Musings from the Mountains: WVU Big 12 Tournament Notebook
Sometimes there is something to be said about match ups.
And in that department West Virginia has a decisive advantage over Baylor, as evident by three consecutive wins over the Bears while frustrating them up and down the floor.
“There are certain teams that we match up better with and there’s others you don’t,” Baylor head coach Scott Drew said. “West Virginia we knew was a tough match up.”
The Bears had committed 21 turnovers, tied for a season worst, in the first meeting against West Virginia and then 14 in the second but certainly saved their worst for last. Baylor turned the ball over 22 times, in a throwback effort for the Mountaineers pressure defense. The goal was to make one person handle the ball for Baylor and wear them down over the course of the game.
The final total of giveaways was actually higher than the 21 shots the Bears made in the game. That's obviously not a recipe for success.
“Fatigue and frustration sets in especially when you turn it over a lot,” forward Terry Maston said.
The Bears suffered 12 of those turnovers in the first half, matching the total of the first half in the meeting in Waco, and didn’t fare much better in the second. Those mistakes led to 22 points for West Virginia as Baylor struggled to even get into their defense. A defense that had caused issues early in the game for the Mountaineers but the frenetic pace knocked the Bears out of a rhythm.
“Our turnovers allowed them not to even face our defense,” Drew said.
But it wasn’t just the turnovers, the point totals – 54, 60 and 65 – are three of the worst of the season for Baylor as well while the shooting numbers are all well below the 47-percent the team averages. Baylor even changed up its press-breaking strategy but in the end faltered under the waves.
That’s the point of the press though is to wear down opponents over the course of the game. It worked all three times against the Bears, who are likely hoping they won’t cross paths with West Virginia again.
“That’s what we hope it does for us,” head coach Bob Huggins said.
West Virginia also won the rebounding edge for the first time this season against Baylor finishing +6 in that department as the coaching staff made it a focus this week.
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Senior guard Daxter Miles has been hot and cold for stretches throughout the season but he was on point against Baylor hitting 5-7 shots, including 5-6 from three, for 19 points and 6 rebounds. It was Miles that hit three consecutive triples in under one-minute of game action that helped push the lead into double-digits in the second half and create space between the two teams.
Overall, West Virginia has been a significantly better team when Miles is able to hit shots and over the past seven games he has done just that. During that span, Miles has made 19-39, or 48-percent, from three-point range adding another outside shooter to the roster.
“Once he gets hot you can see what he can do,” junior forward Esa Ahmad said.
No surprise, Miles admitted he has been in the gym more getting up shots and has been able to make.
Same can be said for Ahmad, who turned in a team-high 21 points while looking more aggressive in attacking the basket and looking for his shot. He also turned in eight rebounds, while being active on the defensive end with three steals and challenging shots in the paint.
After taking some time to settle in after missing the first 16-games of the year, Ahmad has played markedly better down the stretch recording a pair of double-doubles and if he plays as well as he did Thursday good things could be in store for the Mountaineers moving forward.
“It gives us another threat. He’s a guy that can score inside or outside,” Huggins said.
Consistency has always been the biggest hurdle for both of these players, but when playing well together in unison it makes some beautiful music.
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West Virginia will now turn its attention to the rubber match with Texas Tech as tipoff again is set for the late window starting sometime after 9 p.m.
The Mountaineers beat the Red Raiders 84-74 on senior night for Miles and Jevon Carter, but in that game Texas Tech was without their best player Keenan Evans. He has since returned and is coming off a 25-point performance in the win over Texas Thursday.
West Virginia dropped the first meeting against the Red Raiders in Lubbock by a single point 72-71, after leading by 11-points in the second half. Evans did play in that game and scored 20 points.
The Red Raiders are the No. 2 seed for the tournament, West Virginia the third and the Mountaineers will be battling for the opportunity to go to a third straight Big 12 title game. The goal will be to do what they do and try to speed up Texas Tech and make life difficult on them.
However, given their depth and experience that is easier said than done.
