WVU lost to Oklahoma because of missed free throws and one bad coaching move.

Jan. 14—MORGANTOWN — We’re not exactly sure what WVU has done to tick off the basketball gods, but just when you think things can’t get worse for the Mountaineers, they find a way to prove you wrong.

We’re honest to be honest and admit that we don’t know where to start with this game.

Take this as an example: Oklahoma won the last six minutes and twelve seconds without scoring a basket.

The Mountaineers lost by 64 percent in the second period.

Some of these reasons are obvious.

Free throws start it all. It started with the Mountaineers (11-7, 0-5 Big 12), which tied the 2018-19 team for the worst Big 12 start.

WVU has fallen 60.8 % (87 out 143) since its first five Big 12 losses. The Mountaineers won 8 of 16 charity games against the Sooners.

Joe Toussaint made two free throws when the game was tied at 70. Both missed. Tre Mitchell was able to make two free throws, with WVU leading by one. To tie the game, he only made one.

He had missed two technical foul free throws in the first period. This was immediately followed by Jimmy Bell Jr. who made two free throws.

WVU was only three points behind at the time.

Bob Huggins, WVU head coach, stated that “I don’t know what I should say,” during his postgame radio broadcast. “I don’t even know what to say.”

The basketball gods dealt WVU a really bad hand with 48 seconds left—the game was tied at 70 then—when Oklahoma guard Grant Sherfield missed a jumper that came down to Kedrian Johnson.

Johnson was not on his feet and the ball flew off of him and into the distance. There, Toussaint tipped it to Emmitt Matthews Jr.

Matthews was only a few yards short of the goal line and had to return the ball into play. This is where Oklahoma’s forward Jalen Hill got it.

Hill was fouled, and he made two free throws with 27 seconds remaining that gave the Sooners the lead.

This one play might have summarised the Mountaineers season up to this point.

But it wasn’t over.

WVU held a timeout, and Huggins created a play to guard Erik Stevenson. He had recently spent the night in hospital, mind you, to treat a chest/respiratory problem.

It was a 3-point shot. Huggins wanted to win.

Stevenson’s shot wasn’t allowed to go because it was contested.

Huggins stated that Erik asked where he wanted Erik to turn when he was coming off the screen. Huggins said that this was probably not what we should have done.

“It was forced. We didn’t require a forced shot. It was only if he didn’t have a good chance to penetrate the pitch and pitch it.

Forget the hard shot. What was it that Stevenson lost the ball with only 18 seconds left in the game? The shot clock had been turned off at that time.

Oklahoma is now in control of the ball and has plenty time to get the win.

This is the part that I don’t get. Huggins could have Johnson or Toussaint dribble for 10-12 seconds, then run a play to Stevenson or anyone else.

Given the way the game went, both teams were able to get 10 free points. Seth Wilson hit a three at the buzzer which either upset or delighted a lot gamblers.

That’s six total possessions that were completely unnecessary.

Stevenson was wrong to make that bad shot. But he shouldn’t have had the ball at all.

That is the coaching part, not Stevenson.

The sad thing about it all was that WVU had never played as well in a long time. This is especially true when you consider Larry Harrison, longtime assistant, being fired two days prior to the game.

“We’re getting closer. Huggins stated that we are not the worst team in league.

Huggins may be correct in his statement. Perhaps Huggins is just trying to be kind and keep the team together after not winning a Big 12 road match in 691 consecutive days.

In either case, Saturday’s loss to Sooners was as confusing of them all. And it will take more than words and actions to get things back on track.

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