Mountaineers Now Postgame Show: Texas Tech 81, WVU 70
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:10 It is the Mountaineers now post game show presented by Country Roads air duct
00:14 cleaning.
00:14 Take me home to comfort that is Christopher Hall live from the W Coliseum.
00:18 I'm Skylar Callahan, West Virginia falling 81 to 70 here tonight against
00:23 Texas Tech a rundown of the numbers Jesse Edwards,
00:27 an efficient shooting night for him eight of ten 18 points to go along with eight
00:32 rebounds rake on battle 15 points on five of 11 shooting Joe Tucson in his return
00:37 to West Virginia led the Red Raiders with 21.7 assist in three steals.
00:44 And really this one at the beginning Chris Texas Tech wasn't knocking down shots.
00:49 They're one of 12.
00:50 I think I believe from the field to begin the game.
00:53 They were down 13 to 2.
00:55 Then all of a sudden they start making shots.
00:58 What's Virginia's making shots and it was kind of it felt like it was going to be
01:02 one of those high scoring games in the 80s and 90s there for a while and then
01:06 second half West Virginia's offense just dried up Texas Tech's didn't and that's
01:11 pretty much how the rest of the game when it just felt like it was the same script
01:16 that we've seen over and over and over at times this season where they're competitive
01:20 for 30 minutes, but those last 10 that's just where it seems to fall apart for
01:24 this group.
01:25 I mean, they just they haven't played defense all year mentioned a shooting and
01:30 wasn't anything to do defensively.
01:31 They're just missing open shots.
01:33 Yeah, several sense it that it was like if you keep giving them open shots are
01:38 eventually going to make them and I do they made them.
01:40 They actually made some tough shots as well to add on to it.
01:44 So it's yeah, it's the same story.
01:46 They had eight offensive rebounds.
01:48 It felt like they had 20.
01:50 I can't believe that they were.
01:51 Yeah, it's two on the rebounding.
01:53 It felt so one-sided probably a lot different in the second half.
01:58 I don't have the breakdown of the second half in front of me, but yeah, it's
02:02 really been the same story.
02:03 Are you this team hasn't changed, you know, every time you feel like okay, maybe
02:07 they turn the page a Kansas State, you know, they make a big comeback or you
02:11 can carry that momentum in tonight, which I did to start offensively, but
02:15 defensively, it's just been so bad and it's I mean, it's a lot of things
02:21 defensively and it's just how is it being brought up is how the games being
02:25 called for really the last five years.
02:28 It's just really emphasis on offense.
02:30 You really can't guard the way you used to be able to so it's they're not going
02:35 to outscore anybody.
02:37 I know that was kind of the theory going into the season.
02:39 It's kind of been the theory a little bit throughout the season with Rick on
02:42 battle and we have Edwards in the paint and what we saw in Kansas State, but
02:47 it's not a recipe for success.
02:49 And really if you think about all the success which we need has had since be
02:53 on they had, you know, the call it a gimmicky defense with the one three one,
02:59 but there was an emphasis with that one three one.
03:01 It was different than we obviously we knew what they had under Huggins and
03:05 that's not as a knock on our any way.
03:07 I mean this team was just put together and they're just you know, when you
03:11 try to scrape together a team, most of the good defenders are gone at that
03:16 point. So yeah, really I mean if you watch college basketball, it's all kind
03:20 of the same everywhere.
03:22 It's just other got other teams have better athletes and you know, you have a
03:26 couple guys that can usually play really good defense like a Joe Tucson and
03:30 he's obviously he's last year.
03:32 We saw what he could do offensively as well and they did it again tonight
03:35 leading all the small scores.
03:37 So it's probably going to be the same the next three games.
03:40 I mean, it's just gonna be bad defense and hope that they can shoot over 60%
03:44 to win the game for 40 minutes and that's just not realistic paper success
03:49 at all.
03:50 No, and I agree with you the defense.
03:52 It's almost just like they lack an identity and to your point, it's kind of
03:57 hard to really find that identity when you don't have the horses to run the
04:00 show and you can say they have a really good top end of the roster with Kirk
04:05 crease. So Jesse Edwards and Rayquan battle, but it takes more than just
04:09 three guys and one of those three guys is coming from a two three zone where he
04:15 played for four years and he's having to learn how to adjust to man-to-man
04:19 coverage.
04:20 Kirk Reese is not necessarily the best defender and obviously right.
04:25 Kwon battles got his deficiencies on the defensive end.
04:27 So it was crazy.
04:29 Great fun battles really quick.
04:31 Yeah, he just I mean everywhere he's been.
04:33 He's just not had to be a defender, right?
04:36 You know, you're coming from a lower level.
04:39 That third or fourth option isn't that good of a score.
04:42 When you come up to this level, they're going to be good score is five six deep.
04:46 So it just he's not used to it.
04:49 He hasn't been taught properly how to play defense, but he's quick enough.
04:52 He's long enough that he can play.
04:54 He could be a good defender and it's not enough again, not enough on him that
04:58 he's not trying to be a good defender.
05:00 He just hasn't been taught since a young age and he's really going to have to
05:03 work that muscle memory wherever he decides to play in the future.
05:07 Jesse Edwards for me.
05:09 I mean, the kids got so much talent like he's built big.
05:13 He's got a big wingspan.
05:15 He's he can be a force on the offensive end on certain nights, but it's too
05:20 inconsistent tonight on the offensive end.
05:22 Like I said, he was eight of ten eighteen points, but the defensive presence that
05:27 he has had or maybe lacked this year has kind of been the biggest surprise for
05:31 me.
05:32 I thought he would have come in and have more of an impact over there.
05:35 I think it's just the physicality and I don't know why that would be the issue.
05:39 Is he always been like this?
05:41 I don't know, but maybe it's a factor of being in that two three zone for so
05:46 many years.
05:47 Yeah, I mean, definitely got to get stronger if he wants to get in the NBA.
05:52 I don't think he really has a leg strength.
05:54 He may not know the leverage that he needs as well.
05:58 I mean, when you're that tall to a lot of guys are coming and undercutting your
06:02 hips as well.
06:03 And that's going to throw you off balance.
06:05 So he just got alert.
06:06 He's going to have to learn that.
06:08 I mean, I have to learn quickly.
06:09 What G-League is not that far or I guess something really important is the
06:14 Rookie League, whatever the summer.
06:16 Yes, you do.
06:17 Whatever the summer league is now for the NBA.
06:20 Oh, summer league.
06:21 Yeah, he's going to have to learn quickly.
06:24 Probably get the right coaching.
06:26 Understand he's going to get a little lower so he doesn't get knocked around.
06:30 But, you know, in some fairness, they are pushing a lot.
06:34 But I mean, everyone's getting pushed.
06:36 That's where strength, leg strength comes in.
06:39 So, I mean, Seth Wilson boxed out slang, got called for a foul.
06:42 If he did box out a foul, he'd randomly get called for a foul.
06:48 But, yeah, I mean, he's just got to get stronger.
06:52 He's still a work in progress.
06:55 And the ACC, really, it's not a weak conference.
07:00 That's still a pretty physical league at the top.
07:02 So, I'm not really sure why -- I mean, I understand they're really letting the
07:07 Big 12 play.
07:08 If you kind of look around the country, Big 12,
07:10 they let the Big 12 play far more physically than anybody else.
07:13 So, I think he's just not accustomed to it.
07:17 The NBA doesn't look physical, but it is.
07:20 They're just extremely athletic and they make it look really smooth.
07:23 But it's a really physical game.
07:25 So, yeah, he's going to have to make a huge adjustment if he wants to make it
07:29 to the league.
07:30 And then, obviously, as we mentioned in the open, Joe Toussaint returned to
07:36 WVU Coliseum tonight, 21 points.
07:39 What did you think of him?
07:40 To me, he looked like a much more complete player than what we saw last year.
07:45 He was pretty good at times last year coming off the bench.
07:48 But it just seemed like he felt, like, in control of that Texas Tech offense.
07:52 He was kind of the true point guard of the team and directed
07:56 and facilitated the rock all the way throughout the 40 minutes of the game.
08:01 Yeah, I mean, they only play six players most of the time.
08:03 So, he's had a lot of time with those guys.
08:06 So, this time of year, yeah, he's going to feel comfortable.
08:08 He looked really good, like, in shape-wise.
08:11 He looked really good.
08:12 I think I didn't realize, I think at one point at 12 points when I looked up,
08:16 I was like, "Really?"
08:18 That's Joe Toussaint right there.
08:20 He had some tough shots, too.
08:21 He just scores quietly somehow.
08:24 He just racks up all these points.
08:26 But, yeah, he looked good.
08:29 I mean, I don't want to say he played exactly like he did last year.
08:31 He's definitely gotten better.
08:33 But, yeah, I mean, that's Joe Toussaint right there.
08:35 He's a dog out there, and he just quietly racks up points
08:38 and goes about his business and collects wins.
08:43 So, West Virginia again falling tonight 81-70 to Texas Tech.
08:47 They will wrap up the home portion of the regular season schedule
08:50 on Wednesday when they host TCU.
08:52 That game has been moved from 9 o'clock to 7 p.m.
08:55 Thank you, God.
08:57 We don't want to be doing this at 1130 at night.
09:00 Thank you, Brett Yormark.
09:03 Goodness gracious, that would have been rough.
09:05 Which was ridiculous to do it on senior day.
09:08 They probably should have done it senior day today since there was a lot of
09:12 people at the Coliseum.
09:14 Let the fans show their love to these guys that came here
09:18 and represented West Virginia.
09:19 They played hard all season.
09:21 But, unfortunately, there's probably not going to be a lot of people here
09:23 during the week because, let's face it, they're going to win nine games.
09:27 A lot of people are going to try to bust hell
09:29 or leave work early on a Wednesday midweek for a basketball game
09:33 when kids got spring break.
09:36 If I'm not mistaken -- no, spring break starts next week.
09:39 So, yeah, I mean, for locally, people are probably getting their kids
09:45 taking off time for spring break and other things throughout the year.
09:49 So, I doubt they're going to try to take a personal day.
09:52 [Laughter]
09:53 They're going to watch them pick on the Horned Frogs.
09:55 Probably should have planned that a little better,
09:57 but it kind of is what it is, tradition, whatever, so on and so forth.
10:02 Yeah, look, it's been a long season.
10:04 Credit to Mountaineer fans.
10:06 I'll tell you what, they came in today.
10:08 Top five, I believe, in attendance.
10:10 11,313.
10:13 I'd say that's probably pretty accurate because it goes on ticket sales.
10:18 But, yeah, good crowd for a 9-1 team.
10:20 Mountaineer fans show up, showed up in Charlotte for the baseball game,
10:24 for the baseball series last week, filled half the stadium.
10:27 So, anytime West Virginians, anywhere, Mountaineer fans show up,
10:31 they're Mountaineers for sure.
10:33 Yeah, I mean, top five, I believe, in Big 12 attendance for this year.
10:37 And, again, even --
10:39 There was some guy out there in Nashville, Virginia,
10:41 said that West Virginia needed to get rid of seats or something,
10:45 that the venue was too big.
10:47 People have no idea what you're talking about.
10:50 We have 11,000 people that's filling up for a 9-1 team.
10:53 And we saw the years under Huggins, and they were good.
10:57 This place was full a lot, even during the weekday.
10:59 11,000 was the average for a weekday game.
11:02 So, it was absolutely unnecessary there.
11:05 Yeah, just wait until competitive basketball comes back to Morgantown.
11:08 That place will be rocking like it always has.
11:10 It's been a long year. We understand it.
11:12 We thank you guys for tuning in every single night for these.
11:15 If you do, or if you check in with us every now and then,
11:18 we appreciate that as well.
11:19 Make sure you hit that subscribe button on our YouTube page of Mountaineers Now.
11:22 Give us a like as well. It helps us out.
11:25 And also follow on X at the same handle.
11:28 We've got two more of these in the regular season, guaranteed three more.
11:32 We'll see if they get past that, but maybe not. I don't know.
11:35 I don't like our chances there. So, we'll see what happens.
11:37 No, no, no. They might get a fire lit under their butt.
11:39 They might. They might. They'll really have something to fight for.
11:41 If they can put together, I mean, every program in the country right now is saying,
11:46 put a game together, 40 minutes, every game, and we'll be good.
11:50 Kansas right now is scratching their head wondering the same thing.
11:54 Different level right now, but this team is showing that they can compete.
11:58 And they can just play 40 minutes and not get complacent,
12:03 which I don't know how you get complacent at this record.
12:07 But they're kids. At the end of the day, they're just kids.
12:11 Yeah. So, two more and maybe a cup of coffee out in Kansas City to round out the season,
12:16 and we'll get into all the coaching search stuff, which that'll be a whirlwind as well.
12:20 So, make sure, again, you subscribe to us on YouTube, Mountaineers Now,
12:23 and follow us on X at the same handle.
12:25 We'll be back Wednesday for the postgame show between West Virginia and TCU.
12:29 Wrap that one up. We'll be back here also on Monday morning for another episode of Between the Years.
12:34 Take care.
12:35 [Music]