West Virginia was just minutes off the program’s first Big East Conference Championship.
It had just celebrated in the middle of the world’s most famous arena where the team cried celebratory tears for being the best of the nation’s top conference.
Immediately after that unforgettable moment, however, a message was written on a whiteboard inside the Mountaineers’ locker room at Madison Square Garden. "6 more, 240 minutes."
It was in reference to the Mountaineers NCAA Tournament – six more games, 240 more minutes. It was simple, yet easier said than done.
Still, not even one hour after Da’Sean Butler’s shot miraculously found its way through the basket, the preparation had begun.
WVU wasn’t taking any chances, especially after its upset loss to Dayton in the first round last season. This year, the team said it will take each contest one game at a time.
"Last year, everybody was in a hurry to talk about us playing Kansas," Butler said. "We never really focused on beating Dayton."
Wellington Smith said it best Sunday when he said the only team that can beat the Mountaineers is themselves.
Such a bold yet true statement by the senior, as when it comes to talent, heart and work ethic, West Virginia has proven it has all the necessary requirements to be a Final Four team.
It’s the mental part, however, that the Mountaineers don’t want to get the best of them.
Distractions are aplenty now, especially after winning the Big East. The Mountaineers came back to Morgantown and received a welcoming reception and pep rally twice, in both Bridgeport, W.Va., when they step foot off their plane and at the WVU Coliseum.
They’re looked upon as heroes throughout the state of West Virginia even more than before and are now receiving all the national attention they feel they deserved all along.
Disappointment came Sunday when the team was selected as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The team believed they deserved to be a top seed. Despite the displeasure in its placement, the team can’t dwell on where it’s placed and let that frustration carry over into the matchup against Morgan State Friday.
As point guard Truck Bryant said, it’s still going to take six games to get to the championship.
"We have to refocus ourselves and direct all of our attention to that first game," Bryant said. "Everyone has to help keep everyone on the same page, and we have to help keep each other focused. It’s one and done now, and we all know what’s at stake."
Staying focused, even more so than preparation, is likely the hardest part of postseason play. After 30-plus games, players are mentally exhausted. The distractions that come with winning a conference championship only make preparation for the NCAA Tournament harder.
"We have six more games," Smith said. "The win stays in New York, and we have to forget about everything else, because we still have a lot more to do."
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