BUCKHANNON – Well, the Neal Brown era at WVU finally ended this past Sunday after an embarrassing loss to Texas Tech.
I’m not sure history will look fondly on his tenure in Morgantown. By all accounts, Brown is considered to be a nice guy, but just couldn’t win enough, or ever win big here to satisfy Mountaineer fans.
Brown says he wants to coach next season, and there seems to be interest from non Power 4 teams. I really do hope he lands on his feet and does well at his next job.
As far as the fallout of his departure, Josiah Trotter, the first ever Mountaineer to be named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, decided to enter the transfer portal. He of course can return to WVU once a new coach is chosen, but just know he will be just the first of many looking to leave the program with the coaching change.
As far as to whom WVU hires, it seems like there is a new rumor every hour of who it will be. Jimbo Fisher doesn’t seem to be in the running. Rich Rodriguez would splinter the fanbase anymore. I don’t expect a splashy hire. Look for another P4 assistant coach to take the job. That won’t make the fanbase happy, but like I always say, WVU will always WVU it.
Now, onto the important stuff, the My Buckhannon standings which look like this.
Name Week Overall
Duane 7-0 81-17
Brian 5-2 76-22
Katie 3-4 63-35
Monica 3-4 61-37
I was on fire last week with a perfect 7-0 record while Brian went 5-2 with Katie and Monica both going 3-4. I now have a five-game lead over Brian heading into our final week next week.
We had three readers post 6-1 records – Bobbie Hatcher, Mike Hinkle and Dave Marple, but it was Dave Marple that won our tiebreaker with 65 points in the WVU-Texas Tech game which the total was 67 points. Congrats to Dave on winning our $20 gift certificate to Sam’s Pizza.
Now onto our games.
Bridgeport (12-0) at Fairmont Senior (11-1)
The rematch that everyone wanted, but some of us were hoping to see it next week in the championship game. Bridgeport pretty much handled Fairmont Senior with ease the first time around. I don’t see much changing this week. Bridgeport might be the best team in the state in any class.
Duane: Bridgeport; Brian: Bridgeport; Katie: Bridgeport; Monica: Bridgeport
Herbert Hoover (12-0) at Princeton (12-0)
The other Class AAA semifinal with two very good teams in it. Just a note about Princeton, they were 3-26 from 2017 through 2019. For Buckhannon-Upshur, proof that it is possible to turn it around. Basically, the winner of this one will be the sacrificial lamb for Bridgeport next week.
Duane: Princeton; Brian: Princeton; Katie: Princeton; Monica: Princeton
Iowa State (10-2) vs. Arizona State (10-2)
The Big 12 Championship game and props to you if you had these two teams in it back in late August. Arizona State was picked dead last of the 16 teams in the Big 12 preseason poll but yet here they are. What an amazing season for the Sun Devils. Iowa State was predicted for sixth, which goes to what I have always said, other than being maybe some bulletin board material for coaches, preseason polls are pretty much worthless.
Duane: Arizona State; Brian: Iowa State; Katie: Arizona State; Monica: Iowa State
The Final Four:
Huntington (11-1) at Martinsburg (11-1)
Duane: Martinsburg; Brian: Martinsburg; Katie: Huntington; Monica: Huntington
Hurricane (9-3) at Spring Mills (11-1)
Duane: Spring Mills; Brian: Spring Mills; Katie: Hurricane; Monica: Hurricane
Penn State (11-1) vs. Oregon (12-0)
Duane: Oregon; Brian: Oregon; Katie: Oregon; Monica: Oregon
Georgia (10-2) vs. Texas (11-1)
Duane: Texas; Brian: Texas; Katie: Georgia; Monica: Texas
