The Way I "See" It: The Sports Perspective From A Blind WVU Student
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The WVU Men's Basketball team will be playing Morgan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament East Regional Friday, March 19 in Buffalo, New York at HSBC Arena. Tipoff is set for 12:15 PM. The Mountaineers enter the tournament as a two seed after winning their first Big East title Saturday when they knocked off Georgetown 60-58. They have a 27-6 record. Their leading scorer is senior DaSean Butler who is averaging 17.4 points per game. Kevin Jones is second on the team in scoring with 13.5 followed by Devin Ebanks with 12. Morgan State earned a No. 15 seed. They won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and come into the game with a 27-9 record. The Bears defeated South Carolina State 68-61 on March 13 in the MEAC championship game. Four players scored double figures in the game, led by Kevin Thompson who scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Todd Bozeman was named the Coach of the Year. Reggie Holmes was named the Player of the Year. DeWayne Jackson earned Rookie of the Year, and Thompson was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Coverage begins on WAJR AM at 11 AM with the Coliseum Countdown.
Another game-winning shot by DaSean Butler gave the Mountaineers a 60-58 victory over Georgetown to win the school’s first-ever Big East championship Saturday night at Madsion Square Garden in New York. It was the first time WVU had won a championship since they won the Atlantic 10 championship in 1984. Butler was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player. He scored 20 points. Wellington Smith scored a tournament-best 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The Mountaineers have a 27-6 record and will play Morgan State in the first round of the NcAA Tournament Friday March 19 at 12:15 PM in Buffalo, New York. The Mountaineers had the lead a couple of times but could never blow the game open as Georgetown kept coming back. The Mountaineers had leads of six in the first half and then later nine with 12:22 remaining in the game. The Hoyas came back though, cutting the lead to two 43-41 with 10:38 remaining in the game. The Mountaineers stopped the Hoyas run though and brought the lead back to seven 48-41. The Hoyas would not give up though, tying the game at 56 with 54 seconds left. The Mountaineers hit two free throws to give the Mountaineers the lead back 58-56 with 27 seconds left. Chris Wright hit a basket and that set up Butler for his game-winning shot. This was the sixth game that the Mountaineers have won on a Butler basket. He hit game-winning shots in the Cleveland State, Marquette, Louisville, Villanova, Cincinnati, and now the Georgetown game. Besides Butler, Jones scored in double figures finishing with 12 points and grabbing 4 rebounds. The Mountaineers have now won six straight and eight of it’s last nine heading into the NCAA Tournament. Coverage of the Mountaineers first game in the NcAA Tournament against Morgan State will begin at 11 AM with the Coliseum Countdown.
The WVU Men’s Basketball team defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in another close game that came down to the final second 53-51 Friday night in the Semifinals of the Big East Tournament. This time, Tory Jackson had a chance to win the game with a three that was missed with four seconds left. Wellington Smith stripped the ball from Tyrone Nash keeping him from tying the game and giving the Mountaineers the win. The Mountaineers had the game well under control leading by 10 43-33 with 7:18 left in the game. But, the Irish went on a 9-3 run and cut the lead to just three 48-45 with 3:34 left. Jackson hit two free throws to cut the Mountaineers lead to one 48-47. The Mountaineers got the lead back to 5, but the Irish hit a basket and two free throws to make it a two point game 53-51. The Mountaineers got the ball back with 47 seconds left, but Butler missed a three to make it a two possession game. The miss gave the Irish the ball back. Jackson missed the shot, and Smith stripped the ball to allow the Mountaineers to hang on for the win. Joe Mazzulla scored a season-high 8 points off the bench and Jones scored 10.
The WVU Men’s Basketball team defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats in the quarterfinals of the Big East championship Tournament 54-51 Thursday night. The Mountaineers led much of the game but it came down to a shot by DaSean Butler to win the game. The Mountaineers ran out to an early 18-4 lead but the Bearcats went on a run and came back in the game. The bearcats did not score their first field goal until 8:21 left in the half. They missed their first 10 shots. Casey Mitchell made a basket to give the Mountaineers the lead 23-20. But, Cincinnati came back and scored a 3 to tie the game at 23 with 39 seconds left in the first half. Jonnie West hit a 3 as the buzzer sounded to end the first half. The Mountaineers once again got out to an 8-point lead 36-28. The Bearcats hit back-to-back baskets to cut the lead to two 38-36. The Mountaineers pulled it out to a 9 point game 47-38. Once again, as they did all half, the Bearcats came back and got to within two 47-45. Kevin Jones scored a basket to give the Mountaineers a 51-48 lead. Lance Stephenson tied the game at 51 with a 3-pointer. Head coach Bob Huggins called a timeout after the game was tied. The Mountaineers had two chances to score but the ball did not go in. Cincinnati’s Dion Dixon was called on a travel near the Mountaineers bench with three seconds left. This gave the Mountaineers the ball back, and Butler hit a three-point shot that banked in to give the Mountaineers the win. Jones finished the game with 17 points, and Butler scored 15.
Here are some quoted comments about WVU Athletic Director Ed Pastilong's career. The University announced Wednesday that it would not be renewing Pastilong's contract when it expires in June and instead will begin looking for a replacement. However, Pastilong will remain as emeritus for the next two years.
A selection of comments about Ed Pastilong’s tenure as director of athletics at West Virginia University:
“I have the utmost respect for Coach Ed Pastilong and the job he has done for this University. He has been a tremendous role model and a supportive boss. He cares about this department more than anyone I know. He will be missed greatly by me, this staff and our football program.”
—Football Coach Bill Stewart
“I’ve known Ed since I was 19 years old when he was assistant athletic director, and I attended school and played basketball here. We have been friends since then. Obviously, during his career, he has led West Virginia University to probably the greatest heights in all of our sports. He led us into the BIG EAST, and he has been the face of Mountaineer athletics for many years. I’m certainly happy for Ed and Mona, but it’s a sad day for Mountaineer athletics.”
—Men’s Basketball Coach Bob Huggins
“I’d like to thank Ed Pastilong for the opportunity to coach at West Virginia University. With his leadership and guidance, our program continues to reach new heights, as evidenced by this year’s successes. Ed has done a remarkable job of shaping this department and preparing it for the future challenges that we will face. I thank him for all he has done for me and West Virginia University.”
—Women’s Basketball Coach Mike Carey
“It has been a pleasure working with Mr. Pastilong for the last 15 years. He not only started the women’s soccer program at West Virginia University, but his continued support has played an integral role in bringing the program into national prominence. He has accomplished so much during his time at WVU, I hope he can enjoy this much deserved time with his family.”
—Women’s Soccer Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown
“The growth that has surrounded the West Virginia University Athletic Department from the day Ed was hired to today is tremendous and 100 percent directly related to his supervision and guidance. Over the years, he has made good choices in hiring coaches who have been able to produce. I can’t think of a person that has been more of a people person and truly cares about the staff, the coaches and the student-athletes. He is one-of-a-kind. I’m really sorry to see him step down.”
—Gymnastics Coach Linda Burdette-Good
“I’d like to congratulate Ed for his many contributions to WVU and Mountaineer athletics over the years – first as a student-athlete, later as a member of the football coaching staff, and then his many years as an administrator. One of the hallmarks of Ed’s administration would have to be the major enhancements to WVU’s athletic facilities. They are among the finest in the country. He also selected some very fine coaches and staff members over the years, who are as loyal and committed to this University as he is. Ed has devoted the majority of his life to WVU and I wish he and Mona well as they begin to enjoy more family and leisure time in the years ahead.”
—Leland Byrd, former WVU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
WVU head football coach Bill Stewart has made his coaching staff assignments set for the 2010 year. Incoming assistant Dave McMichael will be primarily in charge of the tight ends. McMichael's recruiting areas will include Western Pennsylvania, Northern New Jersey, and New York. Stewart will be splitting up the special team responsibilities between assistants McMichael and Steve Dunlap. McMichael will oversee the offensive special teams unit including field goals, extra point, and kickoff returns. Dunlap will over defensive special teams including kickoff coverage, punt returns, field goals, and extra point block defense. Stewart will continue to oversee punting for the team. Runningbacks and slot receivers coach Chris Beatty will take over as Director of Recruiting for the Mountaineers replacing Doc Holliday. Spring practice begins for the Mountaineers on April 6, and the annual Gold-Blue spring game will be held Friday night, April 30.
COACHING ASSIGNMENTS
Mike Joseph: Strength and conditioning
The 2009 Women’s Soccer spring schedule has been announced. The Mountaineers first play Penn State on the road Febuary 28 at 7:30 P.M. After that, the Mountaineers have 2 matches in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 28. The Mountaineers face Tennessee at 10:00 A.M. and Georgia at noon. Then, the Mountaineers play Pitt in the Betty Puskar Breast Cancer Soccer Invitational on April 4 at 11:00 A.M. at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown. The spring season ends with the Mountaineers playing 2 more matches both at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium against Purdue at 7:00 P.M. on April 18 and Ohio State at 2:00 P.M. on April 25. In other Women’s Soccer news, the Mountaineer Soccer team held their awards for the 2008 season. Junior Carolyn Blank was named the tam’s Most Valuable Player. This is the second straight year she has won this honor. Senior Deana Everrett earned the team’s most offensive player award. Senior Robin Rushton ws named team’s most defensive player. Redshirt Freshman Erica Henderson was named the team’s most improved player. Senior Stephanie Burgess was selected for the Mountaineer S.O.C.C.E.R. award. The award is given by the coaches to the individual who displays good sportsmanship, optimism, character, concern, effort and respect. The Morgantown, W.Va., native appeared in 21 of 23 matches this season and scored her first career goal against Syracuse.
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