--Health wise, head coach Bob Huggins said that his team was good. Redshirt freshman point guard James Bolden had the knee brace taken off and right now he's still a little tentative but overall good.
--One of the biggest focuses for the team is to avoid turning the ball over so much. Ball security was one of the biggest concerns for West Virginia last season and many times they’d force a turnover only to give the ball right back. Huggins does believe that his team is passing the ball a little bit better but overall it’s become a lost art over the years.
--To follow up on that point, Huggins said that if his team does not take care of the ball they will be the best conditioned team in the history of college basketball because he is sending them to the treadmill.
--Huggins said that redshirt junior forward Elijah Macon is going to have to realize his potential to give the Mountaineers a low post option. Senior Brandon Watkins is also going to play and true freshman Sagaba Konate also is going to be called upon to give West Virginia minutes in the post. Huggins said that Watkins has been in the gym more and has shown improvement.
--Huggins said it will depend on the match ups as to who will take over the role Devin Williams had has as the player that the Mountaineers will look to for the last shot. Sophomore Esa Ahmad could be that guy depending on who he’s matched up with but Huggins does expect the Mountaineers to shoot the ball better than they did last season. Ahmad is a talented player that understands that Huggins wants out of him and he started to play much better toward the end of last year.
--Huggins said that the freshmen both redshirt and true are going to contribute. Konate is currently the best shot blocker on the team and probably the best rebounder. Maciej Bender has proven he can make shots, while Chase Harler also has played well. Redshirt freshman Lamont West is talented but needed that redshirt year to improve physically.
--Huggins believes that senior Tarik Phillip could serve as that spark plug off the bench that Jaysean Paige was last season. In fact, Phillip handled that role quite a bit last year already.
--West Virginia is going to play the same way it played last season according to Huggins. That means press and all. He has 13 players right now and said he wants to whittle it down to 11 or so.
--One of the biggest focuses for the team is to avoid turning the ball over so much. Ball security was one of the biggest concerns for West Virginia last season and many times they’d force a turnover only to give the ball right back. Huggins does believe that his team is passing the ball a little bit better but overall it’s become a lost art over the years.
--To follow up on that point, Huggins said that if his team does not take care of the ball they will be the best conditioned team in the history of college basketball because he is sending them to the treadmill.
--Huggins said that redshirt junior forward Elijah Macon is going to have to realize his potential to give the Mountaineers a low post option. Senior Brandon Watkins is also going to play and true freshman Sagaba Konate also is going to be called upon to give West Virginia minutes in the post. Huggins said that Watkins has been in the gym more and has shown improvement.
--Huggins said it will depend on the match ups as to who will take over the role Devin Williams had has as the player that the Mountaineers will look to for the last shot. Sophomore Esa Ahmad could be that guy depending on who he’s matched up with but Huggins does expect the Mountaineers to shoot the ball better than they did last season. Ahmad is a talented player that understands that Huggins wants out of him and he started to play much better toward the end of last year.
--Huggins said that the freshmen both redshirt and true are going to contribute. Konate is currently the best shot blocker on the team and probably the best rebounder. Maciej Bender has proven he can make shots, while Chase Harler also has played well. Redshirt freshman Lamont West is talented but needed that redshirt year to improve physically.
--Huggins believes that senior Tarik Phillip could serve as that spark plug off the bench that Jaysean Paige was last season. In fact, Phillip handled that role quite a bit last year already.
--West Virginia is going to play the same way it played last season according to Huggins. That means press and all. He has 13 players right now and said he wants to whittle it down to 11 or so.
