--West Virginia was gutsy in this game and battled back multiple times but couldn't get over the hump to win this basketball game. Again, West Virginia had multiple chances to get it done but couldn't string together a stop and a score and Baylor was able to wrestle it away in the end. This was a chance for a massive win for the Mountaineers as a quadrant one opportunity but instead it becomes the sixth loss in the last eight games. Close doesn't matter to the selection committee and while I do think this team battled hard in this one the end result is just another defeat.
--The end of the game sequence was just a disaster all around for West Virginia as they allowed almost 10 seconds to be ran off the clock before they fouled and then of course the final two free throws didn't even give the Mountaineers a chance to tie the game. Frustrating end to this one.
--Much better effort on the defensive end in this one compared to the second half against BYU. Baylor shot just 39-percent and 23-percent from three, while VJ Edgecombe was just 3-12 from the floor and finished with 7 points. This is the type of effort needed to win on that end.
--Mountaineers had some really nice plays on in-bounds and shared the basketball well on offense with 17 assists on 26 made baskets. Good to see Small get going and some others step up as well. This team has played better offensive basketball of late.
--West Virginia was able to get Javon Small some more opportunities in this one as he had 16 shot attempts after just 9 in the previous two games. Small hit 7 of those although he was just 2-10 from three. He finished the game with 22 points, 6 assists and just 2 turnovers. We know the deal with him at this point.
--Outside the free throws at the end, Toby Okani was really good for West Virginia again. He had 19 points and was 8-15 from the floor with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. He has scored 35 points over the past two games and shot 15-27 from the floor showing the ability to hit the three, and score at the rim.
--Thought Sencire Harris made some critical hustle plays in this game and did his usual thing on defense. Harris had 9 points and 6 rebounds and was +10 overall.
--Just not the day for Jonathan Powell. The freshman had a lot of really good looks in this one but they just didn't drop. He was 1-12 overall and 1-9 for three. You'll have these days sometimes, but the Mountaineers need him to continue to shoot the ball with confidence.
--Amani Hansberry had some really good plays in this game at times but also dealt with foul trouble. He had 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and only 1 turnover. He hit two massive free throws as well.
--Eduardo Andre had a rough go of it for most of this game. He turned the ball over on three straight possessions and seemed to struggle to find a rhythm early with foul trouble. He played just 11 minutes and was -6 in that time. An up and down game for Joe Yesufu as well with 7 points but 2-7 from the field and a bad foul late. He was -7.
--The Mountaineers did a pretty job good on the glass only losing that margin 40-36, and permitting just 2 second chance points. On the flip side, the Mountaineers had 11 second chance points.
--Baylor outscored West Virginia 9-6 in overtime and didn't even make a field goal. For the game, the Bears shot 32 free throws, while West Virginia had 17. Overall, the Mountaineers were +10 in points in the paint at 36-26 and made five more field goals at 26-21. But the foul line was a +16 edge for Baylor but the Mountaineers did go just 11-17 in their opportunities.
--The Mountaineers are now 15-10 overall and 6-8 in the Big 12. There are six games to go and a lot of work left to do if this team wants to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament. This has been a rough stretch of late and they've got to find some ways to get over the hump with what's remaining on the schedule.
--The end of the game sequence was just a disaster all around for West Virginia as they allowed almost 10 seconds to be ran off the clock before they fouled and then of course the final two free throws didn't even give the Mountaineers a chance to tie the game. Frustrating end to this one.
--Much better effort on the defensive end in this one compared to the second half against BYU. Baylor shot just 39-percent and 23-percent from three, while VJ Edgecombe was just 3-12 from the floor and finished with 7 points. This is the type of effort needed to win on that end.
--Mountaineers had some really nice plays on in-bounds and shared the basketball well on offense with 17 assists on 26 made baskets. Good to see Small get going and some others step up as well. This team has played better offensive basketball of late.
--West Virginia was able to get Javon Small some more opportunities in this one as he had 16 shot attempts after just 9 in the previous two games. Small hit 7 of those although he was just 2-10 from three. He finished the game with 22 points, 6 assists and just 2 turnovers. We know the deal with him at this point.
--Outside the free throws at the end, Toby Okani was really good for West Virginia again. He had 19 points and was 8-15 from the floor with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. He has scored 35 points over the past two games and shot 15-27 from the floor showing the ability to hit the three, and score at the rim.
--Thought Sencire Harris made some critical hustle plays in this game and did his usual thing on defense. Harris had 9 points and 6 rebounds and was +10 overall.
--Just not the day for Jonathan Powell. The freshman had a lot of really good looks in this one but they just didn't drop. He was 1-12 overall and 1-9 for three. You'll have these days sometimes, but the Mountaineers need him to continue to shoot the ball with confidence.
--Amani Hansberry had some really good plays in this game at times but also dealt with foul trouble. He had 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and only 1 turnover. He hit two massive free throws as well.
--Eduardo Andre had a rough go of it for most of this game. He turned the ball over on three straight possessions and seemed to struggle to find a rhythm early with foul trouble. He played just 11 minutes and was -6 in that time. An up and down game for Joe Yesufu as well with 7 points but 2-7 from the field and a bad foul late. He was -7.
--The Mountaineers did a pretty job good on the glass only losing that margin 40-36, and permitting just 2 second chance points. On the flip side, the Mountaineers had 11 second chance points.
--Baylor outscored West Virginia 9-6 in overtime and didn't even make a field goal. For the game, the Bears shot 32 free throws, while West Virginia had 17. Overall, the Mountaineers were +10 in points in the paint at 36-26 and made five more field goals at 26-21. But the foul line was a +16 edge for Baylor but the Mountaineers did go just 11-17 in their opportunities.
--The Mountaineers are now 15-10 overall and 6-8 in the Big 12. There are six games to go and a lot of work left to do if this team wants to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament. This has been a rough stretch of late and they've got to find some ways to get over the hump with what's remaining on the schedule.
