--Welcome to the Darian DeVries era. The first-year Mountaineers head coach got his first ranked win over No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in a game where his team never blinked and battled throughout the entire game. The Bulldogs were 14.5 point favorites in this one but the Mountaineers never quit fighting even after falling behind in the first half. It's the first time since the Mountaineers have beaten a ranked opponent since knocking off No. 3 Kansas last year and is just a major win all around for this new coaching staff and team. I was so impressed with the way that this team just never let up in this one and even when things weren't going their way they battled.
--The Mountaineers were +8 in the second half and +8 in overtime, including scoring 15 points. I thought they really bothered Gonzaga on defense and held them to 40-percent overall and 33-percent from three. The Bulldogs were able to figure out some things and get some looks in the post later in the second half, but West Virginia denied and forced them to move off what they wanted to do initially. Sencire Harris was really good in this game defensively as well and did a good job trying to take Ryan Nehmhard out of it. He was 1-10 from the field. The Mountaineers did a really good job of controlling the tempo and not allowing them to get out and run.
--Javon Small was sensational in this game with 31 points on 9-18 shooting and 4-10 from three. It seemed like for the most part that when the Mountaineers needed a big basket for much of the game he was able to deliver. He made some sensational plays to get to the rim and hit some timely shots. He led the way at +15 and 7 rebounds in his 42 minutes. That 31 points effort is the most since Jesse Edwards had 36 against TCU last season.
--Tucker DeVries made some major plays down the stretch with the catch and shoot three and then of course the steal and the foul shots to tie it up. He is such a smart player and continues to put himself in position to have success even when he's getting a lot of attention. He had 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and was 6-7 from the foul line. He also had 4 blocks. He was +7.
--Amani Hansberry, hello. This was a career high game for him and he did a good job on both ends of the floor. He scored 19 points on 7-16 shooting and grabbed 8 rebounds. He also did a solid job on the defensive end against some of the Gonzaga bigs. He was critical at the start of this game and while he took a few shots you'd like back, I didn't have a problem with how he was shooting.
--Toby Okani was again strong on the defensive end of the floor and also hit some timely shots in this one including a three-ball that the Mountaineers desperately needed when they were in a funk early in the second half. He 10 points on 3-6 shooting.
--Mentioned him above but Sencire Harris bothered Gonzaga defensively in this game especially Nebhardt and made it difficult for him but he also had some timely buckets. He scored 8 points on 3-7 shooting with 2 blocks and 2 steals.
--Four players played 42 minutes and another played 37. West Virginia really relied on their starters in this one and they delivered.
--West Virginia won the rebounding edge 42-36 and had 12 offensive rebounds compared to 11 for Gonzaga. That isn't something I expected.
--Turnovers weren't an issue really for West Virginia in this with with both teams having 13. Yes, there were a few empty possessions or times that guys got hurried but they weren't as many bad turnovers which allowed Gonzaga to get out and run with just 9 transition points.
--Felt that West Virginia had some really good ball movement at times to get open shots and while they didn't always make them it was good to see.
--Perhaps even better, West Virginia was 23-26 from the foul line including 12-14 in the second half and overtime to win this game.
--West Virginia is now 4-1 on the season and will play Louisville tomorrow at noon for a chance to advance to the Battle 4 Atlantis Title game. What a bounce back from what unfolded at Pitt and this team now has quite a bit of confidence heading into tomorrow's match up.
--The Mountaineers were +8 in the second half and +8 in overtime, including scoring 15 points. I thought they really bothered Gonzaga on defense and held them to 40-percent overall and 33-percent from three. The Bulldogs were able to figure out some things and get some looks in the post later in the second half, but West Virginia denied and forced them to move off what they wanted to do initially. Sencire Harris was really good in this game defensively as well and did a good job trying to take Ryan Nehmhard out of it. He was 1-10 from the field. The Mountaineers did a really good job of controlling the tempo and not allowing them to get out and run.
--Javon Small was sensational in this game with 31 points on 9-18 shooting and 4-10 from three. It seemed like for the most part that when the Mountaineers needed a big basket for much of the game he was able to deliver. He made some sensational plays to get to the rim and hit some timely shots. He led the way at +15 and 7 rebounds in his 42 minutes. That 31 points effort is the most since Jesse Edwards had 36 against TCU last season.
--Tucker DeVries made some major plays down the stretch with the catch and shoot three and then of course the steal and the foul shots to tie it up. He is such a smart player and continues to put himself in position to have success even when he's getting a lot of attention. He had 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and was 6-7 from the foul line. He also had 4 blocks. He was +7.
--Amani Hansberry, hello. This was a career high game for him and he did a good job on both ends of the floor. He scored 19 points on 7-16 shooting and grabbed 8 rebounds. He also did a solid job on the defensive end against some of the Gonzaga bigs. He was critical at the start of this game and while he took a few shots you'd like back, I didn't have a problem with how he was shooting.
--Toby Okani was again strong on the defensive end of the floor and also hit some timely shots in this one including a three-ball that the Mountaineers desperately needed when they were in a funk early in the second half. He 10 points on 3-6 shooting.
--Mentioned him above but Sencire Harris bothered Gonzaga defensively in this game especially Nebhardt and made it difficult for him but he also had some timely buckets. He scored 8 points on 3-7 shooting with 2 blocks and 2 steals.
--Four players played 42 minutes and another played 37. West Virginia really relied on their starters in this one and they delivered.
--West Virginia won the rebounding edge 42-36 and had 12 offensive rebounds compared to 11 for Gonzaga. That isn't something I expected.
--Turnovers weren't an issue really for West Virginia in this with with both teams having 13. Yes, there were a few empty possessions or times that guys got hurried but they weren't as many bad turnovers which allowed Gonzaga to get out and run with just 9 transition points.
--Felt that West Virginia had some really good ball movement at times to get open shots and while they didn't always make them it was good to see.
--Perhaps even better, West Virginia was 23-26 from the foul line including 12-14 in the second half and overtime to win this game.
--West Virginia is now 4-1 on the season and will play Louisville tomorrow at noon for a chance to advance to the Battle 4 Atlantis Title game. What a bounce back from what unfolded at Pitt and this team now has quite a bit of confidence heading into tomorrow's match up.
