MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Saturday was the Treysen Eaglestaff show for the Mountaineers. Leading his team in scoring with 22 points as West Virginia beat Colorado 72-61, Eaglestaff was at his best from the opening tip-off to when the clock read all zeroes.
Averaging only 9.2 points per game entering the night due to an up and down season, Eaglestaff discussed what allowed him to go off against the Buffaloes, what’s changed in his game and why he’s more confident with Big 12 play underway than he was earlier in the season.
“Honestly, I didn’t think anything before the game. I usually never do. I just show up and enjoy the moment,” said Eaglestaff when asked if he looked at the scout and thought this was a favorable matchup for him. Colorado head coach Tad Boyle mentioned his team didn’t have anyone who could guard a player like Eaglestaff.
After agreeing he’s playing with an increased sense of confidence compared to his few first months as a Mountaineers, Eaglestaff put his improved play into perspective.
“There’s a game I didn’t take a shot. There’s a game I only played 10 minutes. There’s a game I only scored one point against a mid major team. It’s just understanding how to play with these players. Understanding what to do. And then it’s just about playing basketball at the end of the day.”
WVU head coach Ross Hodge, who defended Eaglestaff at his lowest points and even benched him due to a lack of defensive effort, expressed a joy in watching a veteran player come out on the other side after having to overcome adversity.
“I wanted him to let it go then. I think that’s part of what makes athletes special as well. They do have the ability to move forward with their life, but in the back of their minds. Michael Jordan probably was the highest end of it. He would make up imaginary slights. He would invent them. Trey has a huge heart. I’ve mentioned that before. He’s such a hard worker. He cares about this place, he cares about this state,” said Hodge while expressing a joy in seeing Eaglestaff start to be the player West Virginia believed he could become when recruiting him as a senior transfer.
“I think maybe early on, you’d have to ask him, maybe he cared too much, if that’s possible. I always believed in him, and his teammates always believed in him. He always believed in himself, and he did it with work. In a lot of cases, there may be times because (senior guard) Jasper (Floyd) initiates the offense, maybe he does get the secondary defender, or maybe even their third-worst perimeter defender. He certainly was aggressive early and kept us afloat in that first half when we were navigating foul trouble,” Hodge added about what may have held Eaglestaff back during non conference play.
It wasn’t all about scoring for Eaglestaff either. In addition to connecting on 9-of-14 shots from the field and 3-of-8 from three, Eaglestaff also brought down six rebounds and recorded three assists.
Eaglestaff credited Hodge and assistant coach Jase Herl for developing him as a player who can do far more than just shoot. He noted that he was never asked to rebound or play defense in the past, but the West Virginia staff has made it a nonnegotiable, and he bought into that right away.
With the win, the Mountaineers are now 12-6 (3-2, Big 12) as they prepare to head west to face Arizona State at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
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