February 14 – Morgantown – On the surface, it is almost as if the concerns of Darian Devries concerning the defense of Virginia -Western concentrated on the poor end of the equation.
Statistics shout about a lack of offense from Mountaineers (15-9, 6-7 Big 12), which go to the Foster Pavilion in Baylor on Saturday at 2 p.m.
The leader of the WVU star, Javon Small, only tried nine shots in the last two games, while the Mountaineers have only reached 70 points twice in the space of a month.
The statistics of the WVU, but Devries can return to each pivot loss that WVU has suffered – each of them has dismissed the strong NCAA of Mountaineers tournament, and underline where the defense dropped them.
During the defeat of 73-69 on Tuesday against Byu, the cougars pulled almost 56% in the second period.
TCU drew exactly 50% in the second period in a five -point victory. The Kansas State pulled 53% in the first half and took an advance of 19-2.
The most disappointing was the Arizona State entering the Colosseum and reversing 61.5% of its attempts in the second period for a victory in what will be a major defect against the WVU record this season.
“In the matches we lost, it was our defense that dropped us,” said Devries by Zoom on Friday. “This is how we are going to win, while our defense is really solid and disciplined.”
And that’s the thing, the figures tell you that WVU’s defense was both.
Only Houston abandoned fewer points among the Big 12 teams than the Mountaineers. The Kansas is the only Big 12 team to have a better percentage of 3 -point guard than WVU.
Devries maybe she may be a bit picky?
“Each match will dictate in a way,” he replies. “I would like to say:” Hey, let’s go to 75 points in each match “, but we do not control this as much as we would like.
“For us, control must come from the defensive. The ground.”
And therefore, mountaineers will go to Baylor in the face of a multitude of challenges that will probably be summed up in the defense of WVU to decide on his fate.
To start, Baylor (15-9, 7-6) has simply owned WVU lately with a sequence of six consecutive victories which dates back to 2021.
The Bears have a choice of NBA lottery projected in the first year goalkeeper VJ Edgecombe, who experienced 10 consecutive games with at least 14 points.
“He plays great,” said Devries. “In Big 12 Play, I think it shoots about 46% out of three. When you watch the film, its speed stands out. It’s impressive. When you have a guy like that which can put it on the ground and Restling on the rim and also shooting Threes at this top of a clip is a difficult match.
Baylor also has a guard at Jeremy Roach, who started 108 games in Duke. There is another talented first year student in Robert Wright III, who leads the Bears in assists while making an average of 12.6 points per game.
There is also the Norchad Omier striker, a transfer from Miami, who was the only player in the ACC last season at better than 15 points and nine rebounds per game.
So, yes, WVU’s defense has a lot to focus in it.
“They are very talented offensively,” said Devries. “They have so many guys who can get it and they have put a lot of pressure on the edge of anywhere. They create challenges from this point of view.”
What the Bears are missing is the size, because the Josh Ojianwuna center fell with a knee injury at the end of the season on February 8, and the Baylor bench had only two depths in its 76- defeat 65 against Houston on Monday.
“The most important thing is that you let them enter the painting and now they are on the edge and take it off for three,” said Devries. “They are so gifted individually to do you by you. This is our challenge. We will have to be really connected as a team defense.”
WVU in Baylor When: 2 p.m. Saturday where: Foster Pavilion, Waco, Texas TV: ESPN2 (Comcast 28, HD 851; Directv 209; DISH 143)
Radio: 100.9 FM Web: Donionpost.com
