Golden Age of WVU Basketball began last night: SAVOR IT

[JohnnyDrama388]

As happy as I am to make the Sweet 16 this year and think we have a GREAT chance to upset UK....I can't help but look ahead little.

These next 2-3 years look like they could become some of the best years in WVU bball history. Even though we lose Staten and Browne (big losses) the future looks INCREDIBLE with all these talented and hard working underclassmen: Devin Williams, Jevon Carter, Daxter Miles, Tarik Philip, Elijah Macon, Brandon Watkins + big time reruit Esa Ahmad coming next season.


-Devin Williams looks like a potential 18 ppg and 10 rpg All-American who should stick around Morgantown for 2 more seasons.

-Carter and Miles look like a great backcourt duo, despite some growing pains, that has the potential to be one of the best in the country by the time they are Juniors and Seniors. They give MAX EFFORT all the time and are unselfish.

-Esa Ahmad looks, by all accounts, to be the most skilled recruit we have had in decades. I think we sticks around for 2 years and will have the impact we wish Devin Ebanks would have had.

-Tarik Philip and Macon are both talented, especially Philip, that needed this season for getting their feet wet. Expect both to be big contributors next year.

-Watkins is a serviceable big off the bench who may surprise us with a John Flowers like improvement over the next 2 years.


Win or lose on Thursday, lets appreciate the seeds Bob Huggins has worked hard to plant and enjoy this multiyear ride he has set up for us. Looks to be a lot of fun. A national title has never been as realistic as it is now.

 

[torontoeers]

How have things been goin' Chitown?...too much time on your hands as usual?

 

[JohnnyDrama388]

I was hoping the board would be in a better mood, seeing as we are in the sweet 16 and have a punchers chance against UK.

...things I have been saying since November.....

LET'S GOOO

This post was edited on 3/23 8:02 PM by JohnnyDrama388

 

[mountaineers8893]

I think the golden age started about 10 years ago, if you aren't counting the late 50s.

We have been to 5 sweet 16s in 10 years now, something probably unmatched in the history of our program. I don't know how many teams were in the tournament in the late 50s, but I know some years we failed to win our conference and we didn't get in at all, other years we were knocked out first game.

When you say most skilled in decades, you might be forgetting Johnathan Hargett.. He was Iverson-ish in his skill level. I've seen tape of Esa and he's really good. He makes pretty incredible things look easy. With Huggs, by his sophomore year he's going to be all-conference, right in time for Williams to be all-American if he stays thru his senior year.

Lets not forget though, this program has had a hell of a lot of turnover the past few years, and some losses will be had to either transfers, troubles with the law, etc. But all-in-all, the future is so bright for the basketball program.

Filling Staten and Browne's shoes won't be easy, but I have all of the confidence in the world in Phillip, Carter, and Miles. Plus, another 2 PGs we are getting next year will help.

 

[JohnnyDrama388]

Agreed....since the famous elite 8 run with Pittsnogle and Gansey our program has definitely been a yearly contender for the NCAA Tournmanet (with 8 bids in 11 years to show for it).

I'm just saying these next couple years are our best chance at a National Title we probably have ever had, or will have. If the first season is a Sweet 16 with mostly freshman and sophomores, who knows what 2016, 2017, even 2018 could bring? and Who knows what kind of coach will be Huggins successor?

I'm just saying the near future looks to be a lot of fun. Lets hope for clean health and their continued max effort for getting better.

 

[ImaStatMan]

Would like to add that the style of play- going 13 deep- can be a big recruiting advantage as well. The upper-middle talent pool has the option of going to a team and mayyyybe being a 6th man for a year or two, go to a smaller school, or come to WVU and get minutes game in and game out on a team that's extremely competitive.

I'm very happy with the way the team's future looks and just imagine if we get some shooters too. This team has gone this far shooting pretty awful, so imagine the possibilities.

 

[JohnnyDrama388]

I think Huggins has finally got a foothold on recruiting the types of players he wants to come to WVU. No more offense only prima-donas. Only hard nose players who will listen and work to get better.

Gotlieb even said it himself, the players love playing for Huggins. Looks like we finally have ones that buy into the system and realize Huggins has their best interests at heart.

 

[Soaring Eagle 74]

Another day, another board name

He's like herpes. Just keeps coming back.

 

[GoWVU]

You are right about that, 8893...

What you pointed out about all the recent Sweet Sixteen appearances is entirely true. This year's tournament marks our 5th Sweet Sixteen in the last 11 seasons. WVU had just 4 Sweet Sixteen appearances in our entire history prior to 2005, with only one of those occurring in the 41 seasons from 1964-2004.

To put it another way, our border rivals at Maryland are a fairly accomplished basketball program--having won a national championship in 2002. However, surprisingly it is WVU who has been to the Sweet Sixteen 5 times since the Terps' most recent time advancing that far. Beilein and Huggins both deserve a lot of credit for reviving and maintaining a previously dormant program.

 

[JohnnyDrama388]

The best thing about how our team is shaping up these next couple years is the balance.

-Devin Williams and Elijah Macon in the low post

-2 good, young PG's in Carter and Miles

-Esa Ahmad and Tarik Philip as a skilled forwards

-And who knows maybe Watkins and Adrian improve and James Bolden turns out to be legit?

Yes we still need more outside shooting, but that is one thing that players can improve jut by practice. Wouldn't be surprised of Miles or Carter become 40% 3 pt shooters by the time they graduate or if we add another JUCO SG....we are in the running for a couple last I checked.

 

[STEVEGRO50]

If Williams is an 18 and 10 guy he wont be there 2 more years

 

[GetYaNumbersUp]

Tarik Phillip a "skilled forward" lol

 

[Wvu Eers28]

"the impact we wish Ebanks had" ?

I'll take a Big East Tourney Championship and Final 4 any day of the week. He as a MAJOR part of that. Probably best halfcourt shutdown defender we've had here along with a tremendous offensive rebounder. I wish he would've asserted himself a little more offensively but he was a great player here.

 

[JohnnyDrama388]

Ebanks was a decent defender and rebounder, but for being a top 10 overall and 5 star recruit....he was a major disappointment.


Tarik Philip plays like a SF even though he's only 6'4....how is that funny?

 

[KeatonsCorner]

Tarik Phillip, our future POINT GUARD does not play like a forward......



Devin Ebanks, as a true freshman, averaged nearly a double-double for WVU......... but was "disappointing". A guy who could be a lock-down defender at all 5 positions........... is "decent"


Just stop............

 

[JohnnyDrama388]

What NBA team does Ebanks play for?

Surely someone who ALMOST AVERAGED A DOUBLE DOUBLE AS A FRESHMAN must be on some NBA roster?!?!??!

 

[JohnnyDrama388]

Since Tarik Phillip is our "next great PG" lets hope A.) Carter and Miles are OK with that and B.) He improves from shooting 22% from 3 pt

 

[KeatonsCorner]

Be honest


You don't even watch WVU Basketball, do you?

 

[JohnnyDrama388]

LMAOOOOOOOOO


yeah I don't watch any WVU bball....I was just one of 3 posters believing in this team in NOVEMBER saying we had final 4 potential thanks to the defense and hustle.


Funny how some posters here have selective memory when it comes to Shyguy