WVU’s Routt Forced To Sit for First Half
Cameron native was ejected during loss Monday in Motown against Texas Tech
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia junior forward Logan Routt's unintentional trip of a Texas Tech player during Monday's blowout loss in Lubeck had intentional results as the Cameron native was assessed a flagrant two foul and ejected from the ballgame.
And, as if that were not bad enough, on Monday WVU Director of Athletics Shane Lyons announced that Routt would be suspended for the first half of today's noon tipoff against Texas -- a punishment that was accepted by the Big 12 Conference.
"I did not," assistant coach Ron Everhart, who was sitting in for head coach Bob Huggins during Thursday's Big 12 Teleconference, said when asked if he had talked to the Mountaineers' big man. "I'm sure coach (Bob) Huggins did.
"I'm sure it was a frustration thing. Logan (Routt) is a really good kid. Those of us who are around him every day know that."
Everhart also understands the Mountaineers must have short memories if they are to be fully focused for a Longhorns squad that eked out a 61-54 victory over WVU in Austin on Jan. 5.
"I think we will bounce back pretty well," Everhart said. "Texas Tech shot the ball really, really well. I think coming into the game they were last in the Big 12 in 3-point shooting efficiency and they ended up hitting everything they threw at the basket."
Texas was the beneficiary of such a shot in its win over the Mountaineers when Matt Coleman III's clutch 3 with 1:03 remaining sealed WVU's fate.
Coleman tied West Virginia's Derek Culver for game-high scoring honors with 17 points and was joined in double figures by teammates Dylan Osetkowski (14 points) and Elijah Mitrou-Long's 10 points.
WVU also had a trio of double-digit performers as junior guard James 'Beetle' Bolden and senior Esa Ahmad finished with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Fans won't know until tipoff if West Virginia (10-13 overall, 2-8 Big 12) will have the services of Bolden, who suffered a high-ankle sprain in a loss to No. 1 Tennessee in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, and redshirt junior Sagaba Konate's status remains a mystery as he continues to rehab from a knee injury.
"Without a doubt their guards are the key," Everhart said. "Osetkowski hurt us, but ultimately it's the guards that are getting him the ball."
Texas coach Shaka Smart is more than likely to go with the same starting five he played when WVU visited the Erwin Center in early January -- Coleman, Mitrou-Long and Kerwin Roach II at the guards with Osetkowski and Jaxson Hayes at the forwards.
WVU's starting five, which has changed 14 times during the course of the season, should have freshman Jordan McCabe and junior transfer Jermaine Haley at the guards with Ahmad, Culver and junior Wesley Harris inside.
The same group that has started the last two games for the Mountaineers.