West Virginia Mountaineers
Head Coach
| Bob Huggins |
2nd year |
| 07-08 |
0-0 |
| Big East |
0-0 |
| FCR |
38 |
Previous Season Wins
Big East
Final 07-08 Standings
Key Contributors
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
|
|
|
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
|
|
| F |
| 11 |
Joe Alexander |
6-8 |
225 |
Sr |
|
1st Tm All-Big East | 16.9 |
6.4 |
2.4 |
|
| G |
| 22 |
Alex Ruoff |
6-6 |
210 |
Sr |
|
Returning Starter | 13.8 |
3.5 |
2.8 |
|
| F |
| 1 |
Da'Sean Butler |
6-7 |
220 |
Jr |
|
Returning Starter | 12.9 |
6.2 |
1.7 |
|
| G |
| 3 |
Joe Mazulla |
6-2 |
195 |
Jr |
|
| 5.8 |
3.0 |
2.3 |
|
| F |
| 35 |
Wellington Smith |
6-7 |
210 |
Jr |
|
| 5.2 |
3.8 |
0.9 |
|
| F |
| 41 |
John Flowers |
6-7 |
195 |
So |
|
| 4.6 |
2.5 |
0.6 |
|
| G |
| 32 |
Ted Talkington |
6-2 |
195 |
Sr |
|
| 1.2 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
| F |
| 21 |
Joel Sowards |
6-7 |
205 |
Jr |
|
| 2.1 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
|
Starters Lost
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
|
|
|
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
|
|
| G |
| 14 |
Darris Nichols |
6-3 |
200 |
Sr |
|
| 10.7 |
3.3 |
3.2 |
|
| C |
| 43 |
Jamie Smalligan |
7-0 |
265 |
Sr |
|
| 2.2 |
1.8 |
0.8 |
|
Head Coach Bob Huggins is back at his alma mater and things will be different. Wait a minute. Last year the Mountaineers won 27 games games and the NIT title and that was arguably the worst of the last three years. They lose only two players from a good three year run. What then is the problem? Huggins is the exact opposite of successful departed coach John Beilein. The Huggins quotes that many have read online is " I'd like to play faster. We want to score in transition and make things happen on defense. And if that's not working we'll call timeout and tell them to do the stuff they did last year." Not a bad idea since the last three years have seen an Elite Eight, Sweet 16, and NIT finals appearances. Huggins will adapt to the players he has this year until he can recruit his patented tough defender, tough rebounder type of player. I'm sure the weight training program for the basketball team has changed since Huggins arrival.
The backcourt has talent and depth, Darris Nichols may be the best point guard in the league. He hit 42% of his threes last year.Joe Mazzulla will back him up at point. Alex Ruoff is back for his junior year and is expected to start at shooting guard. He has good size at 6'6" but needs defensive improvement. Behind him is Jerry West's son Jonnie.
In the frontcourt Joe Alexander returns to play forward. The only large big man is Jamie Smalligan at 7 feet, unfortunately he would rather shoot the trey, ala Pittsnogle, than bang the boards. Da'sean Butler will be a starter at forward. the 6'7" sophomore can run and dunk and seems to fit the Huggins mold just fine. Huggins is full of surprises and will do what it takes to win. Don't be surprised to see three guards on the floor and smaller lineups.
West Virginia has plenty of talent. How well they respond to the new coach may be an issue. Personally we think Huggins is fantastic and this program won't miss a beat this year and will be a major player in the rugged Big East in the future. He won 21 won games last year at K-State and there is no reason why he won't produce 24 to 26 wins with the Mountaineers schedule this year and finish somewhere in the middle of the pack in conference.
