In a matter of seconds, Oklahoma had a win taken away from it. Buddy Hield took the brunt of the defeat.
Hield heaved a half court shot over the top of a pair of West Virginia defenders. The ball bounced off the backboard and bounded through the hoop.
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Then, Hield rushed into the stands.
He did what any basketball star in the hear of a big moment would do. He celebrated by high-fiving fans and pounding his chest.
But it was all for naught.
Hield has his three points taken away from him and his team lost the game.
Then, he did what most other players wouldn’t do. He was modest and accepting.
According to Austin Maynard, a WVU graduate and current employee of the Oklahoma athletic department posted an exclusive message to Facebook following the game in Kansas City.
"“Something you won’t read about tomorrow: Buddy Hield was the last Oklahoma player to leave the arena tonight (bc he always accommodates every interview and picture request he possibly can). As I walked with him through the tunnel towards the team bus, we noticed Mountaineers Jaysean and Elijah further up ahead of us heading towards their own bus. Buddy quickly jogged ahead in his flip-flops to catch up to them, yelling “yo you better beat them boys tomorrow!” They each turned around and looked up just in time for Buddy to grab them both by a shoulder and congratulate them on such a hard fought game, and wish them luck in tomorrow’s championship – all with that widening Bahamian smile, and after the most emotional roller coaster of a 1.8 second finish. That’s a Naismith POY moment that doesn’t get reported.”"
This is a guy who just had the joy of victory snatched away from him. He was frustrated all night long by the stingy West Virginia defense and only scored six points.
It was almost poetic justice that Hield made that last-second shot. He was just 1 of 8 from the field and 1 of 6 from 3-point range on the night. To see him make that important shot was about fitting for a player of his caliber.
But it was more appropriate that the Mountaineers stopped Hield. Their “Press Virginia” mantra came alive on Friday night and one last stop played right into WVU’s hands yet again.
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“It was tough. They guarded him good,” OU’s Ryan Spangler said. “When that happens, the other four guys on the court have to figure out a way to get the ball in the hoop.”
West Virginia’s defense has gotten the Mountaineers this far. It will carry them further in the NCAA Tournament, too.