History could be Bruin for WVU

Why should WVU fans root for UCLA in tomorrow night's title game? It would make history for the Mountaineer program.

Not since 1958 has WVU beaten a team that went on to win the national title. That Jerry West-led '58 team was 26-1 entering the NCAA tournament but famously was upset by Manhattan in the first round. That opened the door for Kentucky -- which WVU beat 77-70 earlier that season -- to beat Seattle 84-72 for the championship.

WVU has come close before, losing regular-season games to eventual winners Louisville in 1980, N.C. State in 1983 and Big East games against UConn (1999 and 2004) and Syracuse (2003). And, of course, in 1996 WVU beat the John Wallace-led Syracuse team that advanced to the title game.

But a UCLA win would mark just the second time ever that a WVU-defeated team went on to win it all.