Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
A Calmer Erik Stevenson on Display Wednesday Night Against No. 11 Iowa State
February 09, 2023 12:07 PM | Men's Basketball, Blog
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – By Erik Stevenson standards, Wednesday night's 8-point, 1-for-6 shooting night against 11th-ranked Iowa State doesn't come close to matching what he did last Saturday against Oklahoma or two Saturday's ago against Auburn.
Stevenson scored a career-high 34 points against the Sooners, one week after hitting for 31 against the Tigers.
But what he did last night against Iowa State clearly demonstrates the growth, development and maturity he's making while playing for Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins.
Stevenson's big moment came with 2:20 remaining in a hotly contested game. Erik made a beautiful drive to the basket, scored and was on the ground expecting to get up and shoot an and-one free throw to give his team a four-point lead. Instead, he was called for his fifth foul.
Night over.
The old Erik Stevenson would have come unhinged, argued the call and possibly added a technical foul to the premature ending to his evening. Instead, he remained calm and composed, walked up to each of his teammates, gave them high-fives and told them they were going to win the game.
And they did!
Erik's impressive demonstration of composure was not a part of his repertoire just a month ago when he self-destructed in losses at Kansas State and Oklahoma State. Technical fouls he received in both games contributed to him fouling out and harming his team's chances of getting valuable Big 12 road victories.
Huggins, nearing wit's end, knew an intervention was required to help Stevenson get a handle on his emotions. There was just no way the talented senior could continue operating as a Mountaineer in that manner.
So, during an afternoon practice in the WVU Coliseum after the Oklahoma State game, while on his cell phone talking to Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey, Huggins saw Stevenson walk toward him.
Before handing the phone over to Stevenson, Huggins told Gansey to talk some sense into his guard.
NBA rules limit the amount of contact NBA personnel are allowed to have with potential prospects before the draft, so what Gansey could actually tell Stevenson was confined to some basic life advice – old Mountaineer to current Mountaineer.
What Mike essentially told Erik was, "Hey, you are a great player, but you need to just shut the hell up and play ball! Let your actions do the talking!"
It wasn't about what Stevenson needed to do to become an NBA player or a Cleveland Cavalier, it was about not letting your emotions consume you, potentially ruining a promising basketball career.
Ten, 15 years from now when he's done playing wherever he's playing, Stevenson will probably look back on that as one of the defining moments in his life.
Besides getting a valuable education, isn't that why we send our kids to college in the first place - to meet smart, accomplished people who can give us great life advice? Of course.
"If you've been around sports or athletics for a while, you get tired of hearing the same voice," Huggins explained. "I get tired of hearing Erik's voice now, but that's common in sports. You are together so much, and we're in situations that are uncomfortable, so you've got to calm it down and figure out a way to slow it down a little bit. To his credit, he really has."
Stevenson admitted the brief talk with Gansey was attention-getting.
"I feel like it definitely opened my eyes a little bit," he said. "Honestly, coach (Ron) Everhart had a talk with me a month or so ago after practice. We were sitting (on the bench underneath the basket), and he basically said, 'You're going to be a pro for a long time, and you need to start carrying yourself like a pro.' Those two things really hit home, big time."
For the most part, when Erik's emotions have gotten the best of him at the other places he's been along the way, it was either ignored or suppressed. The root cause was never really confronted in harsh terms that he could understand.
The fact that his college career is winding down means the opportunities are dwindling to realize his childhood dream of playing in March Madness. It takes talent, focus, effort and, yes, composure, to get there.
Erik had the other three before he got here. Now, Huggins is helping him add No. 4 to the total package.
"He had to calm down," Huggins admitted. "I've talked to Erik more than I've talked to all of you guys (media) put together. It's like boiling potatoes. You can only let them boil for so long before you have to take the lid off."
Stevenson scored a career-high 34 points against the Sooners, one week after hitting for 31 against the Tigers.
But what he did last night against Iowa State clearly demonstrates the growth, development and maturity he's making while playing for Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins.
Stevenson's big moment came with 2:20 remaining in a hotly contested game. Erik made a beautiful drive to the basket, scored and was on the ground expecting to get up and shoot an and-one free throw to give his team a four-point lead. Instead, he was called for his fifth foul.
Night over.
The old Erik Stevenson would have come unhinged, argued the call and possibly added a technical foul to the premature ending to his evening. Instead, he remained calm and composed, walked up to each of his teammates, gave them high-fives and told them they were going to win the game.
And they did!
Erik's impressive demonstration of composure was not a part of his repertoire just a month ago when he self-destructed in losses at Kansas State and Oklahoma State. Technical fouls he received in both games contributed to him fouling out and harming his team's chances of getting valuable Big 12 road victories.
Huggins, nearing wit's end, knew an intervention was required to help Stevenson get a handle on his emotions. There was just no way the talented senior could continue operating as a Mountaineer in that manner.
So, during an afternoon practice in the WVU Coliseum after the Oklahoma State game, while on his cell phone talking to Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey, Huggins saw Stevenson walk toward him.
Before handing the phone over to Stevenson, Huggins told Gansey to talk some sense into his guard.
NBA rules limit the amount of contact NBA personnel are allowed to have with potential prospects before the draft, so what Gansey could actually tell Stevenson was confined to some basic life advice – old Mountaineer to current Mountaineer.
What Mike essentially told Erik was, "Hey, you are a great player, but you need to just shut the hell up and play ball! Let your actions do the talking!"
It wasn't about what Stevenson needed to do to become an NBA player or a Cleveland Cavalier, it was about not letting your emotions consume you, potentially ruining a promising basketball career.
Ten, 15 years from now when he's done playing wherever he's playing, Stevenson will probably look back on that as one of the defining moments in his life.
Besides getting a valuable education, isn't that why we send our kids to college in the first place - to meet smart, accomplished people who can give us great life advice? Of course.
"If you've been around sports or athletics for a while, you get tired of hearing the same voice," Huggins explained. "I get tired of hearing Erik's voice now, but that's common in sports. You are together so much, and we're in situations that are uncomfortable, so you've got to calm it down and figure out a way to slow it down a little bit. To his credit, he really has."
Stevenson admitted the brief talk with Gansey was attention-getting.
"I feel like it definitely opened my eyes a little bit," he said. "Honestly, coach (Ron) Everhart had a talk with me a month or so ago after practice. We were sitting (on the bench underneath the basket), and he basically said, 'You're going to be a pro for a long time, and you need to start carrying yourself like a pro.' Those two things really hit home, big time."
For the most part, when Erik's emotions have gotten the best of him at the other places he's been along the way, it was either ignored or suppressed. The root cause was never really confronted in harsh terms that he could understand.
The fact that his college career is winding down means the opportunities are dwindling to realize his childhood dream of playing in March Madness. It takes talent, focus, effort and, yes, composure, to get there.
Erik had the other three before he got here. Now, Huggins is helping him add No. 4 to the total package.
"He had to calm down," Huggins admitted. "I've talked to Erik more than I've talked to all of you guys (media) put together. It's like boiling potatoes. You can only let them boil for so long before you have to take the lid off."
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballJasper Floyd | Pitt Preview
Wednesday, November 12
Ross Hodge | Pitt Preview
Wednesday, November 12
United Bank Playbook: Arizona State Preview
Wednesday, November 12
Mark Kellogg | Temple
Wednesday, November 12
