COMMENTARY
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Three takeaways from West Virginia’s 62-59 loss to No. 11 Texas Tech on Wednesday night:
1. WVU missed an opportunity to steal one
Even with Sagaba Konate missing a fifth consecutive game, West Virginia owned the rebounding battle 41-31 and held the Red Raiders to 17 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Most nights that would’ve provided the recipe for a season-changing upset, but West Virginia squandered too many possessions (22 turnovers) and made only 56 percent at the foul line (18-of-32).
“If they make three or four more free throws, then our mood is completely different,” said victorious coach Chris Beard.
Texas Tech trailed 21-12 with 4 minutes left in the half and Jarrett Culver bench with three fouls. At that juncture a program that had been 0-6 in Morgantown appeared headed for 0-7.
But West Virginia went 10 minutes without a basket and Culver scored all 18 of his points during a back-and-forth second half.
“Our guys came in tonight knowing we had a chance to do something that no Tech team had ever done,” Beard said. “We talk about those things because we’re trying to make history in our program.”
Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins thought theme hinged on the upside-down turnover margin.
“We turned it over 22 times to their 13. We had guys open, and we didn’t get them the ball.”
2. Another Culver shows up
Derek Culver delivered 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes for West Virginia. Using low-post spin moves, he shot 3-of-4 from the floor and drew enough interior fouls to make 6-of-9 free throws.
“I’m trying to figure out the steps and the placement of posting up before I get to dunking,” he said. “So I’m kinda sticking with the hooks and floaters for now.”
Beard was impressed by the WVU freshman who was suspended throughout first semester: “He’s a future pro, the next great big at this school … if he lets Coach coach him.”
3. Late controversy
Trailing 61-59 with 5 seconds left and desperate for a turnover, West Virginia’s defense tried to draw a charge on Texas Tech’s inbounds pass by having Beetle Bolden peel off in front of Jarrett Culver. A collision ensued with Culver flattening Bolden, but there was no call as Huggins and the WVU bench erupted.
“A lot of contact,” Huggins said. “When you jump up in the air and run over a guy — and the guy is stationary when you leave the ground and jump forward — it’s generally a charge. But I haven’t seen it on tape, and I didn’t have near the look that the officials had.”
A charge would’ve resulted in West Virginia regaining possession under its own basket.
Standing on the opposite half of the court, Beard said he didn’t get a clean view of the collision. “We told the guys be careful of guys flopping on the old baseline play that everybody runs.”