CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Precisely 27 seconds into the game, West Virginia guard Jaysean Paige threw away a pass. Precisely 62 seconds into the game, Paige was headed to the bench.
Before three minutes elapsed two more starters, Devin Williams and Daxter Miles, had been yanked. So began another night of clunky offense for the Mountaineers, who shot below 40 percent for the third consecutive game and narrowly defeated Marshall 69-66.
Paige played only three minutes. Williams fouled out after 15. Miles was in for 13 minutes and went scoreless for the first time in his 10-game college career. For only the second time this season, West Virginia finished with more turnovers (15) than assists (13). It’s 3-point shooting, at 3-of-17, was never a threat.
Unlike some past games, coach Bob Huggins didn’t suggest WVU merely struggled through poor shooting luck. What he saw during portions of the Capital Classic was stagnant ball movement and players out of position.
“We ran better halfcourt offense the last two days in practice than we’ve ran in three years,” he said. “And then the game starts and our guys look like Mr. Ed the horse.”
Hear Huggins’ complete postgame news conference above, and in particular his TV Land equine reference at the 7:50 mark (complete with pounding fists that replicate horse hooves).
“Pass the ball, man,” Huggins urged his team. “Pass the ball.”