Senior Night at the WVU Coliseum

I began my life as a Mountaineer in fall of 2003. Deciding to go 6 hours away from New York, to West Virginia University, was an easy decision for me, as crazy as it may seem. Little do people know there is a very large number of students from NY and NJ on the WVU campus, including the starting 5 of the WVU Men's Basketball team.

On BIG MONDAY yesterday, WVU (#10 on the AP Top 25 and #8 on the ESPN/USA Today Poll) took on Georgetown (#19 on the AP Top 25 and #10 on the ESPN/USA Today Poll) in their last game in the WVU Coliseum of this 2009-2010 season. For three players this would be the last game they played in front of their amazing Mountaineer fans, in the Coliseum.

"Senior Night" brought tears to Coach Bob Huggins and the three player, Da'Sean Butler, Wellington Smith and Cam Payne.

I was fine while watching the game!! Don't get me wrong, it was sad watching the boys play their last home game but they were playing so hard, I was so hype! I lost it when Da'Sean Butler began to cry as he walked off the court with 30 seconds remaining in the game.

A native of Newark, New Jersey, Butler came to WVU in 2006 and has been an amazing Mountaineer, on and off the court, ever since!

His Freshman year he was named to the Big East All-Rookie team, averaged 10.1 pts per game with a 21 pt season high against Seton Hall. He was also named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll and named Big East Rookie of the Week.

Sophomore year he STARTED all 37 games with 12.9 pts per game (3rd on the team) and 6.2 boards per game (making him 2nd on the team in rebounds). 86 offensive rebounds and 64 assists and had 26 games in the double digits for the season.

Last year, his Junior year, he was named second team all-Big East, chosen by his teammates as Team MVP. He led the Mountaineers in scoring with 17.1 per game and had 43 pts against Villanova, the most points by a Big East player in a league game since 2003. 60 assists and 45 steals. 30 double digit games with 12 games of 20 pts or more.

Last night against Georgetown, he played for 34 minutes and had 22 pts, 6 rebounds and 6 assists!

Here is a link to a post game video of Butler talking to the press, no longer holding back his tears! http://www.wvmetronews.com/mediaplayer.cfm?storyid=35531&type=vid

Fellow Senior, Wellington Smith, had a rough night but I think it was due to the immense emotion in the Coliseum last night!

#35, Wells, also came to WVU in 2006, by way of Summit, New Jersey.

His Freshman year he played in 30 games with a season high of 12pts. In the Big East opening round, he scored 10 pts in 10 minutes.

Sophomore year, Wells played in 37 games and had his first career starts in the NCAA Tournament against Duke and Xavier. Shot 42.2% from the floor, had 140 rebounds and 27 steals.

As a Junior he STARTED all 35 games. 70 offensive rebounds, 46 assists, 53 blocks and 20 steals and had five games with double digit scoring.

Last night wasn't his best of the season as he fouled out with 1:56 left in the game. Wells had 5 pts and 2 rebounds in 19 minutes of play. Like I said, I think the night just got to him!!

Last and certainly not least, Charleston, WV native, Cam Payne.

Cam had a short lived career at WVU but he got to be part of the team and play for Coach Huggins. He came to WVU in 2007 and was redshirted.

Last season he played in 11 games for a total of 26 minutes.

Last night he had his 'Rudy' moment on senior night! With under a minute left in the game, you could hear the crowd chant his name and "We want Cam!" It wasn't until there were 45 seconds left in the game that Huggins gave in a put Cam in the game. The Director was ready with a shot of his parents who were in tears as their son played for his last time as a Mountaineer.

I, along with other fans, believe Hugs could have put him in during the first half when we were up by more that 20 pts. I will admit tho, I LOVED the 'Rudy' moment and wish I was in Morgantown for it!

This link will take you to a story done by WVU TVJ Student Chip Fontanazza did on Senior Night at the WVU Coliseum! http://www.wvmetronews.com/mediaplayer.cfm?storyid=35538&type=vid

For more videos and highlights click the links! http://www.msnsportsnet.com/teams.cfm?sport=mbball ( Game Highlights--video links on the right side of website!) & http://www.wvmetronews.com/wvu.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=35530 (Team and Coach's pre and post game interviews--Video links on the left side of the website!)

All in all, a great season at home for the boys!!! IT'S NOT OVER YET!!!! Nova on Saturday then BET and NCAA!!!! Let the March Madness begin!!!

Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer!!!

LET'S GO MOUNTAINEERS!!!