Defensive Collapse, Poor Shooting Cost WVU Basketball Again

Poor second-half defense once again doomed WVU basketball as Texas Tech shot over 60% in a 73-51 romp over the Mountaineers Saturday afternoon.

“We were in the position we wanted to be in to start the second half and we didn’t do what we needed to do to pull this one out,” WVU coach Darian DeVries said after the game. “As good a job we did in the first half of limiting their bigs in the interior, we weren’t nearly as tough and physical (in the second half).”

WVU held the top-scoring offense in the Big 12 to just nine points in the first 10 minutes of Saturday’s game as the Red Raiders started shooting 4-21 from the floor.

“I thought we did a really good job early in those first 15 minutes of just controlling the offense, getting some paint touches, getting some movement and really getting some quality shots,” DeVries said. “Defensively, we were really good. We were really locked into what we were willing to give up.” 

The Mountaineers led by nine points, 24-15, after the first 15 minutes of play, but DeVries said the game flipped when the Red Raiders were able to score in transition.

“We kept them out of transition and then we had two possessions where we took really quick (shots) that led to their transition and that really swung the half,” DeVries said. “Javon’s second foul was a part of that too because we were tyrant to sub him in and out and even when he was out there, he was trying to be as conservative as possible.”

Texas Tech closed the first half on a 15-3 run to lead 30-27 at halftime. West Virginia missed its final six shots of the first half, four of them from three-point range.

“I thought we had the game going exactly how we envisioned it,” DeVries said. “Kept them out of transition, made them guard us side to side, got some paint touches, and then we got away from that for a little bit and got a little three-happy.”

Despite being within three points of a top-10 team at the break, DeVries said his team’s defense just didn’t give the Mountaineers a chance in the second half.

“They shot 62% in the second half and that’s where the game got away from us,” DeVries said. “We can survive some scoring droughts, but not if our defense isn’t really hooked up.”

Part of West Virginia’s issues stemmed from its offense. The Mountaineer shot under 30% in the second half and was out-rebounded 18-10, giving the Red Raiders plenty of opportunities to get in transition and speed the game up.

“Part of it was our offense,” DeVries said. “On some of those misses, they were able to get us in transition and get easy post touches before we could get our guys in their spots…That’s where they really hurt us.”

The Mountaineers lost in similar fashion at home to BYU recently, allowing the Cougars to shoot over 55% after halftime.

West Virginia now finds itself in need of a win or two in its final four games of the regular season if the Mountaineers are to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. WVU returns home to host TCU Tuesdy at 9 p.m.

“These are huge games,” DeVries said. “We’re at that time of year when these games are absolutely critical to make sure you’re ready to play. You can’t hang on to this one for too long.”

For related content, WV Sports Now’s Mike Asti and Cody Nespor discussed where WVU basketball stands with March looming towards the end of a recent episode of Mountaineer Report.