MORGANTOWN — Bob Huggins left no doubt that West Virginia would keep playing this season following the Mountaineers’ 87-63 loss against Kansas on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament.
“We’ve got more games to play,” Huggins said. “We’ll get home and have them rest for a day, or so, and we’ll get back at it and get ready to bring home a trophy.”
As to what trophy the Mountaineers (16-17) play for is still in some question.
The loss against Kansas dropped the Mountaineers below .500 for the season.
In 2019, the NIT dropped its requirements to only select teams with a record of .500 or better, but since has had no teams with a losing record in its field.
WVU’s argument to be included in the NIT — that tournament announces its field on Sunday after the NCAA selection show — is based on playing the fifth toughest schedule in the country (according to the RPI) and it’s NET ranking is solidly inside the top 100 at No. 76.
If the NIT takes a pass on WVU, then the only option becomes the CBI.
“Obviously it’s not going to be the one we wanted (NCAA tournament), but it’s going to be a trophy that is well worth bringing home,” Huggins continued.
The CBI field is also announced Sunday night and that tournament is now a 16-team single-elimination format that is played entirely in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The CBI runs from March 19-23.
Huggins said the option to keep playing came from his players.
“I asked them that and they want to play,” Huggins said. “They want to play and I enjoy coaching them. Anything we can do to represent our state and the people in our state, I’m all for.”
No surprise
Huggins was ejected with 9:59 remaining in the first half after arguing a no-call with referee Doug Sirmons.
He was escorted back to the locker room, where he watched the rest of the game.
“They need to put bigger TVs in there,” he said. “The TVs are awfully small. We really had a hard time of getting a true picture of what was going on with those dinky TVs they had in there. They really need to upgrade that system.”
As for getting whistled for two quick technical fouls, that didn’t catch Huggins off guard.
“I’ve done this for 45 years,” he said. “I’m not surprised at much.”
Battle of the boards
Kansas came away with a 48-27 advantage on the glass. The 21-rebound deficit was the second largest of the season for WVU.
Kansas also grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and finished with 18 second-chance points. Christian Braun had a career-high 14 rebounds.
WVU was led by Pauly Paulicap, who finished with five boards.
News and notes
** WVU has now lost eight of its last nine against Kansas. The Jayhawks’ three wins this season came by a combined 63 points.
** Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji is the Big 12 Player of the Year. He averaged 20.3 points per game in the three games against WVU.
** Kansas finished with a 48-22 advantage in points in the paint. That was similar to the first two meetings that saw the Jayhawks combine for a 94-32 advantage in that category.
** Kansas finished with 16 fast-break points.
“It felt more like 40,” WVU associate head coach Larry Harrison said on his postgame radio show.
** Taz Sherman finished with 10 points to move up to 44th on WVU’s all-time scoring list. He now has 1,089 points and needs four points to surpass Tyrone Sally for 43rd place.
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