What a run for WVU

THIS COLUMN was written before West Virginia's game againstSyracuse in the Big East championship.

It was done so for one reason.

Because it was possible.

Win, lose or blowout on Saturday night, West Virginia University'sbasketball team made its mark. Period.

It made a mark nationally, statewide and locally.

That rag-tag bunch of St. Bonaventure-transferrin', Martinsburgtattooin', too-short point guardin', German too-slow shootin' playersdid so in a big way.

Nationally, well, all you had to do for the last few days was turnon your TV, jump on the Internet or pick up the USA Today newspaper.

WVU's efforts in the Big East tournament were splashed everywhere.Shoot, ESPN's SportsCenter owes the Mountaineers royalties for theirstarring roles.

Sports Illustrated's Web site featured the smiling face of KevinPittsnogle after West Virginia's win over Boston College. CBSSportsLine.com said to "give the Mountaineers a hand for salvagingtheir rightful entry into this year's [NCAA] field. Remember, thisteam hit a huge lull after the new year. They started off 10-0 butlost seven of their next nine, taking themselves right out of theconversation. After holding on against 'Nova in the semis, they'venow claimed seven of eight and look dangerous entering the NCAAs."

The back page of Saturday's New York Daily News proclaimed,"Mountain Do!"

To heck with being an NCAA "bubble team," WVU zoomed to theforefront of the nation's sports consciousness.

Unlike in football, ESPN loves the Big East in basketball. Thesemifinals were played in prime time, 7 and 9 p.m., on Friday. And asyou watched WVU's first three games, you wondered how the team couldnot appeal to recruits.

These Mountaineers scrap. They make defenders' heads spin withtheir offense. They create turnovers with their defense. They havefun.

Exposing that nationally has been part of WVUcoach John Beilein'splan. The ability to land more athletic players to run the offenseand defense is now, all of a sudden, more within reach.

Of course, West Virginia fans around the state have been fired up.Beilein, in fact, took time after the Boston College win to make anappearance on Charleston's SportsPage of the Air radio show becausehe knew "the West Virginia fans would be excited." He wanted to pluginto that excitement, to continue to connect with the state's fans.

Locally, restaurants and bars were jammed with Mountaineer fans,cheering and groaning every step of the way.

Again, win, lose or draw late Saturday, West Virginia's basketballteam put together quite an achievement, making the Big East finals asa No. 8 seed, playing four games in four days, beating the top seedon Day Two and one of the country's hottest teams, Villanova, on DayThree.

It's exactly what this state's sports fans needed. Look around.WVU's football team underachieved this past season. And with littlemeat left on the Big East in football, one wonders how enthusedMountaineer fans can get in that sport. Will the team, even ifundefeated, ever challenge for a national title again?

Over in Huntington, Marshall's basketball team is coming off oneof its worst seasons in the school's history. The school's mostsuccessful football coach, Bob Pruett, is taking a powder.

This run by WVU's basketball team gave state fans hope that, yes,on the biggest of stages, in the biggest of apples, one of theirteams can compete.

And, most importantly, compete successfully.

To contact staff writer Mitch Vingle, send e-mail tomitchvingle@wvgazette.com or call 348-4827.