Butler Saves West Virginia As Mountaineers Claim First Big East Title

By Justin Worsley

Two nights ago, Da'Sean Butler shot a game-winning field goal to lift #6 West Virginia over Cincinnati.

In an encore performance, Butler sank in a basket with 4.1 seconds left, breaking a 56-56 tie with #22 Georgetown to help the Mountaineers win their first Big East title.

West Virginia started off slow, unable to record a field goal until six minutes after the game began, however, they quickly recovered and led at halftime, 32-28. During the second half, West Virginia led by as many as nine points until Georgetown came back with a three-point field goal from junior guard Austin Freeman with 51.3 seconds left in the game. Freeman ended the game with 14 points.

Georgetown nearly handed the game to West Virginia. With 27.6 seconds left, guard Chris Wright gave up a costly foul on Joe Mazzula. After Mazzula sank both free throws, however, Wright atoned for his mistake, driving to the basket and forcing another tie. Wright led the Hoyas with 20 points.

West Virginia, which now has an outside shot of being one of the four top-seeded teams in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, dominated Georgetown by winning the rebound battle. The Mountaineers ended the game with more than twice as many rebounds as Georgetown, 51-25.

Another key to success for West Virginia was containing Georgetown center Greg Monroe. The sophomore was defended by Wellington Smith and was only able to muster 11 points, five less than his season average. Smith, who fouled out with 1:37 left in the game, finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

While the Mountaineers can celebrate, there is plenty to work on prior to the NCAA Tournament. West Virginia won three close games, all of them involving games where West Virginia had a large lead and allowed their opponent to come back and nearly steal the game away.

For Butler, a Newark, NJ native, winning the Big East championship in the same stadium his beloved Knicks call home in front of his family was monumental. "it means so much to me," Butler said immediately after the game in an interview with ESPN. "I told my coach I was going to make another big shot." Butler lead West Virginia with 20 points.

The NCAA will officially release the NCAA Tournament brackets tomorrow at 6 p.m. For more information, visit NCAA.com.