BIG EAST TOP TWO-GUARDS 2008-2009: 9) ALEX RUOFF

November 11, 2008



Maybe the best pure shooter of all the two-guards we have profiled resides in West Virginia as senior Alex Ruoff is on target to become the Mountaineer's all-time leader in made three-point baskets this season. The 6-foot-6 senior out of Spring Hill (FL) has a shot as pure as anyone's in the college game.

As a junior, Ruoff averaged nearly 14 points a game in his first season playing for Bob Huggins. Ruoff connected 98 times from beyond the arc in 239 attempts, good for 41% accuracy. These numbers were up pretty significantly from the previous season under John Beilein where Ruoff averaged 10 points a game and was 69-205(34%) from the arc.

With Joe Alexander leaving WVU for the NBA, Ruoff will be asked to do a little more scoring in a variety of ways. He will try to use his size against smaller defenders and take them into the paint to become more than just the designated spot-up shooter that his reputation has become.

With a new point guard (Joe Mazzulla) taking over, Ruoff is now the leader of the backcourt and some of his duties may also increase in the area of ballhandling as well. Ruoff is more than capable contributing in these areas, it is just going to be a little new for him.

The three-point shot will remain his biggest strength and having a player that can connect from long distance at the rate that Ruoff can will definitely help the college basketball odds of the Mountaineers staying in the mix for the NCAA Tournament this season.