WVU’s Josh Eilert Talks Loss to Houston in Big 12 Opener

WVU interim HC Josh Eilert spoke with Tony Caridi on the postgame radio show following the Mountaineers’ 89-55 blowout loss to No. 3 Houston in the Big 12 opener.

On Houston’s physicality:

“I was worried about the physicality. The way [Houston] plays, you know, it’s not a good matchup for us by any means. We rebounded better than I thought but they made shots. I talked a lot early, even at halftime, guys the ball is sticking. They’re doing a really good job in those traps. We got to get out and then the ball is sticking.”

What Eilert told his team:

“We saw this last year at Texas in an early game in the league and you almost feel like you ran into a buzzsaw. You have to figure out what you can learn and learn quick. Learn quick and then turn the page. We play a good Kansas State team at home that I think we can beat. But we got to be more disciplined. We got to take our game plan from the practice court to the game court. We’re doing a poor job of taking that game plan and executing it on the floor.”

On the second half:

“I credit a lot of guys, deep in the bench they came in and gave us good minutes and tried to hold surf. Pat [Suemnick] did a good job coming in there and giving us some energy late and I’m going to have to reward him for the way he played. He played with a sense of urgency when he came in there. I just kept on telling push the pace and try to get something easy downhill. Once [Houston] got that half-court set, they’re as good as anybody in the country in a half-court defense and they proved it tonight.”