WVU happy to be in Big East dance, draws Providence
The West Virginia Mountaineers have won only one game in their last six, but that victory, a 71-67 defeat of visiting Virginia Tech last Saturday in Morgantown, was monumental. After being left out of last year’s Big East Tournament due to a 1-15 conference record, West Virginia (14-14, 5-11) clinched a tournament invitation this year, albeit a No. 6 seed, as a result of the victory. “I’m happy we got to make the tournament on our own terms,” West Virginia Head Coach John Beilein said. “Our goal was not to win only five games this year, but we are not just going to the tournament to play, but to win.”
The Mountaineers of the West division will be playing a first round game against the third-seeded Providence Friars (15-12, 8-8) of the East Division on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. The Friars are riding a two-game win streak and have won five of their last six games. They have also recorded some impressive wins this year, including a victory over number-one seeded Boston College, the Connecticut Huskies at Connecticut, and against Seton Hall in overtime.
Coincidentally, the Mountaineers’ only victory in the Big East last year was over Providence. These two teams have met once in the Big East Tournament, in 1997, when the Friars beat WVU, 76-69.
Providence is coached by Tim Welsh, who has recorded a 77-71 record in the five years he has coached the Friars. They lead the nation in free-throw shooting, which is almost 80 percent. The Friars are led by sophomore forward Ryan Gomes, who leads the team in scoring, field goal percentage, and rebounding.
The winner will face the second-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers, also of the West Division, on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. The Panthers (23-4, 13-3), enter the tournament as the fifth-ranked team in the country.
“Even though we won both games against West Virginia by large margins this year, if we do play them on Thursday, it will be a whole new season for them,” said Pittsburgh point guard Brandin Knight.
“Anybody can beat anybody in this tournament, and West Virginia is showing up to play just like any other team, so if it’s West Virginia we play on Thursday or Providence, we certainly can’t take either team lightly.”
The Panthers shared West Division regular-season champion honors with Syracuse, but the Orangemen claimed the number-one seed in the tournament due to a better division record than Pittsburgh. Both the Panthers and Orangemen, as well as the Boston College Eagles and the Connecticut Huskies of the East Division of the Big East, earned first round byes and will be sitting out on Wednesday.
Sophomore Drew Schifino leads the Mountaineer offensive charge. He was named to the All Big East third team by averaging over 20 points-per-game. He has also scored in double-figures in 37 games in a row and has led the Mountaineers in scoring in the last 21 games.
“We look forward to playing Providence on Wednesday,” Schifino said. “No one thought we could get back to the tournament after last year’s season, so I’m happy.”
WVU freshman center Kevin Pittsnogle earned all-rookie team honors. Both players contributed to the team’s victory over the Hokies last weekend, which also snapped a Mountaineer five-game losing streak, by scoring 19 and 18 respectively.
Panther Head Coach Ben Howland complimented both players as being weapons to contend with should Pittsburgh have to face the Mountaineers on Thursday.
“Both Schifino and Pittsnogle can be very difficult match-ups for other teams because of their skill and athletic ability,” Howland said. “Besides those two players who made the All Big East Team this year, they (West Virginia) also have an outstanding coach (John Beilein) who is able to get his team ready to play.”