You still get a ring

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.