Courtesy_Flush & Ionfident
Plenty has changed since that game on Jan 9.
I've played all 25 WV games to date and I'm 20-5 on the sides with several of those being 4* and 5* plays. I think all the rest were 3* plays. I didn't keep track of all my Under plays but I hit a bunch of those too, especially in their pre- Conference slate. I knew they didn't have the personnel to be "Press Virginia" and were going to struggle to score points so I played against them and Under against over inflated lines in every game. I will add that WV played a very weak early schedule.(SOS 300+ at the time) Their prices and totals were high because of their reputation. They were laying big spreads and totals were in the 160's. The BM didn't adjust because the "public" kept playing them like they were at the same level of previous editions when in reality they weren't even close to being the same team they had been. The loss of Jevon Carter ( now with the Memphis Grizzlies) and Daxter Miles (playing overseas) at the guard positions was huge, magnified by the fact there were no capable replacements with enough athleticism to allow WV to play at their preferred frenetic uptempo pace, particuarly in regards to a full court non-stop pressure defense all over the floor. They no longer force 20 turnovers a game, or more, which turned into easy transition buckets.
Enough on that, I'll answer your question.
The KSt game was the first game I played on WV taking the +4.5. I did that because it was a definite that Dean Wade was not going to play due to his injured foot. I also thought Barry Brown wasn't going to play due to injury as well. Turned out Brown did eventually play even though still injured. These two guys are Weber's best players without question. Without Wade KSt is a sub .500 team. Look at their record while he was out. When he returned is when they went on their winning streak and began playing on the high level they presently maintain.
WV had a 20-3 lead with 9 minutes to go in the 1st half. It ended up 36-21 at the break. WV built the lead to 21 points with about 16 minutes to go. Brown led KSt on a furious comeback. The Cats took their 1st lead with 2:30 left. The game seesawed back and forth a few times until Brown scored on a layup with 29 seconds to go. WV held the ball for the last shot and Derek Culver missed a short jumper with :05 to go. Lamonte West fouled with :03 left. Green made the first putting KSt up 71-69, missed the second one. WV's desperation heave was to no avail.
Did you read my writeup for last Saturdays game? Huggins dismissed Sr F 6'8" Esa Ahmad and Jr F 6'8" Wesley Harris from the team last week due to "violations of athletic department policy". Ahmad had played in 112 games and started 102 of those. He averaged almost 13 ppg and 6 rpg this season. Harris was considered WV's best perimeter defender and averaged 8 ppg and 5 rpg. He started in 57 games.
In addition, Sags Konate remains out for WV. He is the schools all time shot blocker, a menacing goal defender who cleaned up a lot of defensive breakdowns by changing players minds and shots close to the bucket. Beetle Bolden, WV's best guard and shooter,remains injured as well, I seriously doubt if he plays tomorrow. Sags and Beetle were both averaging double figures.
This leaves WV without a combined 334 games worth of experience.
Huggins has 9 healthy scholarship players left. They average a combined 26 points per game with a combined 82 starts.
So, that is why the # has changed significantly from their first game this year.
KSt has Wade and Brown back and healthy and both playing well.
WV is without Ahmad, Harris, Konate, and Bolden.
I will also note that the BM has caught up to WV and has adjusted their prices now that the betting public has finally caught on to WVs current reality and level of play.
Feel free to ask any questions. I will answer them if I have the time. Also feel free to comment pro or con on any play or insights I make. That's what this forum is supposed to be about.
If you can't close you can't cover.