The views from here:
With the WVU men's basketball team seemingly in a good place and heading into the Big 12 tournament, one might think the Mountaineers can simply have fun with the upcoming Kansas City event.
West Virginia, after all, is the No. 2 seed. Even if it loses, shoot, a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament is a lock, right?
Maybe. Just maybe. Yet the Mountaineers would be wise to indeed take the Big 12 tournament seriously.
Here's the deal. In some quarters, WVU is golden. It is No. 11 in both major polls. And the Mountaineers are No. 3 in the Pomeroy ratings and No. 5 in ESPN's BPI.
"We've been pretty much in the Top 10 all season," said West Virginia coach Bob Huggins on Monday. "I'd say a No. 2 seed in the Big 12 tournament is pretty good."
But they are also only No. 22 in the latest Rating Percentage Index, the only metric the NCAA tweets out.
As for projections, USA Today and ESPN's Joe Lunardi had WVU as a No. 4 seed on Monday. But CBS Sports' Jerry Palm has it as a No. 5 seed. (All, oddly, have the Mountaineers in Buffalo. Wings, anyone?)
Anyway, there's always that "but" attached with WVU - which is certainly enough for Bob Huggins to use as motivation.
n As West Virginia's Associated Press Top 25 voter, I had the Mountaineers No. 10 this week, a spot ahead of Louisville. That was the only puzzler for me - and a good one, I think, for debate. The RPI had the Cardinals 19 spots above the Mountaineers on Monday, but WVU was five spots above UL in the Pomeroy ratings and one spot higher in the BPI. As it turns out, voters in both the writers' and coaches' polls mostly went with Louisville.
I bring the AP poll up, though, to point out the final version will come out next Monday. The wire service doesn't follow the NCAA tournament with a poll, choosing to let the tournament stand as it will. Last season, WVU finished No. 9 in the final AP poll and that will never change, despite the first-round NCAA loss to Stephen F. Austin.
Which is yet another reason for the Mountaineers to take the Big 12 tourney seriously.
n While on the subject of WVU basketball, congrats to Mountaineer women's coach Mike Carey and his team for its run to its first Big 12 Conference tournament championship as the Mountaineers punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament.
n Back to the WVU men. According to Bovada, the odds to win the 2017 basketball championship are 28 to 1 - the same as those given to Baylor, Florida State and Purdue.
North Carolina and UCLA are the favorites at 6 to 1.
n NBA followers no doubt know by now former Dallas Maverick point guard Deron Williams has been signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers to back up Kyrie Irving.
Here's something you might not know though: Williams, now 32, was born in Parkersburg before spending his youth in Texas.
As any West Virginian knows, though, the latter doesn't matter. We're claiming him.
n Much of Monday was spent planning, with a calendar in front of me.
WVU fans might be interested to know the Gold-Blue spring game is April 15. And Marshall fans might be interested to know football practices begin March 28 and will continue on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. A note is the Big Green Scrimmage will be held April 22.
Note it is called a "scrimmage." Media relations man extraordinaire Jason Corriher says the school is trying to get away from calling it a "game." Which it is not.
n And finally...
During a quick getaway last week, I visited Bradenton, Florida, where I was fortunate enough to attend a Pittsburgh Pirates spring training baseball game with ex-Mountaineer assistant coach Bill Kirelawich and his wife Maggie.
Of course, the man known as "Kirlav" has always been popular in the Mountain State, coaching both for Don Nehlen and Rich Rodriguez. He coached for Rodriguez both in Morgantown and at Arizona.
Anyway, Kirelawich wrapped up his distinguished career in 2016 and fans of his will be happy to know he's thoroughly enjoying retirement.
"If I'd known this," he said with a big smile, "I'd have done it four years earlier."
Enjoy, Bill.