Louisville-West Virginia: WVU Shows Heart In Comeback Loss 69-63

The fans were loud and disruptive at Freedom Hall, as the Louisville Cardinals used momentum and their full-court press to throw up a twenty-point lead over West Virginia Mountaineers in the first half.  

But that is only one half of the story.

Coach Huggins said something at the half-time break (forsaking workups) that motivated the Mountaineers as they clawed way back from a 45-25 score at the half to being four points down at the 2:15 minute mark.  The Mountaineers did this with superb team defense, lots of rebounding, scoring from Alex Ruoff with 16 and Da’Sean Butler with 23, and a little help from Louisville who seemed a little less active in the second half.

The box score will not say the Mountaineers won the game, and I know Coach Huggins says that there is no good loss, but the Mountaineers showed some real heart with the game reasonably out of reach at the half. 

Overall, this game is the first of a tough stretch for the Mountaineers.  If they can take something away for this game and the Pitt loss, I believe they could upset and/or both Pitt and Louisville.

I think something else we watched in this game, and also in the games against Pittsburgh and St. Johns, is Devin Ebanks becoming more comfortable in his offensive game and increasing his overall production. 

Today he played 37 minute and contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals, a block, an assist, and felt comfortable breaking the press and taking some very difficult shots.

I’m not saying he is the next Joe Alexander, but I’m sure if he keeps stepping up his game he will emerge as a great player at the end of the year.  And then think about next year, after Huggins and staff work him in the weight room.

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