WVU is the hot team. Want extra proof. ESPN.com gorges on them in the days leading up to tonight’s game. Not that, they aren’t bad reads, but there’s plenty of fuel for the fire, er, let me couch phrase that differently. Lots of material to make Pitt feel like they are being disrespected or overlooked by the WWLS.
A very long piece detailing the happenstances that created this present WVU team from the coach hiring (and Dan Dakich turning tail for fear of sanctions at WVU), to how the players got there.
Andy Katz reports that the WVU athletic director is talking tough about Coach Beilein not leaving the ‘Eers.
West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong isn’t bothering with those rumors that John Beilein would be enticed to go to any of the potential ACC or Big 12 openings that could pop in March or April.
Why?
“He’s got a solid contract,” Pastilong said.
…
“All these folks that talk about the dominoes fail to realize that John Beilein has a contract with West Virginia,” Pastilong said. “He and the school made a commitment, and we intend to fulfill it.”
Of course, because we all know how coaching contracts are virtually unbreakable.
The most interesting piece is from stats guru, Ken Pomeroy (and of course, Insider Subs.).
There are four basic building blocks of offensive efficiency: shooting, turnovers, offensive rebounding and free throws. The Mountaineers are among the worst in the country at two of those things: offensive rebounding and getting to the line. West Virginia ranks 329th and 330th, respectively, out of 334 Division I teams in those two categories. The only team that can claim a worse combined performance in those elements is Princeton, and its offense barely has a pulse, even by Ivy League standards.
But West Virginia’s offense is very difficult to defend, as evidenced by the Mountaineers’ 18th national ranking in adjusted offensive efficiency. And by torching quality defenses in road games at Oklahoma and Villanova along the way, WVU has proven its offense can succeed against just about anyone.
The simple explanation for this is that WVU succeeds by mastering the other two ingredients of efficiency. By committing turnovers on only 13.1 percent of its possessions, WVU takes care of the ball better than every team except Temple. In addition, the Mountaineers’ effective field-goal percentage of 54.3 percent ranks 24th in the nation.
…
It turns out that the Mountaineers’ defense is just as unusual as the offense. In John Beilein’s trademark 1-3-1 zone, they rate poorly in two of the four factors, but are outstanding in the other two. Their strength is forcing turnovers and preventing free-throw attempts. The defense has improved from last season, mainly due to their increased dominance in these two categories.
Everyone has love for the Hoopies right now. Well, almost everybody.
Covers Expert Tony George feels in a rivalry such as this, intangibles will be a main factor.
“West Virginia is undefeated on the road this season (4-0) and Pitt is undefeated at home (13-0),” says George. “In games like this, especially with the extra time both teams have had, it will come down to who needs this game more.”
The Panthers haven’t played since Sunday, losing to Georgetown 61-58 as 4-point underdogs. George says giving a talented team such as Pitt time to reflect on back-to-back losses may be the deciding factor (they also lost 80-76 to Connecticut last Tuesday as 9-point underdogs).
“You have a team in Pittsburgh that’s lost its last two games on the road,” says George. “Now they come home — a place they average 17 more points than opponents — in a game they really need.”
Intangibles are nice, but I’d like to see solid defense, good passing and shooting.
