tournament worthy team. We're just not.

However, because the bids are given based upon the entire resume, WVU still has a shot thanks in large part to the work done before Tucker DeVries shut it down for the season. It's just the way it works.

I hope we find a way to win at Utah and snag a bid. Who knows....maybe we'll draw a favorable matchup in a 7/10 or 8/9 game and even win one.

 

[AlmostHeaven2021]

However, because the bids are given based upon the entire resume, WVU still has a shot thanks in large part to the work done before Tucker DeVries shut it down for the season. It's just the way it works.

This and until teams figured out they just need to make sure Javon Small doesn’t beat them. This team is literally nothing without Small and probably would be as bad as last years team without both Small and DeVries.

We are only in contention for March because of Small.. it would be robbery if Small doesn’t win big 12 player of the year.

Even with Small.. we’ve struggled to score more than 60 points a game. We’ve scored 60 points or less in eight big 12 games, that is garbage.

 

[bobhertzel'ssweatpants]

Let's be honest - We are not a tournament worthy team. We're just not.

However, because the bids are given based upon the entire resume, WVU still has a shot thanks in large part to the work done before Tucker DeVries shut it down for the season. It's just the way it works.

I hope we find a way to win at Utah and snag a bid. Who knows....maybe we'll draw a favorable matchup in a 7/10 or 8/9 game and even win one.

Utah scored 99 on Saturday against ASU. Not to mention I bet everyone still there is circling the wagons for Eilert in this one. I’m not optimistic the way we’ve played on the road lately.

 

[AlmostHeaven2021]

It’s just brutal to watch us play offense.

 

[mzman]

Let's be honest - We are not a tournament worthy team. We're just not.

However, because the bids are given based upon the entire resume, WVU still has a shot thanks in large part to the work done before Tucker DeVries shut it down for the season. It's just the way it works.

I hope we find a way to win at Utah and snag a bid. Who knows....maybe we'll draw a favorable matchup in a 7/10 or 8/9 game and even win one.

Agreed. After some nice wins in the first half, we have done absolutely nothing impressive in the second. But, getting a bid in his first year is an acceptable start for DD and we should all want that for the program. I doubt we'll do much in the B12 tournament since everyone knows how to play against our limited roster. Still, IF we can beat Utah and get in the tournament, we may even surprise someone in the first round that isn't as familiar with our limitations.

 

[eer2000]

Couldn’t agree more with this !! I couldn’t understand what we were doing at the end of the half, we ran no offense. We basically went into stall ball and tried to run the shot clock down inside of 10 seconds before even starting our offense. As far as Okani goes, like you I’ve never seen a guy that size with pretty good athletic ability not be able to get a layup over the rim. He’s actually a better 3 point shooter than foul shooter or on layups, it amazes me he can be that bad on foul shots and layups. Also it’s impossible to run offense with Tenner on the floor when the man guarding him doesn’t leave the lane.

There is potential there with Okani, and he gets after it on "D". I mean, I'm not asking for a lot...just put the ball up in the air, high, soft off of the glass for once...I feel like I'm talking to my U9 girls basketball team I'm coaching in Vienna VYI Hoops. (9-1-1 on the season!)

As for Tenner, well, at least he's shooting the ball again every once in a while...although he did turn down two completely wide open, step-in 3-point looks Saturday night. BYU was just letting him have it, and he wanted no part of trying to project the basketball 22 feet and 1.75 inches. It's a bridge too far for the former Mr. Tennessee basketball.

 

[Atocep]

At this point, if an opponent put all 5 guys on Small I'm not sure the other 4 could get us 50 in a game.

 

[eer2000]

At this point, if an opponent put all 5 guys on Small I'm not sure the other 4 could get us 50 in a game.

 

[BigC]

There is potential there with Okani, and he gets after it on "D". I mean, I'm not asking for a lot...just put the ball up in the air, high, soft off of the glass for once...I feel like I'm talking to my U9 girls basketball team I'm coaching in Vienna VYI Hoops. (9-1-1 on the season!)

As for Tenner, well, at least he's shooting the ball again every once in a while...although he did turn down two completely wide open, step-in 3-point looks Saturday night. BYU was just letting him have it, and he wanted no part of trying to project the basketball 22 feet and 1.75 inches. It's a bridge too far for the former Mr. Tennessee basketball.

I really like Tenner seems to be a great kid, but if he can’t be a threat from 3 point land he has no chance of succeeding at this level. You can’t play point guard at this level when teams won’t even guard you.

 

[eer2000]

Utah scored 99 on Saturday against ASU. Not to mention I bet everyone still there is circling the wagons for Eilert in this one. I’m not optimistic the way we’ve played on the road lately.

I've got this one penciled in as an "L".

Boy, ASU has really tanked after they came to Morgantown and big boy'd us. I really don't want to see them again in the Big 12 Tournament, bad matchup and could be a "Bad loss" to tag onto WVU right before Selection Sunday.

 

[BigC]

I've got this one penciled in as an "L".

Boy, ASU has really tanked after they came to Morgantown and big boy'd us. I really don't want to see them again in the Big 12 Tournament, bad matchup and could be a "Bad loss" to tag onto WVU right before Selection Sunday.

Bottom line is if we can’t beat ASU we don’t deserve to go. At some point we have to step up and win some games. The sad part is the second half of the season was much more manageable than the first half and we have completely faltered against some teams that were very beatable and we didn’t have to beat many of them.

 

[17-14]

Whatever Okani did Saturday, we need him to take shots at the rim (.574) more than anywhere else on the court (long twos, .373; threes, .300; FT line: .385) by a wide margin.

 

[AlmostHeaven2021]

Just will be hard when you need a bucket and Small goes cold/doubled. Our only other “go to scorer” is Powell in my opinion and I don’t want to rely on a freshman in big 12 play.

Past few games we’ve had stretches where we can’t buy a bucket and where Tucker would usually take over at times or make plays for teammates.

Amani or Okani or somebody will need to step up consistently to help out Small offensively.

Even getting Stone back would help out Small a ton. Small puts a lot on his shoulders offensively. How many minutes is Stone averaging?

But overall I do agree with you about surprising, I like this coaching staff a lot! They will put the team in the best position to compete and win.

I posted this on December 28th basically pleading for others to step up to help Small out. Same story today.

“Just will be hard when you need a bucket and Small goes cold/doubled. Our only other “go to scorer” is Powell in my opinion and I don’t want to rely on a freshman in big 12 play.”

This part is spot on from what I said. Thinking Powell could consistently play well in the big 12 was something I never wanted to rely on and was proven right.

All of the guys are way too inconsistent to rely on outside of Small.

 

[17-14]

Bottom line is if we can’t beat ASU we don’t deserve to go. At some point we have to step up and win some games. The sad part is the second half of the season was much more manageable than the first half and we have completely faltered against some teams that were very beatable and we didn’t have to beat many of them.

The BYU game in Morgantown was an inflection point for both teams. They'd lost two in a row coming in, down 62-56 with seven minutes left. They come back to win and haven't lost since. Instead of getting win #16 on February 11th, we're scraping for #18 on March 4th.

 

[AlmostHeaven2021]

FT line: .385)

Simply embarrassing. He’s been so bad. How do you shoot significantly worse from the FT line in your 5th year of college basketball?

FT% for Okani:
2020-21: 60.9
2021-22: 69.6
2022-23: 64.9
2023-24: 57.1
2024-25: 38.5

Doesn’t make sense. I’ve never seen a D1 basketball player air ball or hit the bottom of the rim on FTs so many times.

 

[AllEers]

Okani shoots like a Huggs big at the rim. How many layups did his teams miss over his last five years?

 

[The Bunk]

Okani stinks!!!! I will cheer when he is gone

 

[17-14]

Simply embarrassing. He’s been so bad. How do you shoot significantly worse from the FT line in your 5th year of college basketball?

FT% for Okani:
2020-21: 60.9
2021-22: 69.6
2022-23: 64.9
2023-24: 57.1
2024-25: 38.5

Doesn’t make sense. I’ve never seen a D1 basketball player air ball or hit the bottom of the rim on FTs so many times.

He has the yips. Entirely mental.

 

[Atocep]

Whatever Okani did Saturday, we need him to take shots at the rim (.574) more than anywhere else on the court (long twos, .373; threes, .300; FT line: .385) by a wide margin.

Between him and Harris I'd prefer to just play without a shot clock and run 4 corners.

 

[AlmostHeaven2021]

He has the yips. Entirely mental.

Just strange to see it from a 5th year senior. Usually you can sometimes expect it sophomore year with the common “sophomore slump”.

I just expect more from a seasoned player. Especially on the FT line… something you’ve been doing your entire basketball career, should be muscle memory.

 

[17-14]

Just strange to see it from a 5th year senior. Usually you can sometimes expect it sophomore year with the common “sophomore slump”.

I just expect more from a seasoned player. Especially on the FT line… something you’ve been doing your entire basketball career, should be muscle memory.

Until your System 2 brain decides to take over.

 

[eer2000]

He has the yips. Entirely mental.

Ditto Powell with FTs.

 

[43rd Parallel]

FWIW, BYU put 18,000 people into its arena on Saturday. Utah will be lucky to draw a third of that Tuesday night.

 

[fluentedge]

Okani's big game against DeVries and Drake last year when he scored 31 or so got him recruited to WVU. He's solid on the defensive end but never improved his shot making.

 

[brandonjags8]

Sencire is our best free throw shooter. Between him and small

 

[eer2000]

Okani's big game against DeVries and Drake last year when he scored 31 or so got him recruited to WVU. He's solid on the defensive end but never improved his shot making.

Toby Okani was actually a very good piece of the puzzle when we had a lineup which featured an All-American candidate at PG, a 6'7" sharp-shooting NBA prospect who could hit from anywhere at "3", a bona fide defensive eraser at the "2" along with a stretch-5. Okani would defend, grab rebounds, get deflections, and hit the occasional corner trey.

What we were doing was working, and working at a high level. Then, poof.

One thing we also were - razor thin. House of Cards came tumbling down when we lost Tucker and we at times now have to play a construction worker....