True Tests to Come
December 13, 2004 04:25 PM | General
Monday, December 13, 2004
 |
||
| Guard Patrick Beilein and the Mountaineers are riding high with their 6-0 start.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
No question, having the only two remaining undefeated basketball teams in Division I is a really nice honor. But, truth be told, it won’t matter a bit when tournament time rolls around in March.
The combined 14-0 start of the WVU men’s and women’s basketball teams provide a solid foundation for upcoming Big East conference play, but the true strengths and weaknesses of both teams won’t be learned until January and February.
At 6-0, John Beilein’s Mountaineer men are off to the best start at WVU since 1982-83. Yet the combined record of WVU’s first six opponents against D-I opponents is just 13-27. The fact is, only LSU has a winning record against Division One opponents.
The intent of this insight is not to diminish WVU’s early season success, but rather to paint a realistic picture of what has been accomplished and what challenges lie ahead. The first six opponents on WVU’s post-Christmas schedule currently sport a 27-11 overall record. Take away Marshall from that mix, and the upcoming opponent won/loss record grows to an even more impressive 26-6.
You get the point.
John Beilein knows better than anyone that the quality of the opposition is about to take a huge bounce. Now in his third season, WVU’s coach also knows he’s got more depth and better team chemistry than during his first two seasons in Morgantown.
The December 29th home contest against George Washington will be a very important night inside the Coliseum. Coach Karl Hobbs’ squad is currently rated ninth in the RPI with wins over Maryland and Michigan State. A WVU victory could go a long way in enhancing its RPI status and post-season chances. True, it’s only December, but the outcome of the GW game will have a significant affect on the Mountaineer season whether it’s a win or a loss.
With students off on break, WVU officials are doing their part to fill the Coliseum by designating that date as a Family Day.
Staying on the topic of promotions, this Saturday’s game against James Madison is a Dairy Mart High-Five night. That means you can get a ticket for just five dollars by picking up a coupon at any Dairy Mart location.
Turning topics ...
Have a great week!
