The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

March 16, 2008

Mountaineers to face Arizona in first round

By Mickey Furfari

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia received an at-large bid to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Selection Sunday, as expected, and will play Arizona in the first round Thursday in Washington, D.C.

The Mountaineers (24-10) were seeded No. 7 in the West regional and the Wildcats No. 10. The winner of this contest will play the winner of a game between No. 2 Duke (27-5) and No. 15 Belmont (25-8) in Saturday’s second round.

Starting times have not been announced.

“We felt all along that we’d be a seventh seed,” said WVU coach Bob Huggins, who is taking a team to the Big Dance for the 16th time. He had a 14-year consecutive string during his lengthy stint at Cincinnati.

“It’s a hard game,” he reasoned. “That’s a very talented team. But I think all games are hard in the NCAAs.”

Asked whether going to that tournament has become an old habit, Huggins replied: “It’s supposed to be. If we’re going to have a national program, which we all want to be, you can’t go once every four or three years.”

He has faced Arizona a few times in his 26 seasons as a head coach.

While he didn’t know much about the Wildcats, Huggins said he would by this morning. “We’re not going for the experience. We’re going to win,” he added.

The players were jubilant when West Virginia was announced on TV for the 65-team field. But they did some sweating because they had to wait about 40 minutes to hear the good news.

“It was kinda nerve-wracking,” said sophomore Joe Mazzulla. “So it was a relief to hear that we’re in the tournament. Now we just need to come out, stay focused and do what we have to do.”

Joe Alexander, WVU’s leading scorer (16.8) and rebounder (6.1), said he’s happy with everything — the seeding, site and first opponent.

“It was a great feeling when we finally were called,” he admitted. “But we were a bit anxious. Now there’s a series of great teams, one after another. I think playing close to home is a great break for us.”

Sophomore Da’Sean Butler said, “I got real nervous waiting. But we all felt sure we’d be in there somewhere. I don’t really care where we’re seeded. What happens, happens.”

Alex Ruoff said, “I’m just happy to be where we are now. It’s something we’ve all worked hard to earn. Some guys were making jokes (while waiting).

“There were some doubts maybe. But I’m confident, very thankful and very appreciative.”

Darris Nichols, senior point guard, admittedly liked being paired against Arizona and he loved Washington as the site. “I kinda figured we’d be seeded about No. 7,” he said. “I’ve seen Arizona and they have a lot of good players.”

This will be the fifth meeting between the two schools. West Virginia’s only victory came on Dec. 20, 1948, by 61-58 in Morgantown. Arizona has won the other three games, including the last meeting by 75-74 in the Fiesta Bowl Classic at Tucson, Ariz., in 1992-93.

WVU has a 20-18 record in NCAA tournament games.

Text Only
Sports
  • Woodrow holds off Huntington

     It took Woodrow Wilson’s boys basketball team nearly three quarters to figure out that the backside lob was open in Huntington High’s zone.

    January 10, 2012

  • MSU hosts Rio Grande

    For the first time since 1995, Mountain State stands a little past the half-way point at the season with five losses.

    January 10, 2012

  • OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - WVU to join Big 12 Conference

    The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have voted unanimously to accept West Virginia University as a full conference member effective July 1, 2012.  The Mountaineers will begin competing in the Big 12 beginning with the 2012-13 athletic season.

    October 28, 2011

  • Friday update: Big East notified WVU leaving for Big 12

    The Big East says it has been notified that West Virginia is leaving the conference and joining the Big 12.

    October 28, 2011

  • Cardinals force Game 7 in World Series

    After one of the greatest games in baseball history, a 10-9, 11-inning victory over Texas in Game 6 in which the Cardinals were twice within one strike of elimination.

    October 28, 2011

  • Schiano sings WVU’s praises

    It hasn’t been the year that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano envisioned.
    Not close.

    December 1, 2010

  • BNI will usher in mat season

    This time around, the Beckley Newspapers Invitational will have a decidedly more local flavor.

    December 1, 2010

  • Huggs likes looks of young Noreen

    Perhaps it was the season. Whatever it was, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins went straight to the pie.
    Well, the figurative pie.
    Huggins had just watched his team beat Virginia Military Institute 82-66 in front of 12,367 fans at the Charleston Civic Center Saturday.

    December 1, 2010

  • Oak Hill places 3 on AA

    Whether it was opposing defenses or illness, nothing stopped Charleston Catholic’s Tom Trupo for long.

    December 1, 2010

  • Spartans open with victory

    Turnovers produce points and the Greenbrier East girls basketball team collected plenty of each en route to an 81-43 season-opening victory against Bluefield on Tuesday night.

    December 1, 2010