Da’Sean Butler spurned both Rutgers and Seton Hall four years ago coming out of Bloomfield (N.J.) Tech High School because coaching changes at the two New Jersey schools made his recruiting status there uncertain.
On Saturday he returned to his hometown of Newark, N.J. and helped No. 6 West Virginia down Seton Hall 90-84 in overtime at the Prudential Center in the first Big East game of what should be a competitive and exciting season.
“My mom and dad were there,” Butler, who scored six of his 21 points in the extra period and added 6 rebounds on the game, said by phone. “It was good to see everybody. I only had 10 tickets but I easily had 30 people there to see me.”
The game was nationally televised on CBS and gave the rest of the country a chance to see just how tough undefeated West Virginia (10-0, 1-0 Big East) could be this season.
“It’s a very big win,” the 6-foot-7,-230-pound Butler said. “It’s our first conference win. It’s very important for the school. It’s gives the school prestige and recognition.”
With local products Butler, Devin Ebanks, Wellington Smith and Kevin Jones (19 points, 14 rebounds) leading the way for Bob Huggins’ club, many observers feel the Mountaineers have the talent to make a Final Four run.
“We have a very talented team and a lot of depth,” Butler said. “Hopefully everybody sees that we have talent and depth.”
Seton Hall (10-2, 0-1) outscored West Virginia 12-2 in the last 49 seconds and Jeremy Hazell hit a huge 3-pointer from 40 feet with 8 seconds left to tie the game. Devin Ebanks missed a 3-pointer for West Virginia on the other end and the game went to OT. Hazell finished with a career-high 41 points on 14-for-33 shooting.
“When he starts making jump shots from as deep as he was making them, it opens your game a lot,” Butler said of Hazell. “He’s very versatile. He did a lot as far as taking the ball to the basket.”
Even though the rest of the Seton Hall players struggled to score down the stretch and combined for just 43 points on 17-for-49 shooting, Butler thinks highly of Seton Hall going forward.
“They’re a very good team. They’ll finish top five [in the Big East]. They have very good players, Hazell and [Herb] Pope,” Butler said.
Still, it was Butler and Ebanks, who finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds, who won the game down the stretch.
During regulation, Butler made perhaps the play of the game when he cut through the paint from right to left, ducked under the 6-8 Pope and spun the ball backwards off the glass for a kiss layup.
“I went for the drive and I saw a big guy. I went right by him and he went to block it,” Butler said. “I threw it under his arm and tried to put it on the glass and somehow it went right into the basket.”
During the OT, West Virginia outscored Seton Hall 13-7, with Butler and Ebanks making 5 of 6 free throws and Jones draining a 3-pointer in the final 1:55.
Butler should be among the players in the mix for Big East Player of the Year this season, along with Luke Harangody of Notre Dame, Wesley Johnson of Syracuse and Scottie Reynolds of Villanova.
He likes the sound of that but mostly wants his team to excel in the Big East and advance deep into March Madness.
“I wouldn’t mind getting some of those awards,” he said, “but I’m just trying to help my team win.”
(Photo courtesy West Virginia Athletics)
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