BOSTON — Press Virginia’s effectiveness can rise and fall at the whim of one uncontrollable variable: the officiating.
Being whistled for 28 fouls against Villanova wasn’t the leniency the Mountaineers hoped for during Friday night’s Sweet 16 showdown. Then again, leniency isn’t something one of the nation’s most foul-prone teams has come to expect this season, a season that ended with a 90-78 loss.
“When the whistle keeps blowing it really takes away your aggression,” coach Bob Huggins said.
Point guard Jevon Carter was called for reaching in after only 58 seconds, and the Big 12 defensive player of the year picked up his third foul with 17:33 left in the game.
Daxter Miles, while emerging as the team’s hottest shooter, clustered his second, third and fourth fouls into a span of 2:26 early in the second half. He went to the bench with 15 minutes remaining, did not return until the 5:19 mark and fouled out with 2:12 left.
Asked if foul trouble hindered the Mountaineers’ style, Huggins didn’t waffle.
“Sure, absolutely did,” he said.
Villanova lost 16 turnovers, leaving Huggins to imagine the impact his defense might have made if its backcourt had not been so foul-prone.
“J.C. had three, and Dax had four. They’re the heart and soul of this team,” he said. “They’re the guys that everybody looks to. They’re the guys who make things happen.”
West Virginia came in committing 21.4 fouls per game, more than 337 of the 351 teams in Division I.
Villanova was whistled for 20 fouls overall, though at one juncture the second-half count stood 11-2 to WVU’s detriment.
A faceoff of old Big East rivals didn’t feel so nostalgic thanks to the officiating emphasis on freedom-of-movement.
“It’s funny how the game has changed,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said. “It’s old-school grind-out but it’s 90-78. That would’ve been 58-50 back in the day and no fouls called.”
Villanova capitalizes
After making 13 more 3-pointers on Friday, the Wildcats have 47 through three NCAA tournament games.
“It was like the Big 12 tournament all over again,” said West Virginia assistant Larry Harrison, a reference to the 3-point barrage Kansas used in Kansas City.
Villanova’s 3-point gunners spotted up around the arc, always at the ready to catch-and-pop.
“They started knocking down shots at a rapid rate,” said WVU forward Esa Ahmad.
Freshman center Omari Spellman, who made six 3s against Seton Hall in the regular season, punished the Mountaineers by sinking 4-of-7.
“I was just having a shoot-’em-up battle in the streets mentality,” he said.
Ahmad non-committal on next year
Saying he was “just hurting” after the Sweet 16 loss, Ahmad sounded uncertain about his offseason plans. The 6-foot-8 junior could enter the NBA draft or pursue a contract overseas.
“I haven’t thought that far ahead,” he said.
With four recruits incoming and only two seniors leaving, West Virginia faces a scholarship crunch. Last week’s departure of D’Angelo Hunter opened up another spot, but the staff is still exploring the possibility of adding a fifth signee for next season.
Quotable
“What a game, man. What a college basketball game. I hope that looked as good as it did from the bench.” — Villanova coach Jay Wright