West Virginia will enter today's game against Notre Dame as the favorite. It is highly likely that West Virginia will be in the NCAA tournament regardless of the outcome of tonight's game. However, it is important for seeding. A loss tonight may put West Virginia in the 8 or 9 slot where they could find themselves matched up with a No. 1 powerhouse in the second round. Notre Dame is certainly dangerous. Harangody is an excellent player and the Irish can score. In Morgantown, West Virginia outworked the Irish on the boards (40-28) and exposed their suspect defense. The Irish did do some damage from three point range and starting with that game the Mountaineers have given up 43-107 (40%) shooting from long range. That statistic is troublesome going into a game against an underdog who has the ability to light up some threes.
WVU does have several things on its side. First, the Irish poor defense should allow Rouff to feel confident and have a big game as he did the first time around (24 points, 4-8 from three). Secondly, during the entire Big East season West Virginia won only one game (1-7) against teams that finished ahead of them in the standings (Villanova) and lost just one game (9-1) against teams that finished below them in the standings (Cincinnati, an emotional game on which WVU should perhaps receive a pass). Simply put, West Virginia has been extremely predictable. They win the games they should win and lose the games they should lose. West Virginia should win this game. I think they will.
Let's go 'eers!!!!!!!!!
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