SB Nation Pittsburgh - Seton Hall Vs. West Virginia: Mountaineers Whip Pirates, 56-44https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2011-02-02T22:43:20-05:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17350232011-02-02T22:43:20-05:002011-02-02T22:43:20-05:00Seton Hall Vs. West Virginia: Mountaineers Take Care Of Business At Home
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<p>West Virginia went out tonight, won a very winnable game, and looked absolutely bored doing it. Right down to letting Seton Hall threaten to cut the lead to single digits late, but not so bored as to actually let the thing slip away. It was anything but pretty, but it got the job done.</p>
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<b>The short bench continues.</b> Eight guys got into this one, with Jonnie West seeing some minutes and taking advantage by hitting a three. In the first half, everything looked sharp, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26351/cam-thoroughman">Cam aThoroughman</a> led the team out of the gates, everntually finishing with a career high ten points. Cam's night included, amazingly, some long distance shooting. With Joe Mazzulla running the point, things seemed to run smoothly, and actual plays get run. With rumors of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101435/casey-mitchell">Casey Mitchell</a> returning are early as Saturday, and the Dominion Post floating the idea that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101437/danny-jennings">Danny Jennings</a> could even return, this team's complextion may change soon. I'm hoping this lean and mean Mountaineer team will have established the tone for the rest of the season. Cam, Joe and JFlow are the leaders, and it may not be pretty, but it's gonna be effective.</li>
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<b>The logjam in the Big East.</b> West Virginia is now in a four way tie for second place. Only Pitt has one loss, and they are followed by a pack of four 3-loss teams. This makes things look pretty positive for postseason potential, but anything can happen. The road gets really tough, and the two games in three days against ranked teams facing the 'Eers this weekend will tell a lot about this team. By the time the Mountaineers are done with Monday's Backyard Brawl, we'll know if this team is poised to make a run, or is just hanging on for dear life. Over the last week and a half, the Mountaineers are playing surprisingly good basketball, despite being down a couple men. Really, anything can happen.<br>
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<b>Kevin Jones drops a grand.</b> Jones becomes the 47th player in school history to cross the thousand point mark. This is obviously a big accomplishment, but I was more impressed with how well Jones played underneath the basket. He finished with 13 points and 12 boards, 5 of them offensive. He played the role of a big man tonight, only settling for jumpshots once the game got out of hand. He, Cam, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26363/john-flowers">John Flowers</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101439/deniz-kilicli">Deniz Kilicli</a> all finished with doubles figures tonight, making it a very productive evening for the Mountaineer front court. </li>
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<b>Defense wins championships.</b> It's obvious that this Mountaineer team, especially playing only 7 or 8 guys, isn't going to beat anybody by lighting it up. However, playing ugly, and defensive, great things can happen. John Flowers was his usual acrobatic self tonight with a couple of high flying blocks that had the Coliseum crowd on their feet. He drew the task of guarding Seton hall star <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26215/jeremy-hazell">Jeremy Hazell</a>, and held him to one basket for the evening. While it seemed obvious that Hazell was still recovering from his injuries, it's still quite a feat. As a team, the Mountaineers held the Pirates to under thirty percent shooting, but the Pirates seemed to contribute their fair share with some awfully off-mark shots. Either way, if this team can continue to disrupt the opposition, they're going to be in a lot of ballgames.<br>
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<p>Saturday, Villanova. Monday, Pittsburgh. Then we'll know what kind of team we have on our hands. If West Virginia can get one of these, then things could be looking good to really compete in March.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/west-virginia-mountaineers/2011/2/2/1971854/seton-hall-vs-west-virginia-mountaineers-take-care-of-business-at-homeAaron Hawley2011-02-02T15:58:33-05:002011-02-02T15:58:33-05:00Seton Hall Vs. West Virginia: Seven-Man Mountaineers Try To Keep Hot Streak Going
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<p>After spending last week on the road in the midwest, dropping a heartbreaker in Louisville and whipping Bob Huggins' old employer, the Mountaineers are back in Morgantown tonight to square off with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26215/jeremy-hazell">Jeremy Hazell</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/seton-hall-pirates">Seton Hall Pirates</a>. Here's what I'll be watching from section 53:</p>
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<b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26352/joe-mazzulla">Joe Mazzulla</a> at the helm.</b> Now that WVU is playing with its hands tied behind its back, Joe Mazzulla has stepped to the forefront to lead this team. The only thing I wonder about is where that's been all season. This is Joe's team now, and considering the guy led the Mountaineers to upsets over Duke in '07 and Kentucky in '09, I figure that's a good thing. His first half against Louisville was one of the best halves we've seen out of any Mountaineer all year. Though watching Siva's game-winner fall was heartbreaking, the new look Mountaineers made great strides against the Cards which they turned into a flat out dismantling of the Bearcats. As Joe goes, goes this team. If Joe can continue to create, score and defend, the Mountaineers could surprise some people.</li>
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<b>Fouls, or lack thereof. </b>Oddly enough, it's taken the rotation shrinking to seven men to make the Mountaineers play smart. Whatever it takes, I say. Either way, keeping <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/30043/herb-pope">Herb Pope</a> in check down low will the primary task at hand for the Mountaineer big men. If they can keep their heads, and not get tempted to reach in too often, then I think the 'Eers should be fine. The truth is, of all the teams on the schedule that WVU has to be afraid of, Seton Hall is not one of them. The Mountaineers should be able to handle their business with ease. Hell, they can even afford to let Hazell shoot it all night, the Pirates don't have many other players to help him out.</li>
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<b>The development of the Turk.</b> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101439/deniz-kilicli">Deniz Kilicli</a> continues to improve and show why he was one of the Mountaineers' most highly-touted recruits when he got to campus. The guy has a nose for scoring. His touch is surprising delicate for his stature, and his decision making continues to improve. With Casey Mitchell still suspended, the Mountaineers are thirsty for points. Kilicli should continue to provide them. In a lot of ways, when Kilicli can score, he makes it easier for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26351/cam-thoroughman">Cam Thoroughman</a> to just be Cam Thoroughman. With big men contributing to the scoring, Cam can continue to do what he does best, which is pick, rebound and pass.<br>
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<b>The Schedule Math. </b>The number one rule of going to the tournament is this: win the games you should win. Seton Hall at home is one of those games. If the Mountaineers can pick up a W tonight, they will move to 6-3 in the conference. That's huge, because it means that no matter what, WVU will be above .500 in conference when DePaul comes to Coliseum on February 12th. In between? Dates with #12 Villanova and #2 Pitt. I fully expect WVU to win one of those two, but a win tonight doesn't make it a crisis if they don't.</li>
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<p>I'm off to the Coliseum. I'll be back later tonight with a recap, and something about high school kids deciding to come to Morgantown....</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/2/2/2329077/seton-hall-vs-west-virginia-seven-man-mountaineers-try-to-keep-hotAaron Hawley