On Sunday, West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins unveiled what he hopes is a masterpiece.
MORGANTOWN - On Sunday, West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins unveiled what he hopes is a masterpiece.
(If, that is, masterpieces are unveiled to lights, loud music, video fireworks and a musket shot.)
WVU fans that attended their football team's sluggish victory over Louisville had a chance to stick around for the preseason No. 8 basketball team.
It was a chance to see Casey Mitchell, the supposedly new and improved Alex Ruoff. It was a chance to see Dalton Pepper, who is expected to add 3-ball depth. It was an opportunity to see new big men Deniz Kilicli and Dan Jennings.
The game?
There was none. WVU, 104-82. Whenever Huggins chose to put some of his best players on the floor - and whenever they chose to exert energy - it was not a contest.
(I will say Mountain State of Beckley offered more than a few curiosities. First, Alvin Mitchell and Nick Aldridge combined for 62 points, albeit on 51 shots. Second, we got four minutes to see 7-foot-8 Paul Sturgess. Third, Mountain State had as many Mountain Staters on its roster - one - as WVU. The rest of the Cougars are from Columbia, Bosnia, England, the Bahamas, etc. And, fourth, ex-Woodrow Wilson High coach Dave Barksdale was on the bench.)
Anyway, a few WVU observations:
It's a shame for Kilicli he has to sit out 20 games this season. The bearded, shaggy Turkish import has really improved since his days at Mountain State Academy. He's stronger and more aggressive.
Pepper, or "Pep'' as Huggins calls him, suffered through a 3-for-11 shooting day, but displayed a smooth shooter's stroke that's tough to find.
Jennings only played five minutes, but he certainly looks the part of rebounder/space eater at 6-8, 260.
Perhaps the most encouraging observation for Mountaineer fans, though, was the way Casey Mitchell, who finished with 19 points, seemed to feed off the team's most talented player, Devin Ebanks, who, coincidentally, also had 19 points.
MORGANTOWN - On Sunday, West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins unveiled what he hopes is a masterpiece.
(If, that is, masterpieces are unveiled to lights, loud music, video fireworks and a musket shot.)
WVU fans that attended their football team's sluggish victory over Louisville had a chance to stick around for the preseason No. 8 basketball team.
It was a chance to see Casey Mitchell, the supposedly new and improved Alex Ruoff. It was a chance to see Dalton Pepper, who is expected to add 3-ball depth. It was an opportunity to see new big men Deniz Kilicli and Dan Jennings.
The game?
There was none. WVU, 104-82. Whenever Huggins chose to put some of his best players on the floor - and whenever they chose to exert energy - it was not a contest.
(I will say Mountain State of Beckley offered more than a few curiosities. First, Alvin Mitchell and Nick Aldridge combined for 62 points, albeit on 51 shots. Second, we got four minutes to see 7-foot-8 Paul Sturgess. Third, Mountain State had as many Mountain Staters on its roster - one - as WVU. The rest of the Cougars are from Columbia, Bosnia, England, the Bahamas, etc. And, fourth, ex-Woodrow Wilson High coach Dave Barksdale was on the bench.)
Anyway, a few WVU observations:
It's a shame for Kilicli he has to sit out 20 games this season. The bearded, shaggy Turkish import has really improved since his days at Mountain State Academy. He's stronger and more aggressive.
Pepper, or "Pep'' as Huggins calls him, suffered through a 3-for-11 shooting day, but displayed a smooth shooter's stroke that's tough to find.
Jennings only played five minutes, but he certainly looks the part of rebounder/space eater at 6-8, 260.
Perhaps the most encouraging observation for Mountaineer fans, though, was the way Casey Mitchell, who finished with 19 points, seemed to feed off the team's most talented player, Devin Ebanks, who, coincidentally, also had 19 points.
Think there's not something there? Ebanks' jersey number is 3. Mitchell is No. 33.
"We call ourselves the 'Threes,'" said Ebanks with a smile. "I see why the coaches recruited [Mitchell] - both offensively and defensively. He's struggled defensively at times, but he can play it when he gets it in his mind.''
"I play off Devine, Truck [Bryant] and [Da'Sean] Butler,'' Mitchell said. "They create double teams. I find the open spot and try to hit it.
"When I see the rest of the players playing good, it motivates me.''
"You have to guard [Mitchell],'' Huggins said. "The goal is to put five guys out there [the opposition] can't help off. Casey, you can't help off.''
Within that dynamic is another observation specifically centered on Ebanks. The 6-9 sophomore forward isn't just an athletically gifted, yet somewhat shy young player.
He's exhibiting confidence on and off the court. On the court, he's looking for his shot with a vengence. He cut loose 15 shots, which led the team, in 27 minutes on Sunday. Expect that to continue.
"I know Coach [Huggins] expects a lot out of me this year,'' Ebanks said. "I've taken that [request] and swallowed it. He told me he needs me to score a little more this year.''
And the ability to take that lead should help Mitchell in his first year in the Big East.
"There's no pressure on me,'' Mitchell said. "We have a lot of players to take the pressure off. There's always someone there on our team as good or better.''
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.
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