The Butler Does it Again

WVU senior Da’Sean Butler likely added his name to the short list of Big East Player of the Year candidates with Saturday’s performance.

Butler scored 33 points, connected on all seven 3-point attempts and all eight free throws, and collected six rebounds and four assists to lead the Mountaineers to a 79-60 come-from-behind victory over the Red Storm.

It was one of the best individual performances this season and in school history, as Butler turned a potential upset into a comfortable win for WVU.

The Mountaineers trailed 45-32 and closed the game on a 47-15 run from there. Wellington Smith got the charge started with a pair of 3-pointers sandwiched between a putback basket.

Butler then got going and it was all WVU from there. Point guard Joe Mazzulla was vital in the comeback and changed the game in his 16 second half minutes. Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones were solid as usual, finishing with a combined 25 points and 17 rebounds.

Butler, Smith, Ebanks and Jones combined for 68 of the Mountaineers’ points.

Justin Burrell and Paris Horne led S.t John’s with 12 points apiece.

WVU improves to 8-2 in Big East play with the win. The Mountaineers will be hosting a conference showdown against Villanova on ESPN’s Big Monday. All of a sudden, it appears WVU may enter the higher-ranked team after the Wildcats fell at Georgetown.