Welcome to òòò½ÊÓƵœSecond Guessòòò½ÊÓƵ Tuesday.
Here are the still snowy opinions of the day.
- Something was missing.
A person almost could feel it in the air around the West Virginia University Coliseum. There was long-time Kansas University head coach Bill Self, but where was his cohort, his buddy, his long-time friend that he loved to defeat?
Where was Bob Huggins?
After the incidents of last summer, Huggins isnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t around the Coliseum much anymore. And Self, for one, feels sad about that.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI really want him to be remembered and thought of in a way that heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s provided a great legacy to our profession,òòò½ÊÓƵ said Self. òòò½ÊÓƵœI wish the best for him, but thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s not saying I wish it at the expense of anybody else.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Well said.
The crux of the matter, however, is this was a landmark occasion. For the first time since WVU became a member of the Big 12, Self wasnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t coaching against Huggins and the Mountaineers.
Instead, his coaching opponent was WVU interim head coach Josh Eilert.
Talk about passing the torch.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI think Josh has done a good job in a hard situation òòò½ÊÓƵ” thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s not easy,òòò½ÊÓƵ said Self. òòò½ÊÓƵœThen, you throw off that they havenòòò½ÊÓƵ™t had two or three starters for the entire season. I mean thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a hard deal.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIt will be different, continued Self, òòò½ÊÓƵœbut itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s not going to be something that I think about a lot.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Once a competitor, always a competitor.
But Self couldnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t stop from throwing a good-natured jibe Hugginsòòò½ÊÓƵ™ way.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI guarantee,òòò½ÊÓƵ said Self with a grin, òòò½ÊÓƵœthat Josh (Eilert) will be better dressed.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Well, as it turned out, it was a win-win situation for Eilert. Besides òòò½ÊÓƵœeveryone being crazy for a sharp-dressed man,òòò½ÊÓƵ Eilert also got a stunning 91-85 victory over No. 3 ranked Kansas.
Congratulations, Josh.
- Is it time for the Thundering Herd to make some adjustments?
Yes, indeed.
After three consecutive losses to South Alabama, Old Dominion and James Madison, the Marshall is in dire need of a win.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe have to get Nate (Martin) back where heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s rugged coming off of posts in the middle and coming off the pick-and-rolls,òòò½ÊÓƵ said MU head coach Danny Dòòò½ÊÓƵ™Antoni. òòò½ÊÓƵœSo, hopefully, theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll improve. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve got faith in them. Theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re good young men. Sometimes you get a little too big for yourself and you play differently.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Part of the problem has been isolations.
òòò½ÊÓƵœToo many isoòòò½ÊÓƵ™s that game, not enough Marshall,òòò½ÊÓƵ said Dòòò½ÊÓƵ™Antoni. òòò½ÊÓƵœI want to see us get back to who we are. If we do that, weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll be fine. We keep thinking weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to make plays and I donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t think weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re disciplined enough to stay in our stuff. I donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t think it is a chemistry issue.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIt starts with the individual allowing himself to play with the team, instead of what he sees. I think it is a state of mind that each person has. And weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to try to change it.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI think it is all connected. When you donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t come in with the right frame of mind, your offense is not good, your defense is not good, rebounding, loose balls. ... they got everything. Thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s the frame of mind weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve got to change.òòò½ÊÓƵ
It needs to change before MU plays host to Georgia State at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Henderson Center.