My Fiver on WVU hoops tipping off here in just three more days with a monumental beatdown of Robert Morris...
1. Staying connected defensively is No. 1 for me. Dry spells shooting and scoring the basketball happen to everyone. But, when you can't defend, then WVU basketball 2023-'24 happens. From watching this WVU team in the Exhibition, you could already see evidence of a connection and cohesiveness (i.e. communication) that last year's squad and Bob Huggins's last couple squads did not have. You look at Drake's defensive statistics from last year and they ranked, out of 350 D-1 programs:
- #27 is scoring margin at +9.4 ppg (WVU was #324 at -7 ppg)
- #36 in turnover margin at 2.7 (WVU was #317 at -2.3)
- #81 in defensive rebounds per game at 26.4 (WVU at #224 with 24.59)
- #119 is scoring defense @ 70.4 ppg (WVU was #303 at 76.8 ppg),
- #133 in TO forced @ 12.41pg (WVU was #301 at 10.38 pg)
We're going to be better, more connected, on defense and the days of dozens of unabated straight line drives are behind us. Darian DeVries focus on playing a defense which can switch all five positions and focuses on trying to take away what the opponent does well. This is reason for optimism. Plus, it appears we very well may have a couple stone cold defensive stoppers on the roster.
2. On Offense, I love everything DD is saying thus far -- we're going to play free. Everyone has a green light. If you don't take an open shot, you sit. We're going to recruit and play guys who are interchangeable, even some "5"'s who can handle and shoot. (Eduardo Andre being the exception). I'll give Huggs credit for his accomplishments at WVU, which were many. There were great, great days. But, It's been a struggle at times watching Huggs's offense - in particular since he killed Press Virginia. With DD, we are entering the 21st Century in terms of offense. Our players are going to have multiple options on screens, and will practice them ad nauseum, so come game time it is instinctive. We'll see back door cuts, ghost screens, pick and pop threes (Tucker DeVries and Amani Hansberry), and PnR lobs. It's going to be refreshing and different. Also, DD loves to have a good, solid point guard who runs the offense and can be multiple. We have Javon Small in that role this season, but he's setting KJ Tenner up to be a 3-year starter at that position after. And,
- Drake ranked #10 out of 350 teams last season in assist-to-TO ratio at 1.66. (WVU ranked T231 at 1.03).
3. Tucker DeVries - I think it is clear that he is THE Guy for our team in 2024-'25, but we'll have other options. And I am very interested to see how the increase in competition and in particular defensive prowess will affect him once he sees what things are like in the Big 12. We're going to need others to take some of the pressure off of DeVries to free him up...
4. Jayden Stone and Sincere Harris. While everyone was giddy over the Stone presser due to how articulate and forthcoming he was in his commentary, I came away kind of surprised -- it seemed to me that he seemed thoroughly confused as to his role on this team. He mentioned how he had to carry Detroit Mercy last year in scoring, but now, he is getting used to being somewhat of a role player. And he seemed to be lost in terms of what his role may or may not be. Then, he kinda played like that in the exhibition vs. Charleston. Bottom line is that we're going to need him to score to loosen up opponents and spread their "D" thin for Javon Small and Tucker DeVries. Heard he played much better vs. Wake Forest, so that is good. With Harris, it appears that we have a bona fide defensive stopper. He was intense as hell defensively in the Charleston scrimmage. He's a great pickup and looking forward to watching him try to lock down our opposing best player.
5. Prediction? Hell, I don't know. I think we're looking at a starting 5 of:
1. Small
2. Stone or Harris
3. Okani
4. DeVries
5. Hansberry
I like those 6, and I really like Jonathan Powell. Powell is going to be a good one. Beyond those 6 or 7, I don't know about how they'll stack up vs. Big 12 play and Gonzaga, Pitt, Indiana. With our coach, and with this assembled talent, I do expect to come out and start with a big win over Robert Morris. Then, the UMass and Pitt games will be a great barometer as to where we stand for now. UMass is picked preseason #9 in the A10 and Pitt is being tabbed preseason #7 ACC(thank goodness the Hinson kid graduated). Overall, I expect to win a few we're not supposed to win, but on some nights we'll get run out of the gym. But, there is potential enough with the Coach, the Staff, and the assembled talent, to make the Tournament if those top 6 or 7 stay healthy and we get a few breaks.
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