 "Photo: Leann Arthur/DA")
NEW YORK – West Virginia has a championship state of mind right now. The Mountaineers are on the verge of winning their first Big East Conference title after a 53-51 victory over Notre Dame Friday in the semifinals.
All that stands in the way of the Mountaineers holding up that giant golden basketball trophy Saturday night is Georgetown.
Few Big Apple media members understand what a win against Georgetown would do for the Mountaineer program, though.
It would light the town on fire. It would boost the University's prestige. It would catapult WVU's basketball program to a national level for truly the first time.
According to senior Da'Sean Butler, a win in the finals could begin the start of a West Virginia dynasty.
"It could be a turning point in the program and for the state in general," he said. "It kind of gives hope for teams next year and the year after that and the year after.
"Instead of being that team that's just left in the dark and never gets a Big East Championship."
But before all the dynasty talk can really take place, the Mountaineers need to win their first Big East title and get off the doormat of the Big East in basketball.
At least now, like only once before, it's actually in reach.
But the Mountaineers still have a tough test against Georgetown. You know, those lowly, eighth-seeded Hoyas who defeated South Florida, Syracuse and Marquette over the last two days on their way to their 13th Big East finals appearance in school history?
Yea, they're pretty good. Actually, they're really good and look unbeatable over certain stretches, specifically in their last two games.
Despite ending the season with four losses in six games, Georgetown has really started to heat up in the conference tournament.
The Hoyas ripped apart a Marquette team in the second half in a 80-57 semifinal win Friday before the WVU/Notre Dame game.
It was a complete domination.
The Hoyas are capable of dominating WVU. They have the ability to make runs, something the Mountaineers would like to stay away from if they are to pull out a win Saturday.
Georgetown has one of the conference's best post players, first-team all-Big East member Greg Monroe, who will likely give the Mountaineers trouble.
He scored 22 points and nine rebounds in the first meeting, basically dominating West Virginia like few players have had the chance to do.
"Monroe is terrific," said WVU head coach Bob Huggins. "He's the best skilled big man in the country. He passes the ball, he finds open people, he lays it down, he can score in the post.
"Quite frankly, people with size in the post bother us. We're not that big."
In the first meeting between the two schools – a 81-68 victory in Morgantown on March 1, Monroe dominated WVU with 22 points.
In that game, Georgetown's leading scorer Austin Freeman didn't play. But Saturday he will be back and ready for a shot at redemption at WVU.
Freeman, Monroe and teammate Chris Wright all said they head into this game with extra motivation, because of the loss.
Like in many of WVU's games this season, it will come down to how well the Mountaineers are able to play defense against the Georgetown size and Princeton offense.
If someone outside of Butler isn't able to score consistently from outside, though, WVU could be in trouble.
Alas, even when it looks like the Mountaineers don't have a shot, they do.
For that reason, they'll win the title.
anthony.dobies@mail.wvu.edu
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