2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 10) WEST VIRGINIA

October 7, 2007


WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEER ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the West Virginia Mountaineers

Official 2007-2008 West Virginia Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Bob Huggins

The WVU Coliseum

2007-2008 West Virginia Mountaineers Schedule


OVERVIEW:

‘Country Roads Take Me Home’, has even more meaning this season around West Virginia as native son Bob Huggins returns home to coach the West Virginia Mountaineers. Huggins returns to his alma mater after compiling a 590-211 (.737) record in his 25 seasons as a head coach, which includes stints at Walsh College (1980-83), Akron (1984-1989), Cincinnati (1989-2005) and Kansas State (2006-07). Last season, Huggins led Kansas State to 23 victories, the Wildcats’ most wins in 19 years. Kansas State broke an eight-year postseason drought when Huggins led the Wildcats to the NIT second round.

Huggins made his name while leading the Cincinnati Bearcat program for 16 seasons, the last 14 of which ended with bids to the NCAA Tournament. Coach Huggins’ first trip to the ‘Big Dance’ at Cincinnati (1991-92) finished with a run to the Final Four.

Read the rest of our WVU previw, click 'Read More' Below!!!

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Of course, Bob Huggins does not travel without controversy. His much publicized DUI arrest (and police video), targeted graduation rate statistics and multiple players in trouble with the law while at Cincinnati led to a messy divorce from the program. Bob Huggins was a very popular figure among UC boosters and very accessible to the fans. He has a loyal following and he certainly knows how to coach basketball. His style of play might take some time to mesh with the current roster he inherits at WVU, but make no mistake, in the near future, he will craft the roster with the type of player that excels in his style and the competitive nature that has always made Bob Huggins successful in basketball will have him determined to be a winner in the Big East.

John Beilein bolted just days after leading the Mountaineers to the NIT Tournament Title last year for the University of Michigan. Beilein had led WVU to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances the previous two seasons, but had nearly turned over his entire roster from his Elite 8 squad from 2004-2005. Beilein’s system and style called for a type of player much different than then players used in Huggins’ teams of the past. It will be an interesting beginning to Bob Huggins’ WVU coaching career in seeing how he utilizes the existing personnel.






THE 2006-2007 SEASON:

Coming off a pair of highly successful seasons, West Virginia was faced with life after Kevin Pittsnogle, Mike Gansey, JD Collins, Joe Herber and Patrick Beilein. Only Frank Young and Darris Nichols returned after seeing consistent playing time in the rotation the prior season. Picked to finish in the lower third of the conference, the Mountaineers got off to a good start against a weak out of conference schedule and took advantage of a three game home stand to open Big East play. Suddenly, WVU was 13-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big East. Another three-game conference win streak go the Mountaineers to 7-3 in the Big East, but stumbling down the stretch, losing four of six, had WVU finishing 9-7 in the Big East and off to the NIT.

After three home wins in the NIT, the Mountaineers returned to Madison Square Garden and completed their run through the NIT field by beating Mississippi State and Clemson to claim the NIT title. Frank Young led WVU in scoring last year (13.4 in Big East action) and his loss will be felt going forward. The other graduate was starting center Rob Summers, although he averaged just 4 points and rebounds a game in league play.




THE BACKCOURT:

Bob Huggins will have the luxury of one of the league’s steadiest point guards at his disposal with senior Darris Nichols. In Big East action last year, Nichols had an Assist to Turnover ration of 3.35:1 and was the catalyst of WVU’s fluid offense that exchanged rebounding for ball control. Nichols also showed as a capable scorer, averaging over 11 PPG in conference play and hitting nearly 41% from the arc. He also showed the ability in the NIT to hit clutch shots. Nichols should be a player that finds a successful transition to the new system at WVU.

His starting backcourt mate, Alex Ruoff, might find the transition a little more difficult. Ruoff is neither strong nor athletic for a wing player, which is the type Bob Huggins craves. Ruoff is a steady ball-handler that makes solid decisions and finds open shots. However, in conference play last year Ruoff struggled with his shooting (only 28% from 3-pt land). He did lead the team with nearly 5 assists a game and had a strong 2:1 ast:to ration. However, if he is not hitting shots this time, look for Huggins to give a real long look at sophomore Joe Mazzulla and incoming freshman Will Thomas. Mazzulla excels in a more open floor game and he is a tough guard, one that Huggins loves on his team. Thomas is a recruit that not much is known about as injuries limited his exposure in high school. He comes from Huggins’ Ohio connections and he definitely passes the look test of a guard in Huggins’ system with his long and athletic 6’5 frame. Rounding out the backcourt is another familiar name in the laurels of WVU basketball history, Jonnie West, some of legendary Jerry West, is a 6’3 redshirt freshman on the roster.

At the small forward position, the Mountaineers look to be in very good hands with Da’Sean Butler. The 6’7 Butler had an outstanding freshman campaign, averaging 10 PPG in league action. Butler is a very well-rounded player that is unselfish and will give up the personal stats for the better of the team. His ability to rebound, pass and defend should earn him priority status with coach Huggins.


THE FRONTCOURT:

It will be very interesting to see how the frontcourt plays out under Huggins, who always had a roster of physically imposing and intimidating interior defenders. Whether it was Kenyon Martin, Art Long, Danny Fortson, Corie Blount, Jason Maxiell, Eric Hicks, etc., Huggins always had someone pounding away at you inside. The roster he inherits is completely void of that type of personality, a Huggins trademark. The projected starters in the frontcourt, Jamie Smalligan and Joe Alexander, both would rather be on the perimeter than inside defending or posting up. Of Smalligan’s 51 field goal attempts in conference action, 53% cam from 3-pt range. Alexander averaged 11.5 PPG in the Big East and led WVU with 4.6 rebounds a contest, but he definitely lost his effectiveness against some of the more physical teams in the conference. He is an excellent athlete with nice size, but he has yet to show that he can be a physical force in this conference.

This shortcoming with the Mountaineers could open the door for sophomore Wellington Smith to earn significant playing time this season. He was seldom used last year in Beilein’s fluid offensive system, but the 6’7 forward is a multi-dimensional player that will go inside to battle for boards and bring some shot blocking ability to the forward position. Another player that could also be utilized more often in a Huggins’ style attack is redshirt freshman Jacob Green. A wiry and athletic 6’9 big man, he still needs to add a lot of strength to his frame to be a typical Huggins enforcer in the paint, but he does do his damage inside and can be a defensive deterrent to the opposition.

Incoming freshman John Flowers is an intriguing combo forward that could also find his way into the rotation because of his athletic ability. He also has the mentality to get after it a bit in the paint, but he will also need to add strength to his frame to be most effective in the Big East. Rounding out the roster upfront is redshirt frosh Cam Thoroughman, a skilled 6’7 forward that was a good fit in the previous system and will have to work hard to find a spot going forward.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

It is a very interesting situation with the Mountaineers this season. The fanbase is definitely jazzed with Bob Huggins on board prowling the sidelines at the Coliseum, however, this is far from a typical Huggins’ team. There are a few pieces that will transfer over somewhat seamlessly to the new regime, but most have been recruited solely based on the system that was run under coach John Beilein, which is like night and day compared to what we have come to expect from a Bob Huggins coached team. The schedule will be a little tougher this year in the conference and they start off with a demanding first couple weeks in Big East action. Last year they took advantage of a favorable early conference schedule, this year could be much different.

While my confidence in the Mountaineers is not overly optimistic this season, I do know Bob Huggins is determined to win in the Big East at his alma mater. Look for him to pull out all the stops to bring in the talent that fits his style and use this season to determine which players will be long-term fits in that plan. Along the way, you know they will play hard as the intense Huggins will not let it be any other way. There is talent and they have experience in winning in this conference, but they will have to fight for every win and their finish to last season, in conference play (6-7, losing four of last six), is more likely what you will see this season against the tougher slate. However, do not get used to this, Bob Huggins will have his pieces in place soon enough!

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 8-10