FanNation - The Republic of Sport

     Missed free throws. Turnovers. Blown defense.

     Few, if any, of basketball's little bugaboos were in evidence while West Virginia was rallying from an 18-point first-half deficit against Xavier and taking a six-point lead in overtime.

     The Musketeers, it must be noted, did a lot to pull out this game. B.J. Raymond ripped a pair of three-pointers in the final minute, and Jason Duncan's 26 points kept the X-men alive when it looked like they were about to blow it. But as much celebrating as is going on in Cincinnati, there will be even more headshaking in Morgantown about the big one that got away:

      * Free throws: Joe Alexander failed to complete the old-school three-point play that could've put WVU ahead with 14 seconds left in regulation. Wellington Smith bricked two in OT while the 'Neers were up four. Even Round 2 hero Joe Mazzulla missed a couple. That's 2-for-7 at the line in the final 5:15 - not fundamental, and not conducive to winning a close one.

      * One ill-timed turnover. After WV went more than 24 minutes without a turnover, Smith gacked a pass that led to Xavier's go-ahead basket.

      * Finally, the play that will haunt Bob Huggins until he can roll out another practice Oct. 15. With 31 seconds left in OT and just two on the shot clock, a ghastly defensive mixup left Raymond all alone to drill the trey that made it a two-score game and essentially clinched the Elite Eight invite.

      A few other thoughts about tonight's action:

      * Well, Wazzu managed to force its pace on North Carolina, Too bad the Cougars shot like a bunch of rich fortysomething women in high heels.

      * I usually remain committed to my pretournament picks, but man, are the Tar Heels making me reconsider my championship game. A second-half lapse like UCLA had will be punished swiftly and decisively.

      * I hang on with the Bruins, though, because they can play different styles. They managed to hang on even when the Hilltoppers turned the second half into a track meet and Darren Collison fouled out with more than five minutes to go.

      * The explosive quality that carried Tennessee to Number 1 in February fizzled, be it from Chris Lofton's bum wheel or Louisville pounding the Vols inside. Terrence Williams behind the back to David Padgett for the dunk...when CBS producer Joe Zappulla (who lived down the hall from me my sophomore year at Boston University's imfamous Warren Towers) puts together the "One Shining Moment" montage for the final exclamation point on this year's tournament, he's gotta include that play. Zappa, if you're reading this, I prefer the Teddy Pendergrass version to the Luther Vandross.

      * Just when I was about to hand Stephen Curry the Petey Sessoms Award before Davidson takes the court tomorrow night...Tyrone Brazelton had to go and explode in the second half for 25 points (31 for the game) to lead WKU's furious rally. The Petey's up for grabs, Steve - it'll take 40 minutes of intense ballin' to nail down the hardware.