Thursday, March 29, 2007

You still get a ring

'If I stay that tailgate better f'n rock'Every 65 years WVU wins the NIT. Like clockwork. In 1942 it could be argued that it was for a National Title. This year it was against a group of teams that felt they deserved NCAA bids. In 2072 people will fly their cars and tell their robot housekeepers about another WVU team on the verge of another NIT title. Unless those damn dirty apes get here first.

If the NIT is the tournament for the 66th best team then WVU emphatically answered that they are that team. If this was John Beilein's last game as coach of the Mountaineers it was a signature win for him in a swan song. The game was played by WVU exactly how Beilein draws up the game plan. You could have a virtual pickem of game MVPs. Frank Young scored 24 points on 7-10 shooting including 12 on 4 threes in the first half to build the lead. Darris Nichols would have thrown up a double double if the dogs weren't called off. He scored 13 points and had 9 assists. Da'Sean Butler scored 20 and pulled down 7 rebounds. Smalligan added 8 points and 7 rebounds and Rob Summers set a bunch of picks. This definitely was Frank's last game and he played great as he did the entire tournament. It was also Summers last game. His defense, rebounding, passing, toughness, and ability to set a pick will be missed. But, not as much as the line beard. That will be impossible to replace.

Clemson made a run in the last few minutes to close the gap for Vegas, but the game was over much earlier. WVU shot 12-20 from three (Frank was 6-7) compared to Clemson shooting 6-22. WVU also outrebounded the Tigers by 6 for the game.

This tournament was a great building block for the young kids on the team. Except for Joe Alexander. Hopefully he can regroup in the offseason as his game simply regressed over the last few regular season games and into the Big East and NIT tournaments. He seems so aware of his shooting difficulties that he became tentative with the ball and it really effected his defense as well. However, now he has 6 months to dunk on everyone at the Rec Center to get his confidence back. In the meantime we can look forward to the continued maturation of Ruoff, Butler, Smith, and Nichols. Hopefully Michigan doesn't call until Beilein gets back to Morgantown. Cell phones don't necessarily get good reception here. Especially when Beilein is kidnapped and living in Option's basement for the next three weeks. Don't worry, if he gets bored Option has promised to take him to the wall.

11 comments:

Brave Sir Robin said...

Kudos to the prompt post. All is well in Mountaineer land, at least until I get a flying car.

I love Pub Mix, Frank Young, little dogs, line beards, and the NCAA 3-point and dunk contest.

Lets go Mountaineers.

letsplaytummysticks said...

I wish they would make a few more dunks. It's the NCAA 30 second dance contest at this point. YMCA guy would win it.

Anonymous said...

little dogs love treats.

TREATS!!!

letsplaytummysticks said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
letsplaytummysticks said...

In English this time...
Great, now I have to give them one. The little lady was reading along while the little soldier was just staring at the ceiling per usual. However, when she got excited and ran to the kitchen so did he.

Anonymous said...

In 1942 it could be argued that it was for a National Title.

You could argue but you would be wrong- MD 2 WVU- 0

Option Spread said...

Mickey, er, I mean Anon, before bashing the 1942 NIT championship, please refer to this post. It was the first, it was the more popular (prior to massive television coverage, so coaches took their teams to MSG to better expose their players to pro scouts), and it didn't get spurned by teams (like the NCAA did).

I'm not saying it was THE national championship, I'm just saying it was one of two national championships that year. Similar to when two different teams would finish #1 in the final AP and Coach's football polls prior to the BCS.

It wasn't until the NCAA started using their massive leverage to force teams into "their" tourney did the NCAAs finally take a clear and definite lead.

Interestingly enough, and I don't think we've mentioned it yet, was that we were the lowest seeded team in '42, and upset our way straight into our first post-season national tournament championship.

letsplaytummysticks said...

I give him credit for consistency. No matter what the overwhelming evedence to the contrary he sticks to his original argument. Are you sure you are moving to Florida and not the White House?

Anonymous said...

Wow, I was really really drunk last night when I wrote that hahaha, not too many mispelled words and it made a little sense..Jack and Coke 1 Mickey 0

Anonymous said...

Received a call from Tummyshits who reminded me of a few things--Jack and Coke 1,987,234 Mickey 0

letsplaytummysticks said...

But I have a good feeling about tonight. Jack is going down.