DeVries: Lack of Size Wasn’t Biggest Issue for WVU Basketball in Backyard Brawl

PITTSBURGH — WVU basketball is going to be smaller than just about every opponent it faces this season. That size difference will be especially evident when the Mountaineers take on higher-level competition, as was the case in Friday’s blowout loss to Pitt in the Backyard Brawl.

The Panthers (4-0) held a clear size advantage over the Mountaineers (2-1), although first-year West Virginia coach Darian DeVries didn’t think that played a big part in the 24-point, 86-62, loss.

“Certainly, there were some possessions where we got out-rebounded, but I didn’t feel like this was a size issue (Friday),” DeVries said. “I thought they got a lot of good, clean opportunities, especially in that first half.” 

Pitt held a big advantage on the boards, 45-32, but DeVries thought that was more of a product of the Mountaineers missing 38 shots.

“They ended up with a pretty good rebounding margin because of defensive rebounding,” DeVries said. 

“We had a lot of missed shots they could go get.”

WVU’s lack of size did come into play offensively as the Mountaineers struggled to manufacture easy looks from inside the arc. Nearly half of WVU’s total field goal attempts were from range, 29 of 62. That was partly because the Mountaineers were searching for quick offense to get back into the game, but also because they lacked the size needed to pound the ball inside.

“That’s something we’re continuing to work on and figure out as well,” DeVries said.

“When we don’t have shot falling from the perimeter, how can we get more paint touches, whether it’s through post-ups or driving opportunities?”

Forwards Tucker DeVries and Amani Hansberry, the Mountaineers’ biggest players, were a combined 2-7 on two-pointers before both fouling out in the second half.

Pitt coach Jeff Capel, on the other hand, thought his team’s size did come into play.

“We think we have a team that has some size and can do some things,” Capel said. “I think we can be a good rebounding team and we certainly were tonight.”

For a related story, WVU basketball fans react, meltdown watching bad Backyard Brawl loss.