MORGANTOWN - Saturday was what you'd call a pleasant day for fans of WVU's basketball team.
In a 77-60 Big 12 win over the youthful, injury-riddled Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Mountaineers were never threatened. The hosts once moved out to a 23-point lead. They never surrendered the lead after Jevon Carter's opening trey.
"How about a round of applause for the WVU pep band?" the public address announcer once suggested to the 11,219 at the Coliseum.
It was that laid back.
Such, however, will not be the case on Tuesday, when No. 1 Kansas visits West Virginia. The place will rock. There will be lead changes. And no margin will be safe.
Something, however, that needs to remain the same for WVU is the play of its big men.
"Offensive rebounding carried us," said Mountaineer coach Bob Huggins on Saturday, "like it does when people play zone against us."
WVU had 18 offensive rebounds. Oklahoma State had eight. It's nothing for the Mountaineers to get overly excited about because 7-foot Cowboy rim protector Anthony Allen didn't play. The victory, likewise, wasn't a stunner with OSU 3-point shooter Phil Forte injured. The Cowboys have lost to teams like George Mason, Tulsa and Missouri State.
That said, though, have you noticed which Mountaineer is makin' plays?
Or, rather, Macon plays?
On Saturday, forward Jon Holton certainly was doing so. He had 15 points and nine rebounds. Devin Williams was working hard with 12 points and nine boards. Brandon Watkins played well in very limited minutes.
Yet the subject here is Elijah Macon, WVU's 6-9, 235-pound sophomore. On Saturday, he made plays. In just 11 minutes of work, he had five points, four rebounds and a steal. And that's actually a little under his norm this season.
"Elijah is getting better," Huggins said.
More, methinks, than folks realize. Early on, Macon lifted the team - and the Coliseum - with a spin move and strong drive to the bucket to give WVU a 14-6 lead.
Later, he made his steal on a long Oklahoma State pass via the brute force of his hands. Basically, he took the ball from the hands of the poor Cowboys.
In the second half, a missed shot bounded high in the air - when Macon appeared seemingly out of nowhere for the offensive rebound. He was strong enough to jack it back up while being fouled to earn two free throws.
Macon started WVU's only fast-break bucket on the day with a rebound and outlet pass.
And then, do you remember the "Bone Collector?" On Saturday, Macon was the foul collector. At 15:41 of the second half, he drew a foul from Chris Olivier. At 6:03 he got starting center Mitchell Solomon to commit his fifth and final foul. Then, just 32 seconds later, he drew the fifth from starting Cowboy forward Leyton Hammonds.
Macon capped his day with a blocked shot for which he wasn't given credit.
All, keep in mind, in 11 minutes of work.
"That guy is going to be special, man," said Holton. "He plays with energy and passion. He's athletic and can get up and down the floor. He can block shots, rebound it, do it all. He's ready to go. A great player."
That might be pushing it, but Macon is certainly improving. Remember, this kid was a four-star, Top 100 recruit for Huggins. It just took him awhile to make the grade. Now, though, we're seeing why he was rated so highly.
"I think he's more aggressive now," Williams said. "I knew how productive he could be. It was just a matter of time. He just needed a year under his belt. I'm one of his biggest cheerleaders. It helps to know the guy subbing in for you is that good."
"We're supposed to bring energy," Macon said. "You should show the guy you're replacing you have energy. We're each other's biggest fans. I'm getting more shots - and confidence."
It will be needed. Williams and Macon were both four-star recruits. And now, on Tuesday, Huggins will need all the stars to come out - and align - to beat Kansas.
"We're pumped," said WVU guard Jaysean Paige. "My first year here it was a great game at Kansas and here. We beat them here and had them on the ropes at Kansas. We look forward to it every time we play Kansas."
"We came out and brought the fight to Oklahoma State," Williams said. "That's going to be a big thing in the next week, week and a half - bringing the fight to them, the opponent.
"We have a chance to make another upset [against Kansas]. Nobody expects us to do anything, so the pressure is off us. It's just a fun moment. It's going to be something we can remember. It's going to be a great event. It'll be the first day back to school. And I believe the energy is going to be crazy in the building. The most important part is to dial in, focus in and put the work in."
And if WVU's big men keep makin' plays, the Mountaineers just might have a shot.