Mountaineers Silence Critics
by Zach Smart
The West Virginia Mountaineers spent the past off-season like most other teams undergoing the rebuilding process. They spent grueling hours in the gym and weight room, figuring out ways a new crop of players and just a few returnees – only one of whom played a significant role last year – could develop chemistry.
John Beilein, who’s evolved into a basketball icon behind a guy named Jerry West in the relatively unknown bloodlines of the state (aside from West, WVU has produced few card-shop names), didn’t let his team’s reputation wane through the departures of a pair of invaluable players.
The 2006 graduation was looked at as a strong off-season blow to the Mountaineers. WVU lost standout big man Kevin Pittsnogle who, at 6-foot-11, was perhaps the country’s most unique threat with his outside shooting, along with a jumping jack in Mike Gansey. Aside from being an energizer, the 6-foot-4 off-guard was fundamentally sound in all aspects of his game.
Pittsnogle and Gansey appeared with the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat pre-season teams, respectively, but neither player made it to the regular season. The dynamic duo, however, will be remembered as the tandem which put the Mountaineers back on the map the past two seasons. They first garnered the school some national prominence during the wild, 2005 Final Four scramble.
The graduation also included another player who will be sorely missed, three-point assailant Pat Beilein. The coach’s son, who will be remembered as one of the school’s best marksmen behind the arc, is currently working as a basketball instructor.
With a great deal lost from last season, Beilein and the Mountaineers couldn’t help but wait for the skeptics to surface. As the game general, he’s heard taunts of all sorts, skimmed through the negative columns and been a victim to word around the campfire. It started with the chitchat about him not returning to the bench for the 2006-2007 campaign, a rumor that was bound to instantly stir controversy around campus.
To the outside world, West Virginia is just another team this year, descending from cloud 9 after two astounding seasons which saw them raise the bar of the program. Prior to the start of this season, the words resonated in the mouths of these outside world members, detractor by detractor. They’re too skinny. They’re too young. They’re not aggressive enough. They can’t attack the basket. They’re not athletic. They’re too white.
The Mountaineers have avoided the nonsense that comes with a team entering a period of adjustment. So far, there hasn’t been much adjusting to do. A callow group of shooters, the Mountaineers have gelled as a unit and picked up where they left off. The Old gold and Blue Mountaineer boat won’t be sinking anytime soon.
A 71-60 victory over N.C. State Wednesday lifted WVU to 6-1, and Saturday’s 85-54 blowout of Duquesne makes them 7-1. Their lone loss has come at the hands of Arkansas. The team will look to take advantage of a light quartet of games before squaring off against No.10 UConn in the Big East opener.
The Big East schedule hasn’t gotten much easier from last season. Nationally-ranked Pittsburgh (No.2), Marquette (No.20), and Syracuse (No.21) await, while Villanova, Georgetown, and Louisville look like they’ll be tough once again as well.
The big surprise this season has been the emergence of 6-8 forward Joe Alexander. The sophomore forward from Maryland has been a force, scoring from all over the floor and wowing fans with some rim-ringing dunks. With his performances, Alexander has made fans wonder why he didn’t log more minutes last year, until they remember that the Mountaineers had a talent-laced senior class.
Darris Nichols has been given the torch to carry for WVU, operating the offense and leading the team with 12 points and five assists per game. Frank Young has shown his versatility, while Alex Ruoff has shown he’s one of nation’s sharpest shooters. Freshman Da’Sean Butler has been a pleasant surprise, while classmate Joe Mazzulla still needs to meet expectations. A lot will be expected of both him and the Mountaineers as conference play approaches.
A new team of fresh faces, a new season. Beilein mutes the detractors as another season in one of nation’s toughest conference looms.
