West Virginia seemed to have seized control of Monday night’s game.
Erik Stevenson just hit his third three-pointer and second in as many possessions. The Mountaineers took their first lead with 7:20 to play in the second half, but Stevenson would be assessed with a technical foul — his fourth foul of the game.
“From what I’m told he made [a gesture] to [Boston Celtics guard] Marcus Smart, the crowd,” Huggins said of why Stevenson was assessed with the technical.
Less than two minutes later, Stevenson would be driving towards the basket before he would be called for a charge and would foul out. Stevenson finished with 17 points.
“Erik gets incredibly stupid again and basically costs us the game,” Huggins said. “It can’t happen again. Just cannot happen again.”
The technical foul was Stevenson’s second in two games. Against Kansas State Stevenson would also foul out late due to a previous technical foul. Stevenson has been West Virginia’s offensive spark plug so far this season and with the loss on Monday, the Mountaineers now drop to 0-2 in Big 12 play.
Without Stevenson, West Virginia was outscored 13-5 in his absence, leading to their 67-60 loss to Oklahoma State.
“We can’t have one guy changing the game the way [Stevenson’s] changed the game,” Huggins said. “I love the kid, I do. I love the kid and I wish him nothing but the best. But he hurts our team when he does that.”
“You don’t have that right. I don’t care who you are, or what you are, or what you think you are, you don’t have that right. To hurt your team, hurt your teammates, you don’t have that right… Who cares about you. Do what you’re supposed to do.”
Huggins added if Stevenson does this again he will not tolerate it any further.
“We’ve got to stop the stupidness,” Huggins said. “I’ve had the conversation, I’ve had another conversation, I’m not going to have another one. I’m just going to say pack your stuff and head out.”
