MORGANTOWN, W.Va. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” In a 60-53 Mountaineer season-opening victory over Oakland on Tuesday night at the WVU Coliseum, there were plenty of eye-catching numbers on the stat sheet.
Some good, some bad.
On the positive side of the ledger, West Virginia forced 25 Golden Grizzly turnovers, 12 of them from OUÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s all-Horizon Conference point guard Jalen Moore, who also was limited to just 2-of-16 shooting of the basketball. WVUÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s defense held Oakland to only 35.5% shooting on field goals as a team, and after falling behind OU 16-11 in the first nine minutes, contained the visitors to just one made bucket for the next six minutes to take a lead it wouldnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t relinquish the rest of the way. Taz Sherman and Sean McNeil led the MountaineersÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ offensive effort with 18 and 11 points respectively.
WVU coach Bob Huggins didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t accept the fact that his team was good defensively, though, at least not in all facets of the equation.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIf you count rebounding as part of defense, which we do, we sucked,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ stated Huggins bluntly. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI think we are getting better at staying in front of our guy, but we donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t rebound the ball. We just stand around and watch.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The rebounding was the biggest negative for West Virginia, as it was outboarded 48-33.
The number that may have saved WVU from an upset loss wasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t even on the stat sheet, though. It was five. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the number of charges West Virginia 6-foot-7 forward Gabe Osabuohien took, a season after he also led the team in that bruising category with 23.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s important, especially when IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m in the middle,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ said Osabuohien of taking charges. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m not a shot blocker, so to protect the paint and rim, I have to do that. ItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s easy to take charges when you have guards coming full speed trying to make plays. ItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s something IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m used to.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
According to Huggins, WVU likely wouldnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t have beaten the Golden Grizzlies without OsabuohienÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s ability to step in and take a charge. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI think thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s more than fair,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ the coach agreed.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s one of the best,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ said West VirginiaÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s veteran coach when asked where Osabuohien ranked in terms of the charge-takers heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s had. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s really good at getting his feet down. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the key to it.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
OsabuohienÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s physicality also translated to the boards. He had nine rebounds against OU and was the only Mountaineer with more than five. His teammates didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t keep up with his rebounding effort, though, and WVU lost the battle on the boards by 15.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s definitely not something we want to do. I donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t think an Oakland team should ever outrebound us in any situation,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ stated Osabuohien. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s definitely going to be an emphasis these next two days.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Huggins promised some ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œblack-and-blue buttsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ during practices in the near future as his squad works on block-out drills.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s got to get fixed in a hurry,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ said Huggins, who won his 901st career game on Tuesday. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIf they want to play, theyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll learn. If they donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t want to play, they wonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
While West Virginia got the season-opening victory and takes a 1-0 record into FridayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Backyard BasketBrawl against Pitt, the Mountaineers feel they still have to make a great deal of improvement.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œObviously, we have to get better at everything,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ said Sherman. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t think weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re real good right now. When Big 12 play is here, we canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t play like this or weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re going to lose by 20. We have to better in every facet of the game.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
