PREVIEW - WEST VIRGINIA (26-9, 9-7)
October 19, 2007 9:50 am by Coach OBob Huggins is in, Frank Young is out. Huggins brings a hard-nosed winning attitude to Morgantown replacing John Beilein. Frank Young, a 1st team All BigEast player and the top 3-point shooter in the league is gone. But four starters return and the Mountaineers should be strong once again.
Frontcourt - Replacing Young will be hard but Joe Alexander (10.3ppg, 4.3rpg) returns at PF. The only problem here is that he steps out to the 3 point arc more than most power forwards. Jamie Smalligan (5.4ppg, 3.2rpg) was a backup last year and should move into the starting center position. He too has a penchant for shooting the 3. As usual, WVU will have a hard time rebounding with the top BE teams but they will also be pulling the oppositions big men out to the three point line. Wellington Smith (2.3ppg, 0.9rpg) will back up the big men down low. Freshmen John Flowers (6-7) and Cam Thoroughman (6-7) will also serve as backups. GRADE - B-
Backcourt - The backcourt will be led by point guard Darris Nichols (10.9ppg, 4.6apg), D’Sean Butler (10.1ppg, 3.5rpg), and Alex Ruoff (10.3, 5.3apg). All three can shoot it and both Ruoff and Nichols are great passers. Joe Mazzula (3.0ppg,1.0apg) has a lot of experience and can back up both SG and PG. Devan Bawinkle (1.8ppg, 0.4rpg) is also available up top. Freshmen Will Thomas and Johnnie West will have time to learn the WVU system. GRADE - A-
Depth - Mazzula, Bawinkel, and Smith provide experience behind the starting five. Five freshman provide numbers. Huggins will hope that Young can be replaced with the numbers he can throw at opponents. GRADE - B
Outlook - Although the roster looks impresive, the fact that WVU may again be a one-shot- and-out team because of a rebounding disadvantage may hamper their attempt to run with the top teams. Huggins has always had a very physical team. This does not look like it. But their strength, especially in the backcourt will keep the Mountaineers in the top half of the BE standings. GRADE - B
Categories: Coach O, Commentary, Contributors, West Virginia
2 Responses to “PREVIEW - WEST VIRGINIA (26-9, 9-7)”
This will be a very, very interesting team this year to watch.
I’m sad that Beilein left. It added offensive and defensive diversity in terms of strategy to our league. I wouldn’t be surprised if the players we project to do well in fact don’t do well at all because the entire offense and defense will likely change.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a very off year for WVU. Just my $0.02.
Very true. But off of Huggins’ past he will get them to play hard. They will be more physical than under Beilein. Beilein is a real loss, probably greater than losing Young. But The were scrappy last year and will be more so this year. They have a nice cast of veterans to give it a shot.
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