WVU opens BE home slate this afternoon vs. Marquette

The WVU Mountaineers will open their Big East home basketball slate this afternoon as they faceoff against the 10th ranked Marquette Golden Eagles led by D-Wade wannabe Dominic James. A huge vocal crowd is expected for the 2:00 tipoff which will be televised on your local ESPN Plus affilate.

To break down the Golden Eagles you have to start with Big East Player of the Year candidate D James. He leads the team with 15.3 points and 4.3 dimes per game. I admit that’s not good enough numbers to be conference player of year but he does led the team by example and it showed last Thursday night when they blew out Providence 96-67.  Alongside D James are solid contributing juniors Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews. McNeal averages 13.4 points per game.  The X-factor for this game today may be Lazar Heyward. He averages 13 points a game plus he leads the team in rebounds per game, 6.3, field goal shooting , 58% solid, and even free-throw shooting, 78%. Bulter must keep Heyward in check throughout the game while, as always, avoiding foul trouble. Keep an eye out also for Dan Fitzgerald. All he does is shoot the 3-point shot and makes his 3′s 50 percent of the time.

The loss of Green has no effect on the Mountaineer frontcourt but Jaime Smalligan and Wellington Smith must understand that they need to lay it on the line and play solid each time they step out the court. Joe Alexander needs a huge game as well to have any chance of an upset this afternoon.  Scoring nine points and being in foul trouble against Notre Dame will not cut it.  He plays well in front of his peers and I expect a huge game and some YouTube worthy dunks from him.  I might also add that Nichols, as quiet and reserved as he is in person, needs to lead by example. Ruoff may be the vocal fiery leader on the court but it’s Nichols play at the 1 spot that will also determine the outcome of the game as well.

West Virginia should be energized from a raucous Coliseum crowd with a near sellout expected, give or take the student body who are still enjoying their Winter Break.  I smell an upset brewin’.  Let’s make D James look D Small.

LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Mountaineers!