I absolutely loathe anyone criticizing Mountaineer fans for outlandish behavior. In just about any context, if you hear someone complaining about the antics of WVU fans before/after/during football or basketball games, you'll hear my voice fervently defending those fans, usually with a reply of "that happens anywhere, don't get your panties in a bunch."

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend last night's hard court edition of the Backyard Brawl. But from first-hand accounts and what anyone with cable in the United States could see plainly on television, there was seriously embarrassing behavior displayed by a few moron Mountaineer fans last night in WVU's 70-51 victory over #23 Pitt, and even I can't take up for the behavior of some of the Mountaineer faithful today.

And that's saying something.

The entirety of Sportscenter's, PTI, and other outlets' coverage of the game focused not on the Mountaineer team finding its stride against a rival, not on the play of newcomer (and Turkish sensation) Deniz Kilicli, not on the Mountaineers shooting a blistering 43% from 3-point range- the coverage focused on fan behavior.

It wasn't enough that WVU fans were on notice by the administration that unruly behavior wouldn't be tolerated at the game.

It wasn't enough that espn.com ran this ridiculous article on Tuesday. (Why ridiculous? In listing incidents of unruly fan behavior at WVU, the article notes a scene from the movie "The Express" where Ernie Davis was subjected to racially insensitive behavior from the crowd in Morgantown "during the 1959 season, even though Syracuse didn't play at Morgantown that year [and] veterans from both teams say the incident never happened.")

No, assistant coach Tom Herrion was hit in the face with what appeared to be a coin EVEN AFTER THE CROWD WAS TOLD TO STOP THROWING THINGS ONTO THE COURT BY COACH HUGGINS.





For his part, West Virginia University president Jim Clements apologized Thursday to Pitt, as reported in this article saying he was "appalled and embarrassed" by fans who threw objects onto the court during Wednesday night's game, vowing to crack down on unruly behavior with additional surveillance and security, prosecuting offenders, and offering an aid line for fans to report misbehavior.

But why was all of this even necessary?

We already know that the state of West Virginia faces an uphill battle in overcoming stereotypical views of the state and its citizens as a whole. And while it's obvious that only a few offenders actually threw objects onto the floor and the brush shouldn't paint too broadly, why is it that we must constantly endure additional embarrassment?

It wasn't 4 months ago that WVU fans demonstrated their capacity for classy behavior, responding with great empathy and support for the visiting UConn Huskies, who were overcome with grief after the sudden and shocking stabbing death of cornerback Jasper Howard. We all remember this scene, right?





That was a great day to be a Mountaineer.

Wednesday was not.

While the media dogpiles on WVU for previous incidents involving profanity and chanting the name of Rick Pitino's blackmailing mistress, this incident gives them anything they need to point to WVU and West Virginia to say, "See, those people have no class."

Personally, I'm not the type of person that gets even remotely offended by chants from the student section involving one or more of George Carlin's seven dirty words. I'm of the opinion that people need to have much thicker skin when it comes to "obscene language" in general. (There's far more offensive things in the world than the use of the terms bull**** or ***hole. Choosing to be upset at those words is a complete waste of effort and imagination.)

Escalating unruly behavior beyond the stands is something else entirely, and WVU fans have to be better than that.

They are better than that.

West Virginians are some of the nicest people on Earth. We live in a state that, for its population, disproportionally serves its country through military service more so than every other state. There's absolutely no reason that our fans can't have a good time at a football/basketball game, make the atmosphere intimidating for opposing teams, and support the home team without resorting to the sort of hooligan behavior exhibited by South American soccer fans.

(And yes, I understand that not everyone that goes to WVU is a West Virginian. But they represent the state nonetheless.)

And this seems like a good time as well to point out that while the initial objects thrown onto the floor (leading to Huggins' address to the crowd) were definitely thrown from the student section, based on the first-hand accounts and obvious trajectory of the object that hit Herrion did NOT come from the student section. So while alumni and the administration admonish the WVU student section for unruly behavior, please keep in mind that there's a strong chance they weren't responsible for the Herrion incident.

Without being forced into better behavior by additional security measures and more stringent law enforcement relating to fan (mis)behavior, or other administrative remedies to misconduct, WVU fans should understand that behavior such as that displayed on Wednesday night embarrasses the university, the state, and its citizens.

We can do better than that.

We are better than that.

I've been playing and watching basketball for a long time. Very rarely do I see something that I've never seen before, and even less often do things happen that I just flat out don't understand.

This year's Mountaineer basketball team is the exception, though, leaving me with more questions than answers after most games. Their progress through the season has been impressive (especially considering they're basically getting a C- out of both guard positions at this point), and their losses are certainly explainable. (Road losses to solid #4 Purdue and Notre Dame teams, close home loss to #5 Syracuse).

But close games against lesser opponents like Seton Hall, Cleveland State, and Marshall leave the impression that this Mountaineer team still has a ways to go before it becomes the dominant force many were anticipating going into this season.

So with WVU about to play its last out-of-conference game against #25 Ohio State in Morgantown on Saturday (CBS- 2pm) and 13 games left in the season, here is a quick-hit list of things I don't understand about WVU men's basketball this year. Maybe we can combine forces to figure out the answers to some of these mystifying quandaries.





1) Why isn't Kevin Jones a better free-throw shooter?

For his career, Kevin Jones is about a 60% free-throw shooter. Not bad, but watching his form and seeing his outside shooting ability from other areas of the floor, how is it possible that he's not one of the better free throw shooters in the BIG EAST, let alone the team?


2) What happened to Devin Ebanks?

Ebanks, as some will recall, had to dispel rumors last spring that he was planning to enter the NBA draft after his freshman season. He was named to the preseason All BIG EAST second team and the 2009-10 preseason list for the John R. Wooden Award All-American Team.

At times, he's played to that standard, including a 22 point, 17 rebound performance against Seton Hall and 19 points, 8 rebounds against Marquette. (Both close WVU victories.)

But here's his lines from the last 6 games:

3-7, 11 points, 6 rebounds (Purdue)
5-12, 11 points, 9 rebounds (Rutgers)
0-4, 0 points, 3 rebounds (Notre Dame)
5-13, 17 points, 11 rebounds (USF)
4-12, 8 points, 6 rebounds (Syracuse)
3-6, 6 points, 6 rebounds (Marshall)

Do these look like the stat lines of a future NBA player?

Ebanks came on very strong as the season progressed last year, particularly during the BIG EAST Tournament and WVU's lone game in the NCAA Tournament, so the hope still exists that he's a late starter and will pull it together in time for WVU's postseason (hopeful) run.

Additionally, he seems to have been bothered by the hand injury that has forced him to wear a brace and/or tape for much of the year.

But right now he looks lost, and I can't explain why.

And in a related question...


3) Why does Devin Ebanks ever shoot threes?

Ebanks has attempted 24 threes. Guess how many he's made.

Go on, I dare you.

I bet you can't go low enough.

Lower.

No, seriously. Lower.

3.

He's made 3.

In 24 attempts.

For a 12% clip.



We don't know why you're shooting them either, Devin.


4) What in the hell is Da'Sean Butler talking about?

“This was one of the best games we’ve played all year,’’ Butler said of the closer-than-the-score-indicates 68-60 win over the Marshall Thundering Herd on Wednesday night in this article from the Charleston Gazette.

If beating Marshall in a close game is the best we can expect all year, I'm going to go ahead and make other plans for mid-March.


5) How is John Flowers shooting 42% from the 3-point line?

John Flowers shoots 47.3 from the free throw line, partially due to his horrific form. But he's shooting 41.7% from 3-point range this season in 12 attempts.

I'm guessing there just aren't enough attempts at this point to draw any valid statistical conclusions. Still, it's amazing that Flowers isn't the one shooting 12%.


6) Why hasn't Bob Huggins changed gameday wardrobe all year?

I understand that Huggs isn't down with the suit and tie. I also understand that in the past, he's worn the same outfit on winning streaks, changing up when we lose. But why does he keep wearing the same ugly black pullover every single game?

Personally, I prefer Pimp Huggins to all the other versions:



Keep that pimp hand strong, Huggs.


7) Wasn't Casey Mitchell supposed to be good?

We heard all about Casey Mitchell's scoring ability in the offseason. We knew that he was the 2009 National Junior College Athletic Association player of the year, averaging a nice 20/5/2 line. Let's just see how he's doing this yea... oh, dear God...

MAKE IT STOP!!! MY EYES!!!



This is the approximate equivalent of the talent we've seen to this point from Casey Mitchell.


Maybe Coach Huggins hit it on the head in the preseason when he said in this Charleston Gazette article, "There are going to be days when people walk out of here and think he's the best shooting guard who's played here since Wil Robinson, but there will be other days when they walk out of here and say, 'What the hell did they recruit that guy for?'''

There's been an entire season's worth of the latter days, and not even a single moment when anyone even favorably compared Mitchell to Mrs. Robinson, let alone Wil Robinson.

At this point, he's hitting the side of the backboard on open threes while reminding people of Private Pile after the other soldiers beat him with soap.


Fortunately, the Mountaineers still have plenty of time to answer these questions, and hopefully those answers will come in the form of a beatdown of the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday.

If not, Mountaineer fans could finish the season with one overriding question in their minds: what happened?

**you have entered the Mountaineer Basketball chat**

sir_wellington: It sure has been interesting being at WVU for four years now.

sir_wellington: I remember when I first started, I was a gangly skinny kid that barely knew where to stand on the floor.

its_in_ebanks: I feel you.

sir_wellington: Seriously, this is what I looked like then:


**sir_wellington is attempting to directly connect**

**sir_wellington is directly connected**


sir_wellington:

truck_me?_truck_you: damn son someone needed to show yo ass to the cheetos

the_butler_did_it: Yeah, but you aren't THAT much bigger now are you?

sir_wellington: pip, pip. check it:

sir_wellington:

mazzulla_oblongata: Jesus, Wells.

truck_me?_truck_you: damn i aint seen guns like that since i saw my boy gilbert arenas

mazzulla_oblongata:

truck_me?_truck_you: heh pick one heh that was funny

the_butler_did_it: Wells isn't the only one that got bigger though. Look at Kevin Jones over there:

keeping_up_with_da_kevinjoneses: what, what'd I do?

the_butler_did_it: Something's gotten into you, pushing around all these big boys inside and everything

keeping_up_with_da_kevinjoneses: hey I dont know what youre accusing me of. you dont look like you did your freshman year either.

keeping_up_with_da_kevinjoneses: i got pics- here's Da as a frosh:

keeping_up_with_da_kevinjoneses:

the_butler_did_it: Hey, what can I say, I think we all owe a lot of love to that personal trainer huggs hired when he came to WVU a few years ago.

truck_me?_truck_you: what personal trainer? i aint seen no personal trainer

HuggUlongtime: That's because you were suspended indefinitely over the summer.

truck_me?_truck_you: oh, right

its_in_ebanks: where is that trainer anyway?

unspecified_trainer: I'm not here to talk about the past.

its_in_ebanks: Woah, we're not asking about the past. Truck just needs to get in the gym with you.

unspecified_trainer: Maybe he just needs to work harder.

mazzulla_oblongata: oh, great

truck_me?_truck_you: I ALREADY WORK AROUND THE CLOCK!!!

After the Purdue game, I mockingly suggested that if Santa Claus really wanted to give me a great Christmas gift next year, he'd bring the Mountaineers a point guard that can dribble.

This request followed two solid months of inconsistent play from Truck Bryant and Joe Mazzulla. Mazzulla's problems stem from his inability to move his left (and primary) arm to the extent that Mountaineer fans wince for him whenever he has to raise his arm above shoulder level. (Even my wife says things like, "Oh, I feel so bad for him.")

Truck Bryant's struggles, however, were something different altogether, particularly for a Moutaineer fanbase so used to steady efficiency from the point guard position over the past 8 years.

Even after a solid game Wednesday night against Rutgers (we'll get to that in a minute), Truck's assist to turnover ratio (one of the most useful statistics when determining point guard play) was 3.5/2.3, good enough for 30th... in the Big East. (402nd in the nation).

Sure, Truck's not a traditional pass-first point guard, and maybe the motion offense of the Mountaineers doesn't lend itself to high assist numbers from the point guard position, but facing pressure from teams like Cleveland State, Mississippi, and Purdue, you'd see opponents literally taking the ball out of Truck's hands, sprinting the opposite direction for an easy dunk or layup.



This is typically not the posture you want to see from your point guard.


But even beyond the turnovers, Truck demonstrates some of the most maddening offensive tendencies I've ever witnessed from a point guard at any level.

Last year I joked in this Wire from our site about Truck's tendency to leap into tall people expecting a whistle that usually doesn't come from the referees. This season, more than ever, Truck seems to be relying on that same offensive strategy to horrible results.

As an outside shooter, Truck's 3pt% is actually pretty good, at nearly 40%, but believe it or not, Truck actually shoots a lower percentage with 2-pointers at 37%. And that number includes open layups, so take those out of the equation and Truck's probably hitting only around 1/3 of the contested shots he takes inside the 3-point line.

Considering that Da'Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks are shooting 49% and 46% respectively, Kevin Jones is shooting a staggering 61%, and even Wellington Smith is chiming in with 46%, and you begin to understand why Truck has seen his minutes dwindling as his crazy, off-balance shots increased.

Don't believe me? Here's some action shots I found just by googling Truck Bryant:





Granted, these are only small snippets in time, but they've become an all-too-common sight for Mountaineer fans wondering why their point guard jumps into taller people time and time again.

Apparently, Mountaineer basketball coach Bob Huggins was similarly troubled by Truck's play.

After the same Purdue game that found me praying to a jolly old fat man, according to this Charleston Gazette article, Coach Huggins and Bryant had a 1-on-1 meeting to discuss whether or not Bryant had it in him to be an actual POINT GUARD as opposed to a turnover machine that recklessly careens into the lane all-too-frequently.

According to the article, Truck seemed to get the point, had two solid days of practice, and was rewarded with a return to the starting lineup against Rutgers last night, where he performed well, turning the ball over only once with 2 assists, solid defense, and 15 points on 5-6 shooting in 20 minutes of a blowout win.

Solid, efficient. Much better.

Was it better because of the opponent and the blowout win?

Time will tell.

But the Mountaineers aren't going to realize their full potential as a team unless Truck Bryant becomes the point guard they need him to be. Not just another slashing scorer, but an efficient distributor able to get the ball to Butler/Ebanks/Jones in a position for THEM to be effective scorers.

And that potential COULD stretch as far as Mountaineer fans could imagine given the playmakers on the roster. But they can't do it with turnovers and low percentage shots from the point guard position.

Hopefully last night's progress shows a matured Truck Bryant and the ability to lead the team to that potential. Otherwise, Mountaineer fans are going to be asking Santa for answers.

By Dusty

This game wasn’t about the Mountaineers. And WVU played like it.

But at least the embarrassment of this one will be buried in the nation’s eyes by the feel-good story of Bobby Bowden winning his last game.

With the Gator Bowl being played in Florida -- including a record-breaking and decidedly partial crowd -- and every celebration imaginable given to Bowden before and during the game, No. 16 West Virginia seemed to collapse under the pressure against a 6-6 Florida State squad that technically shouldn’t have even been picked for the game, losing 33-21 in Bowden‘s swan song.



In case you hadn't heard, this was Bobby Bowden's last game. Just wanted to make sure that was pointed out.


The loss snapped the Mountaineers’ four-game bowl winning streak, and has WVU fans hoping this isn’t the start of a long-and-painful return to the bowl tendencies of the Don Nehlen era, where the squad lost 11 of 12 during one gut-wrenching stretch.

Not that WVU doesn’t have some excuses for Saturday‘s choke-job.

* The loss of starting quarterback Jarrett Brown to an ankle injury allegedly hurt the team, although Brown had completed just 1-of-4 passing at that point thanks to no protection from the o-line. That left fans getting their wish of true freshman Geno Smith taking the reins under center.

Brown did have a 32-yard touchdown run to start WVU off on the right foot, but the lasting memory for fans will probably be his under-thrown interception that led directly to a Seminole touchdown.

* The loss of academically ineligible starters Nate Sowers and Scooter Berry had a huge impact on a patched-together defense that was shredded from whistle to whistle. Plus, FSU’s offensive line gave its skill positions all day to make decisions and get outside as WVU got next-to-no penetration into the backfield and couldn‘t contain the edges.

* The continued lapses in kickoff coverage couldn’t be spackled over with pooch kicks, and FSU averaged 25.3 yards on returns, including a 69-yarder that set up a field goal that put the Seminoles ahead to stay.

* Florida State held the advantage in time of possession -- 37:07 to 22:53, as big an indictment on the defense’s lack of stops as anything else I can print.

* But the most confusing in my eyes (and this isn’t really an excuse since the coaching staff again made the choice) is Noel Devine’s complete lack of touches in the 4th quarter, despite having racked up more than 180 yards of total offense in the first three stanzas. Ryan Clarke was also notably absent, getting only three touches all game.

The game will likely serve as Devine’s farewell, although he wouldn’t admit as much afterward, telling the Charleston Gazette in this article, “I'm not sure. I have to sit down and talk to my family and do the research.''

Devine has until Jan. 15 to submit paperwork for the NFL Draft, and until Jan. 18 as the final day to stay or go officially. But would you stay in an offense that forgets its go-to player in key situations?

On Saturday, Devine broke off chunks of yardage at will early against a defense that had allowed 200 yards per game to opposing rushers. The junior racked up 127 of his 168 yards and a touchdown in the first two quarters. He added the remaining sum in the third quarter on five carries, but had as many carries in the fourth as you or I did.

“I’m not disappointed that I didn’t carry the ball more, I’m disappointed that we lost to Florida State,” Devine told the Bluefield Daily Telegraph in this article.

But why did he receive only five second-half carries, including the 4th quarter shutout?

"We couldn't get in rhythm number one,“ Head coach Bill Stewart told the Associated Press after the game, as reported in this article. “We tried to get it out in the flats and put the ball in No. 9's hands. We didn't think Jock (Sanders) had it enough, to be honest.”

Well let’s hope that Jock will also be used more next season, since his share of the Gator Bowl offense amounted to one rush for 7 yards and two receptions for 14.

Brown, who finished his last game with just one completion and 43 yards rushing, helped engineer a surprisingly run-heavy first drive that seemed almost too easy.

The drive needed just over three minutes and eight plays to 72 yards, with the capper coming on a 32-yard scramble to the end zone from Brown. That TD made up for an overthrow of Bradley Starks for a sure touchdown one play prior.

Tyler Bitancurt’s PAT made it 7-0.





Do yourself a favor and stop watching this video after about 30 seconds in.

Florida State responded immediately, as it would with ease most of the day. Freshman QB E.J. Manuel led his unit 51 yards in 10 plays to get a 26-yard field goal from Dustin Hopkins to make it 7-3.

The Seminoles actually missed out on a chance for more after driving to the WVU 7 for 1st-and-goal, but WVU’s defense dug in its heels to get the stop.

The Mountaineers went right back to work on their second drive, with Devine setting a WVU Bowl record with a 70-yard outburst to the FSU 4. The junior found pay dirt moments later to make 14-3 with three minutes left in the first quarter.

The Seminoles had a chance to get closer on their third possession after returning a shaky 37-yard punt to the WVU 24. But Florida State couldn’t break through, and Hopkins came up wide right on a 37-yard field goal try.

Brown again had the Mountaineers cooking when he broke a 27-yard run to start the ensuing drive, but he threw a costly pick on the next play.

Manuel completed three passes for a combined 38 yards to take advantage, leading to a 12-yard TD run from Jermaine Thomas, which made it 14-10 after the PAT.

Devine stepped up again immediately, rushing three straight times for 9, 18 and 20 yards. But with a 1st down at the FSU 22, the wheels came off. A holding flag hamstrung the drive, and an ill-advised “pass attempt” after an o-line breakdown got Brown flagged for intentional grounding.

Instead of working from the Seminole 22, WVU suddenly faced 3rd-and-34 at the FSU 46.

Things went from bad to worse on the next play, as Dekoda Watson sacked Brown for a 9-yard loss, and the QB turned his ankle on the way down. Brown also probably fumbled on the play (which would have been a sure Seminole TD) but officials didn’t seem to notice.

Scott Kozlowski punted and pinned FSU at its own 25, but the defense couldn’t stop another methodical FSU strike.

Bowden’s crew went 51 yards in 13 plays, but most damaging of all, the Seminoles ate up seven minutes, 32 seconds of game time to do it. Hopkins capped the journey with a 42-yard field goal, sending the game to halftime with WVU clinging to a 14-13 lead.

The second half opened with the momentum still squarely with Florida State. Greg Reid returned the opening squib kick 69 yards to the WVU 9. The defense again held the ‘Noles to only a field goal, but this one put FSU up for the first time 16-14.

Smith attempted to lead the WVU comeback, and had success in leading the Mountaineers to the FSU red zone thanks to a 19-yard completion to Tavon Austin and two Seminole personal fouls on the same play.

With 1st down at the FSU 13, Smith was sacked for a loss of 7, and WVU could go move no closer. Bitancurt then added salt to the wound when he missed 33-yard field goal wide right -- just his second miss of the year.

The Mountaineer defense finally got a much-needed stop, keeping FSU from driving into its territory for only the second -- and last -- time, but WVU responded with a 3-and-out.

After a 28-yard punt, Florida State started from its own 46, and needed just two plays to score. Manuel found Jarmon Fortson, who made an incredible one-handed grab, for 29 yards to start things off, and Thomas followed with a 19-yard touchdown two plays later, again bouncing to the outside to make it 23-14.

West Virginia finally showed some grit to cut the deficit to 23-21, starting off with Devine’s last big contribution, a 34-yard break to get things going late in the 3rd quarter. Smith also found Starks and Devine for a combined 29 yards, and Clarke finished the drive with a 5-yard score on the first play of the 4th period.

West Virginia finally got a good stop on the kickoff, stopping its opponent on its own 19. Florida State, though, came right back with another extended drive, taking six minutes to move 81 yards for another score. The Seminoles converted three 3rd downs along the way, using 12 plays to sustain a drive that ended with Manuel going two yards on an option keeper to push the lead to 30-21 with 8:54 remaining.

Mark Rodgers tried to give WVU a spark with a 51-yard kickoff return, but the Mountaineers couldn’t do anything, despite starting at the FSU 35. With no Devine hand-offs in sight, the Mountaineers fizzled on their first three plays, and a false start brought up 4th-and-13 at the 38.

Stew opted to forgo the field goal try after the Bitancurt miss, and Smith threw incomplete into triple coverage to give the ball back to FSU with 7:18 left.

FSU iced the game from there with another deliberate, ball-control drive. The Seminoles took up more than five minutes while going 42 yards in 11 plays. Hopkins added a 37-yard field to produce the final score at 33-21.

Thomas closed the day with 121 yards rushing and the two scores, while WVU’s defense again made a mobile QB look like a superstar as Manuel completed 17-of-24 passing for 189 yards while also rushing for 70 yards. The frosh had rushed for only 126 yards all season.

"They've got good athletes and they make plays," West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel told the Gazette in this article. "When you get in this type of game you can't make the same mistakes repeatedly.''

WVU finishes the year at 9-4, and drops to 1-6 all-time in the Gator Bowl.