Some things were different than they have been recently for the Wstr Virignia Mountaineers on Tuesday night, as they travelled to Oklahoma State for a late-season Big 12 showdown between NCAA Tournament bubble teams. But in the end, the results were ultimately the same.
For example, WVU shot the ball from three-point range a lot better than they have in recent outings. They knocked down 12 three-pointers and finished with a 38% shooting percentage from behind-the-arc against the Cowboys, which was the first time in five games they'd made it over 30% from deep range.
They also didn't start quite as slow off the jump as they had in recent games, matching Arizona State offensively early – holding a 22-20 lead with 9:31 to play in the opening half, and trailing by just two points with just 5:00 minutes to play before halftime.
But ultimately, the Mountaineers still saw a first half cold streak send them into halftime trailing by double-digits without a hint of momentum, as it has multiple times over the past month – as they were outscored 13-2 to close the first half and trailed 46-33 at the break.
And ultimately, that improved three-point shooting wasn't enough when they allowed the Cowboys to convert 43% of their three-pointers as they knocked down 10 shots from behind-the-arc, and let Oklahoma State shoot 49% from the field for the game.
Once again, the Mountaineers shot less free throws (12) than Oklahoma State made (19), marking the second straight contest that has occurred for West Virginia. And in the end, it was all a bit too much for the Mountaineers to pull off another double-digit comeback as they were defeated 91-84 in an overtime thriller.
Ross Hodge must find a fix for the West Virginia Mountaineers amid losing skid
The loss worsens the team's current losing streak to three games, and despite WVU showing small improvements in certain facets of the game and demonstrating an incredibly gutsy effort, the Mountaineers continue to struggle to find solutions for struggles that have haunted them throughout the season, and only seem to be weighing heavier as Big 12 play wears on.
It's still too early to say if head coach Ross Hodge is or isn't the right guy for the job, and while a miracle 3-0 run to close the season plus a couple big wins in the conference tournament could still produce an NCAA Tournament bid. But each loss brings WVU's precarious grasp on the March Madness bubble closer to a permanent end.
But at the same time, the lack of solutions to these problems is increasingly worrisome, and a big to the College Basketball Crown or the NIT are still in play, with the latter featuring a potential NIL payday. And if Hodge can't find answers to these issues soon, those remaining postseason opportunities won't mean much, because WVU will struggle to compete – and it will only raise concerns ahead of his second season with the Mountaineers next year.