SB Nation Pittsburgh - West Virginia Vs. Notre Dame: Irish Use Strong 2nd Half To Blow Out 'Eers, 71-44https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2012-02-22T20:47:39-05:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/25818112012-02-22T20:47:39-05:002012-02-22T20:47:39-05:00West Virginia Vs. Notre Dame: White Hot Irish Blow Out 'Eers, 71-44
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<p>It was a mere twenty minutes of basketball ago that WVU fan's were optimistic, with the 'Eers trailing by a mere two points at halftime. How quickly things would change. Notre Dame came out in the second half with guns blazing and quickly buried the Mountaineers with a barrage of threes as they rattled off a 20-4 run. By the time the half was only seven minutes old, it was quickly apparent that the game was effectively over.</p>
<p>For the game, Notre Dame shot a blistering 62 percent, while the Mountaineers struggled enormously, shooting 32 percent for the game. The Irish were 9-of-16 from behind the arc and seemed to hit everything they took from downtown in the second half.</p>
<p>Bob Huggins used the opportunity to give serious second half minutes to walk on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/147048/paul-williamson">Paul Williamson</a> and little-used freshman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146471/tommie-mccune">Tommie McCune</a>. He knew the game was over even though there was plenty of time left on the clock. Kevin Jones struggled all night and scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but it was little help in the face of the Irish's scoring onslaught.</p>
<p>The Notre Dame students chanted "N-I-T" in the games waning moments, and they might be right. If the Mountaineers don't win both of their home games next week it seems certain.</p>
<p><i>For more on WVU basketball, check out the <a href="http://smokingmusket.com">Smoking Musket</a></i>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/west-virginia-mountaineers/2012/2/22/2817844/west-virginia-vs-notre-dame-white-hot-irish-blow-out-eers-71-44Aaron Hawley2012-02-22T19:46:22-05:002012-02-22T19:46:22-05:00West Virginia Vs. Notre Dame: Mountaineers Trail Irish 30-28 At Halftime
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<p>When West Virginia and Notre Dame meet on the basketball court, the end result is almost always a slow, defensive contest, and tonight's affair is no different. West Virginia trail the Irish 30-28 at halftime.</p>
<p>Senior guard Truck Bryant was back in the starting lineup after his benching in the Mountaineers' last contest, and he seems motivated by the opportunity. Bryant has played well, tallying 10 points, three assists and two steals while playing all 20 minutes of the first half. Amazingly, his most impressive play was a missed dunk while getting fouled by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26737/scott-martin">Scott Martin</a>. I just didn't know he had the hops to even try it.</p>
<p>Bob Huggins chose to include freshman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146469/gary-browne">Gary Browne</a> in the starting lineup again tonight, this time benching fellow freshman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146472/keaton-miles">Keaton Miles</a>, who hasn't seen the court so far tonight. While Browne hasn't filled the scorebook so far, he has paced the Mountaineers with his hustle, especially on defense.</p>
<p>The Mountaineers are attempting to attack the Irish underneath, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101439/deniz-kilicli">Deniz Kilicli</a> has found some success, while Kevin Jones has seen shots rim out. In the half, both Kilicli and Jones had six points and three rebounds apiece.</p>
<p>The Irish were led by star forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100020/jack-cooley">Jack Cooley,</a> who scored 11 points and hauled in four rebounds</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/west-virginia-mountaineers/2012/2/22/2817777/west-virginia-vs-notre-dame-mountaineers-trail-irish-30-28-at-halftimeAaron Hawley2012-02-22T11:32:03-05:002012-02-22T11:32:03-05:00West Virginia Vs. Notre Dame: 'Eers Hope To Steal A Win In South Bend
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<p>The Mountaineers head to South Bend, where they haven't won since 1996.</p> <p>The West Virginia University men's basketball team hasn't won in South Bend since 1996. The Joyce Center has been home to some of the Mountaineers' lowest moments, which is bad news for this team, since they need a win right now. Here's what the storylines are heading into tonight's match-up:</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Will the bubble burst? </b> The Mountaineers are in the middle of a Big East conference that has separated itself like old milk. On top, there are seven teams that are assuredly in the NCAA tournament and down below there are six that definitely are out of the postseason. Smack dab in the middle are three teams, WVU, Seton Hall and Connecticut, who are fighting for what may only be one spot between them. The Mountaineers should be okay on Selection Sunday if they can split their last four, but a top-20 win on the road against the Irish could catapult the 'Eers into the NCAAs tonight. It's the toughest game left on the schedule, but it's also the most important.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Can Truck stay between the lines?</b> The senior guard started the last game on the bench, a first this season. Judging from how superstitious Huggins is, I think we can expect the same tonight. Bryant saw 20 percent less court time against Pitt, but played a pretty decent game. How he plays Wednesday night will dictate how successful WVU is. He was held scoreless in the teams last meeting, but dished out eight assists, while only taking six shots. If Bryant can have that sort of game tonight, with a focus on getting Kevin Jones and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101439/deniz-kilicli">Deniz Kilicli</a> involved in the offense, WVU will have its best shot at knocking off the Irish.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Will there be a meltdown</b>? The Joyce Center has been home to a few of WVU's lowest moments, like the dismissal of Drew Schifino or the time Chris Moss spit on a cheerleader. Either way, the potential for an off-the-court meltdown is high, and Mountaineer fans can only hope that tomorrow's water cooler chatter revolves around what happened on the court, not off of it. If the Mountaineers fall behind early, the Irish's glacial pace and defensive fortitude could cause tensions to run high.</span></li>
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<div><b><i>Stay tuned to SBNation Pittsburgh and<a href="http://thesmokingmusket.com" target="_blank"> The Smoking Musket</a> for more on the West Virginia Mountaineers.</i></b></div>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/west-virginia-mountaineers/2012/2/22/2816611/west-virginia-vs-notre-dame-eers-hope-to-steal-a-win-in-south-bendAaron Hawley