Bob Huggins will be unhappy camper if WVU Mountaineers are denied NCAA Tournament bid
Bob Huggins says he will complain loudly if his West Virginia Mountaineers, 16-13 overall after Saturday’s narrow 76-74 loss at Kansas, do not receive an NCAA Tournament bid on Selection Sunday.
“I tell our guys I don’t think we have anything to worry about and I will blast their (butt) as far and as long as I can if they (tournament committee members) don’t let these guys in the tournament after years and years of: ‘Play a competitive schedule. The best teams are the teams that play the best strength of schedule,’’’ Huggins, WVU’s head coach, said Saturday.
“We have far and away — it’s not even close — the best strength of schedule in the country, no question. If that doesn’t mean something to the committee shame on them,” Huggins added.
“Not just that. I think if you look at our scores, … we deserve to be in the tournament. You know they give you all that B.S. about: ‘Play a strong schedule. You (should) play a strong schedule.’ Well if they continue to tell you to do that then by (gosh) they ought to hold up their end of the bargain.”
Entering Saturday’s game, kenpom.com rated West Virginia’s strength of schedule sixth best in the country. KU’s schedule was listed as the toughest in college basketball.
“We have played the best strength of schedule. It’s not arguable. We played the best. I think we ought to, they (WVU players) ought to get credit for it,” Huggins said.
WVU senior guard Erik Stevenson, who scored 23 points on 9-of-22 shooting Saturday, agreed with his head coach.
“We belong (in the NCAAs) — no question about it,” Stevenson said. “This obviously would have been nice, really nice (to win). We really wanted to come in here and get a win for coach and this program.”
Huggins is 0-11 versus KU in Allen Fieldhouse as Mountaineer coach.
“There is a reason they win a lot of games in this building. Like coach (Huggins) said, coach Self is a great coach. They’ve got good players. It was a heck of an atmosphere. I am never one to look at positives in a loss, (but) I can’t be more proud of my teammates. We played our hearts out,” Stevenson added. “A call here or there, ... I had three in and out (shots from the outside), that could have been the game right there. This one stings.
“We’ve got to get to Ames or wherever Iowa State is, go handle business, get a win there and hopefully finish out with a win over Kansas State at home (next Saturday).”
Down two points, West Virginia had a chance to force overtime or win the game with a three on its final possession, which started after Jalen Wilson hit one of two free throws to give KU a 76-74 lead with 24.2 seconds left.
Guarded closely by KU’s Wilson, Joe Toussaint was called for traveling with just a second to play. KU inbounded successfully and had the two-point win.
“Well we ran the same thing we ran, that we did run a couple games ago. We just didn’t get it turned back,” Huggins said.
Noted Stevenson: We had the (right) play call for sure. Like coach said, we couldn’t get it turned. We needed to get it turned to initiate our action. Credit to — I don’t even remember who was guarding it. He (Wilson) did a good job on the ball. From there it was chaos. They guarded the ball and we traveled at the end. That’s how it ended. Great game, it was a battle. We just came up a little short.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2023 at 9:14 PM with the headline "Bob Huggins will be unhappy camper if WVU Mountaineers are denied NCAA Tournament bid."
