Legacies Secure for WVU’s Seniors, Even Without a Sweet 16

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — WVU basketball set a couple of lofty goals for itself going into this season. With the talent West Virginia had on its roster, the Mountaineers wanted to win the Big 12, earn a top-four seed and host NCAA Tournament games and advance to the program’s second-ever Sweet 16.

The team fell just short of all three, losing in the Big 12 semifinals, being picked as a No. 6 seed and losing in the second round to North Carolina to end the season Monday night.

“We’ve had a heck of a run, we had a great season,” WVU coach Mark Kellogg said. “Did we fall a little short of some of our goals? Yes we did, but that’s sports, that’s life.”

Falling short of a high bar doesn’t mean this season was a failure, however. Quite the opposite, in fact, as the Mountaineers’ season was undoubtedly a rousing success.

“I’m just so proud of our group, I’m proud of our seniors,” Kellogg said. “I think we always talk about leaving a legacy, leaving it better than what it was when you started and I think these guys did that.”

Even without a Big 12 championship or a Sweet 16 appearance, the legacy for this WVU team and its players is secure.

“I couldn’t be more proud. This is a special group of players,” Kellogg said. “Two years ago when I got the job, I had a vision, you try to paint a picture and you hope those current players would stay and buy into what we were doing, and they did that. They’ve been so much fun to coach and we’ve had a great environment.”

Cheif among the team is senior JJ Quinerly, who will be remembered as one of the very best players to ever don the Old Gold and Blue.

“I hope to be remembered as one of the best guards to ever play at West Virginia University,” Quinerly said. “I think I did a lot under a lot of different coaches. I think I’ve left a legacy here and I left the program better than it was when I first came in.”

Quinerly leaves WVU in third place all-time in both points and steals. She is also a two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the year, three-time All-Big 12 first-team selection and a two-time All-American honorable mention.

Nespor: There Won’t be Another JJ Quinerly at WVU Anytime Soon

“I could’ve left at any time in my career and probably could’ve went anywhere in the country and I chose to stay in West Virginia to make that legacy,” she said choking back tears. “I think I’ve done that.”

Other graduating seniors are Kyah Watson, Kylee Blacksten, Sydney Woodley, Danelle Arigbabu, Tirzah Moore and Zya Nugent.

“Each year I was here was special,” Watson said. “I can’t thank Coach Kellogg and the coaching staff enough. I love all of them, they’ve helped me grow as a person both on and off the court. My teammates all three years were great. The fanbase in West Virginia is awesome. They love us and we love them. I’m going to miss that.”

“All of their journeys have been very different,” Kellogg said. “This has been a really close group, that’s what I’ve enjoyed the most in my two years here so far. It’s such an easy team to coach, they’re just really good kids. They do the right things and work hard and it’s fun to show up to work every day when you have a staff and a team like we have.”

But as it goes in college athletics, those seniors will leave and Kellogg is now tasked with continuing the program’s upward climb.

“Part of coaching is trying to sustain it now,” Kellogg said. “Kids graduate every single year so that’s not abnormal, we’re going to lose some quality players and we understand that.”