Marquette News, Ray Mernagh, West Virginia News

ANATOMY OF A GUT PUNCH LOSS

by RAY MERNAGH

Great game plan — Check.

Players physically and mentally capable of executing said plan while in hostile arena — Check.

Icing the game at the free throw line — EEEHNT!

Marquette executed their butts off last night for about 39 minutes or so, then they missed critical free throws down the stretch that allowed a Devin Ebanks rumble through traffic dunk and a Da’Sean Butler game-winner. It all resulted in a backbreaking one-point loss to West Virginia. Even Bob Huggins said he “almost” felt bad for Buzz Williams and his kids, admitting afterward that his team has no chance to win if Marquette hits their late free throws.

The good news for Marquette: If they stay healthy and continue to execute they have a chance to finish in the upper-tier of the Big East.

The bad news: They let a golden opportunity slip right off their finger tips.

Now comes the true test for a group of Golden Eagles that attack the rim off the bounce with a ferocity suited for Rucker Park. Darius Johnson-Odom and Dwight Buycks are fearless. Mo Acker, at 5-6, came up with an offensive rebound because he just wanted it more than anyone else and Lazar Hayward is going to have a huge season. But, can they put this behind them and get on with trudging through the tricky maze that is the Big East or will the loss stay with them, lingering like a bad cold? I thought Ebanks hitting the 45-footer at the halftime buzzer was huge. But not as huge, obviously, as those free throws. Hayward said all the right things afterward about his teammates that missed, but you have to think he wanted to be on that line himself.

We’ve already had some great games to start the Big East season.

Not sure any will top the one played in West Virginia last night though.

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