10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

Struggling Mountaineers aim for big upset on Big Monday

Kansas forward Perry Ellis (34) is a junior and among the oldest players in the Jayhawks rotation.

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A few weeks ago, when West Virginia basketball was entirely a feel-good story with designs on competing for a Big 12 championship, Gary Browne joked that his younger teammates had no concept of the struggles the program endured the past two seasons.

They’re understanding the struggle now.

Saturday’s 79-59 letdown at Iowa State marked three blowout losses in four games, and renewed questions about whether the Mountaineers’ pressing defense can regain its disruptive edge. After the Cyclones shot 56 percent and scored 32 points in the paint, Browne wondered why West Virginia lost its defensive discipline.

“We don’t make the right rotations and teams like this make us a pay,” he said. “If we know (Jameel) McKay ain’t shooting no 3, then why would do you go ahead and guard him out there? We’ve just got to be smart enough to know who we’re guarding.”

Coach Bob Huggins sounded flummoxed on multiple fronts: How did Iowa State become the fourth consecutive team to find a series open shots? How did the Cyclones shoot 30 free throws to WVU’s 12? How would his team get ready for Kansas on a 48-hour turnaround?

“I’d like about a month,” Huggins said.

As it turns out, his Mountaineers are about a month away from learning their NCAA seed—presuming, of course, they don’t play themselves out of the dance by collapsing over the final six regular-season games. West Virginia figures to be an underdog in all six.

Coinciding with the defensive dropoff, WVU has grown increasingly sloppy on the offensive end. In Ames, there were poor entry passes and five traveling calls that contributed to 19 turnovers against Iowa State’s sagging off in its pack-line defense.

“We turned it over 19 times when they were standing five guys in the lane,” Huggins said. “When they stand five guys in the lane, you shouldn’t turn it over. You may not make shots, but you shouldn’t turn it over.”

Amid a season-worst slump and mounting worries that West Virginia can’t play with the Big 12’s big boys, Browne turned his focus to Big Monday and hitting the psychological reboot.

“We’ve got plenty of games in front of us,” he said. “We’ve just got to clear our minds and come ready to play.”

No. 21 WEST VIRGINIA (19-6, 7-5) vs. No. 8 KANSAS (21-4, 10-2)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. Eastern at the WVU Coliseum (ESPN)

Scouting the Jayhawks: Perry Ellis (13.1 points, 7.0 rebounds) reached the 1,000-point mark by scoring 18 against Baylor. He’s also beginning to reach his coach’s expectations. “Perry leaves me wanting more,” said Bill Self. “He leaves me saying, well you got 14 (points) but you should have had 20.  Or he got six rebounds but he should’ve had nine. I haven’t though that of late. I think he’s playing closer to his ceiling than he ever has.” … Sophomores Wayne Selden (10.2 points, 3.0 assists) and point guard Frank Mason (12.1 points, 4.4 assists) both shoot better than 42 percent from 3. Brannen Greene makes 50 percent off the bench. … The Jayhawks, who always restock with prized freshmen, have gotten decent contributions from Kelly Oubre (8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds) and Cliff Alexander (7.9 points, 5.6 rebounds). Their play hasn’t been up to the Wiggins/Embiid combo of last season. … With a two-game lead in the conference standings, Kansas has a bead on its 11th consecutive Big 12 title. Its two league losses came at Iowa State and Oklahoma State, both by five point margins.

Coaching the Jayhawks: In 22 seasons as a head coach at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and Kansas, Self stands 553-178. His stint with the Jayhawks includes a 2008 national title and a 346-73 mark, with 11 NCAAs and a 12th on the way.

Mountaineer musings: Watch out for the right thumb of Devin Williams (11.1 points, 8.3 rebounds) and the left knee of Brandon Watkins (strained MCL). Williams, the Big 12’s second-leading rebounder, sprained the thumb on his shooting hand and scored only four points at Iowa State. Watkins sat out the game entirely. … Point guard Juwan Staten (14.3 points, 4.5 assists) had a monster game in WVU’s 92-86 upset of Kansas in Morgantown last season. He produced 24 points, nine assists and five rebounds and went to the foul line 20 times. … The other projected starters include Jonathan Holton (8.2 points, 5.8 rebounds), Daxter Miles (6.1 points, 1.2 steals) and Gary Browne (6.8 points, 1.6 assists).  … Huggins is 759-308 overall in his 33rd season, and 169-97 at West Virginia.

RPIs: West Virginia 29, Kansas 1

Line: Kansas favored by 2

Prediction: Kansas 72-67





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