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Articles by Joel Norman
Norman's Notes: End in sight
The regular season is winding down and the WVU baseball team is hitting its stride. With 8 regular season games to go, WVU has won 8 of its last 12 and had won 2 consecutive series prior to this past weekend. Despite dropping 2 of 3 to Kansas, WVU is still in a strong spot kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmkDEC@?8m#F?D[ CF?D[ CF?Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmtG6? E9@F89 E96 |@F?E2:?66CD =@DE E96 D6C:6D :? {2HC6?46 E9:D H66<6?5[ E96J DE:== @FED4@C65 E96 y2J92H<D ae\a`] %96 C62D@?
Norman's Notes: In search of consistency
To call the 2018 version of the WVU baseball an above-average campaign is technically true. However, a deeper look at the team reveals many flaws. With a 22-19 record following Sunday’s 8-3 win over Texas, the Mountaineers are not on pace to qualify for consecutive NCAA Tournaments. In a season full of ups-and-downs, WVU has yet to find a consistent identity with less than a month to go in the regular season. kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm(96? y24<D@? rC2>6C[ zJ=6 s2G:D 2?5 r@=6 pFDE:?
Norman's Notes: In search of a turning point
After taking 2 of 3 from Kansas State this past weekend, the WVU baseball team has now won its 1st Big 12 series of the season. After losing each of their first 3 conference series, the Mountaineers are hoping that taking the set with the Wildcats can be a turning point. With 16 games left in the season, WVU is looking to build on its RPI of 26.
Norman's Notes: Small improvements for WVU baseball
The WVU baseball is just past the midway point of the 2018 season and with the weather warming up, fewer baseball games are being cancelled. As a result, the Mountaineers are getting busier with games and are figuring out who they are as a team. After dropping 2 of 3 to Oklahoma State, WVU is now 16-17 overall and 2-7 in Big 12 play. The Mountaineers entered the weekend with a 23 RPI, but that alone won’t get them into the NCAA Tournament for the 2nd straight year.
Norman's Notes: Troubles with starting pitching
Despite entering this past weekend with the No. 25 ranking the NCAA RPI poll, the WVU baseball team entered with an 11-14 record and had lost 6 of its last 8. They needed to start picking up victories to back up their ranking. The Mountaineers did exactly that, taking 2 of 3 from No. 29 UNLV at Monongalia County Ballpark. It wasn’t the best of weekends, but it was a necessary series victory against a legitimate opponent.
Norman's Notes: Room to improve for WVU baseball
To this point, Norman’s Notes has been all about my thoughts on and news from the WVU men’s basketball season. Moving forward, we take a different path. Now, Norman’s Notes will be a look into the WVU baseball season as well as WVU football spring practices. Most weeks will be notes on the baseball team, but this week will be more of a column.
Norman's Notes: NCAA Tournament wrap-up
NCAA Tournament losses don’t properly allow for gradual and proper goodbyes. For the WVU men’s basketball team, the 2017-18 season ended with a thud last Friday as it lost to Villanova, 90-78, in the Sweet 16. Because the Tournament offers no warning for when a teams’ season will finish, the end is brutal and sudden. There’s no easy way for fans, players and coaches to recover from it. kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmx?DE625[ E96C6’D 2 3:E @7 C64@G6CJ 2?5 C62=:K2E:@?
Norman's Notes: Toughest yet to come for WVU
For the 3rd time in 4 years, the WVU men’s basketball team has advanced to the Sweet 16 portion of the NCAA Tournament. As strong as WVU looked this past weekend in San Diego, the road of the big dance only gets rougher. kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm(96? E96 |@F?E2:?66CD 7246 ':==2?@G2 @? uC:52J ?:89E :? q@DE@?[ ('& H:== 7246 :ED E@F896DE @AA@?6?E E9:D D62D@?] k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmp7E6C 56762E:?8 `a\D665 |FCC2J $E2E6 2?5 E96? `b\D665 |2CD92== 3J 2 4@>3:?65 c_ A@:?ED @?
Norman's Notes: Capital Classic: San Diego Edition?
It would take an upset, but West Virginia residents should hope it happens. The possibility is small, but WVU and Marshall could be meeting in the Round of 32 at the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm('& 2?5 |2CD92== H:== 3@E9 A=2J `DE C@F?5 82>6D E9:D 4@>:?8 H66<6?5 :? $2? s:68@] %96 d\D665 |@F?E2:?66CD 7246 H:== 7246 `a\D665 |FCC2J $E2E6 H9:=6 E96 `b\D665 %9F?56C:?8 w6C5 >2E496D FA 282:?DE c\D665 (:49:E2 $E2E6] %96 H:??6CD @7 E9@D6 a 82>6D H:== >66E :?
Norman's Notes: Ahmad's impact
In many ways this WVU men’s basketball season can be split into 2 halves: pre-Esa Ahmad suspension and post-Esa Ahmad suspension. Before Ahmad, WVU went 15-1. With him, the Mountaineers went 7-8. Ahmad isn’t to be blamed for all of WVU’s struggles, because he joined the team early in the Big 12 portion of the schedule. Games got tougher, and WVU was going to lose them with or without Ahmad. kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm#682C5=6DD[ {2>@?E (6DE 92D?’E 366?
Norman's Notes: "Perfect senior night" for WVU
Monday night at the WVU Coliseum was an emotional evening. WVU defeated Texas Tech 84-74.
Norman's Notes: The Blame Game
When things have ended unfavorably for the WVU men’s basketball team, the fan base often resorts to the same complaint: blame the referees. WVU has committed more fouls than its opponent in 15 of 28 games, so fans are often under the impression that the officials are against the Mountaineers. kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm$2EFC52J[ E92E 2C8F>6?E 82:?65 =68:E:>2E6 >6C:E :?
Norman's Notes: Late game struggles - Hampshire Review: Sports
Saturday felt like déjà vu, without all of the offensive rebounds. Trailing by 1 with 17 seconds remaining in its game against Oklahoma State, the West Virginia men’s basketball team had plenty of time to take the lead or at the very least tie the game. kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmxE H@F=5 5@ ?6:E96C]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmq66E=6 q@=56? C646:G65 E96 :?3@F?5 A2DD 2?5 2EE6>AE65 2 b\A@:?E6C H:E9 `_ D64@?5D =67E E92E H@F=5 >:DD E96 >2C<] ~<=29@>2 $E2E6 H6?E E96 @E96C H2J 7@C 2? 62DJ a] ('& 925 =@DE :ED eE9 82>6 :?
Norman's Notes: Is Press Virginia back? - Hampshire Review: Sports
In the last 7 days, things didn’t start off very well for the West Virginia University men’s basketball team. Last Wednesday, the Mountaineers dropped their 5th game in the last 7 by falling to Iowa State, 93-77. However, WVU then won back-to-back games against Kansas State and Oklahoma to win consecutive games for the first time since their 16-game winning streak ended on Jan. 13. Perhaps the Mountaineers have shaken off some midseason doldrums.
Norman's Notes: WVU in need of improvement - Hampshire Review: Sports
This past week, the West Virginia men’s basketball team lost both of its games and fell from No. 7 to No. 15 in the AP Poll. The Mountaineers travel to Ames to face Iowa State on Wednesday and host Kansas State on Saturday. To sweep this week’s games, they’ll need to improve in several areas. Second-half woes continue kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmp 3:8 C62D@? H9J E96 |@F?E2:?66CD 92G6 =@DE c @7 E96:C A2DE d 82>6D :D 3642FD6 @7 A@@C D64@?5\92=7 D9@@E:?8] ~?
Norman's Notes: Harris needed suspended - Hampshire Review: Sports
Monday night, freshman forward Teddy Allen played for the first time since Jan. 13 against Texas Tech. In the 82-73 loss, he scored 7 points in 12 minutes. After back-to-back games of playing only 5 minutes apiece, Allen was glued to the bench for consecutive games. kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmp7E6C E96 D64@?5 82>6 @7 @?=J A=2J:?8 d >:?FE6D[ p==6?’D 9625 4@249[ q@3 wF88:?D[ H2D 2D<65 H9J E96 7C6D9>2?
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