All season long West Virginia has been hurt by its inconsistency on offense. The Mountaineers have been a solid defensive team and have rebounded well, both trademarks of a Bob Huggins-coached team, but they have not been able to string two solid offensive halves together.

That proved to be their downfall in the Big East Tournament, losing to Marquette, 67-61.

West Virginia was spectacular in the first half, shooting 58.3 percent and hitting 7 of 11 3-point attempts. But in the second half they made only six total field goals while shooting 22.2 percent.

Kevin Jones, who had dominated in the first half, shot the ball 3 times in the second half. Some of it was due to the defense of Marquette's Jimmy Butler but more because they did not run the offense effectively.

Jones has been the best scorer over the past three games coming in, putting together three straight double-doubles and closing out the regular season with a season-high 25 points and seemed to be heading in that same direction as he went 5 for 6 shooting with 3 for 3 from 3-point land while scoring 13 points.

He did not score a field goal and only two free throws in the second half.

POSTSEASON OUTLOOK

With a 67-61 loss to Marquette in the Big East tournament, West Virginia went from defending Big East champion to former champion. It appears that the Mountaineers will wind up with a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They had hoped with a run in the Big East Tournament to rise as high as No. 4 seed.

While there are a number of venues close by in Cleveland, Charlotte and Washington, D.C., the consensus seems to be that they will head West, possibly to Denver or Los Angeles.

To advance in the NCAA Tournament, WVU will have to find a way to score some points. It has lived all season off its defense and that won't get it when you get against a team that can get to 65 or more points.

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