-Ahead of tomorrow's game against Texas Tech, West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins, guard Jaysean Paige and forward Jon Holton met with the media this afternoon. Tomorrow night is senior night for both Paige and Holton. The pair only played two years in Morgantown after arriving from different junior colleges. Huggins started his discussion with us explaining how he brought both Paige and Holton to Morgantown to play right away. He knew by bringing junior college guys into the program that they needed to develop quicker. Huggins says Paige has become a great scorer for West Virginia and that Holton from the beginning of last season was a vital part in the installation of the press defense.
-Just hearing Huggins speak about Paige and Holton, it reminded me of the long story I wrote in January about those and Tarik Phillip's unique paths to West Virginia. With senior night tomorrow, I figured, I'd put the link here, if you want to read more about that.
-Anyway Huggins was also asked, as he's been asked recently about West Virginia's current starting lineup compared to what he has coming off the bench. Just a reminder, West Virginia now starts Jevon Carter, Teyvon Myers, Esa Ahmad, Nate Adrian and Devin Williams while Phillip, Paige, Holton, Daxter Miles and Elijah Macon come off the bench. Specifically Huggins was asked if Miles can return to his old form, would he be put back into the starting lineup? Huggins responded by saying even though Miles would probably rather start, he knows Myers would rather start also and at this point he's going to do what's best for the collective group. Huggins says all season Phillip has understood he's probably better coming off the bench because Huggins, more often than not, can't have Phillip and Carter on the court at the same time since one of them has to be in there at all times. Huggins says Phillip just like Paige has embraced the role of bench asset. Huggins says the Miles/Myers situation is similar to the Holton/Adrian situation. Huggins says he could throw Holton back into the starting lineup, but Adrian has been much more efficient as a starter, shooting 14 of 22 from three as a starter.
-Huggins then was asked why he doesn't make substitutions every four minutes with the two groups of players. Huggins says he can't do that because the pace of the game is too fast to wait four minutes sometimes with the way West Virginia plays. He says sometimes players are tied before a four-minute span passes. He said sometimes, it could go the other way too because maybe if the game is being officiated closely, four minutes might not enough time for players on the court. Huggins says he wouldn't have to take out a player just because four minutes have gone by.
-On Holton, Huggins did admit going forward that it will be tough to replace what Holton brings West Virginia atop the press defense. Huggins says Adrian has done a good job and he thinks Lamont West has good length to potentially fill the role, but it will be tough to fill that plug right away next season.
-I spoke with Holton more in detail about this and he told me that he thinks between Adrian and West, that West Virginia will be okay next year at the position. Holton seemed really optimistic about West and says he'll be young, but he has natural athleticism.
-Now, I'll have a lot more in a story on Holton tomorrow, but I also talked with him about just how hard playing pinpoint pressure man can be. Holton says without having the energy he has, it would be extremely difficult. Holton says the hard part isn't defending the inbound pass, but rather running from the first trap after that pass to second trap spot. Holton said it took him time to learn it last year and thinks he's better at it now as a senior but still says is so challenging because of the effort he has to exert.
-Holton says what's allowed him to push through some of those tiring moments is by making the opponent think he's crazy. Holton says when the opposing point guard or extra guard sees him running from side-to-side into different traps, it gets him excited because he can start to sense the frustration with that player. He says that's what keep him going. To add to that, Holton told me when he screams at the guy inbounding the ball, it's the same thing, he just wants the opponent to be totally "physced-out."
-Paige spoke about his growth as a player and person at West Virginia from year one to year two. He said if he could only describe it in one word, that word would be 'tough' because if you think about all the work he's had to put to go from afterthought role player to probable Sixth Man of the Year in the league, it's a great deal. Paige says he turned the corner because he bought into what Huggins was trying to teach him and says that's what's made the difference with him this season.
-Paige also says he wants to have a win on senior day, but knows it'll be tough because of Texas Tech's improvement. Paige says even from the time West Virginia beat the Red Raiders in Lubbock, Tubby Smith's team has vastly improved. Paige says Texas Tech plays harder on defense than they have in the past and that it'll be challenge for West Virginia to score. In order to score, Paige says West Virginia will have to use defense to create offense.
-Just hearing Huggins speak about Paige and Holton, it reminded me of the long story I wrote in January about those and Tarik Phillip's unique paths to West Virginia. With senior night tomorrow, I figured, I'd put the link here, if you want to read more about that.
-Anyway Huggins was also asked, as he's been asked recently about West Virginia's current starting lineup compared to what he has coming off the bench. Just a reminder, West Virginia now starts Jevon Carter, Teyvon Myers, Esa Ahmad, Nate Adrian and Devin Williams while Phillip, Paige, Holton, Daxter Miles and Elijah Macon come off the bench. Specifically Huggins was asked if Miles can return to his old form, would he be put back into the starting lineup? Huggins responded by saying even though Miles would probably rather start, he knows Myers would rather start also and at this point he's going to do what's best for the collective group. Huggins says all season Phillip has understood he's probably better coming off the bench because Huggins, more often than not, can't have Phillip and Carter on the court at the same time since one of them has to be in there at all times. Huggins says Phillip just like Paige has embraced the role of bench asset. Huggins says the Miles/Myers situation is similar to the Holton/Adrian situation. Huggins says he could throw Holton back into the starting lineup, but Adrian has been much more efficient as a starter, shooting 14 of 22 from three as a starter.
-Huggins then was asked why he doesn't make substitutions every four minutes with the two groups of players. Huggins says he can't do that because the pace of the game is too fast to wait four minutes sometimes with the way West Virginia plays. He says sometimes players are tied before a four-minute span passes. He said sometimes, it could go the other way too because maybe if the game is being officiated closely, four minutes might not enough time for players on the court. Huggins says he wouldn't have to take out a player just because four minutes have gone by.
-On Holton, Huggins did admit going forward that it will be tough to replace what Holton brings West Virginia atop the press defense. Huggins says Adrian has done a good job and he thinks Lamont West has good length to potentially fill the role, but it will be tough to fill that plug right away next season.
-I spoke with Holton more in detail about this and he told me that he thinks between Adrian and West, that West Virginia will be okay next year at the position. Holton seemed really optimistic about West and says he'll be young, but he has natural athleticism.
-Now, I'll have a lot more in a story on Holton tomorrow, but I also talked with him about just how hard playing pinpoint pressure man can be. Holton says without having the energy he has, it would be extremely difficult. Holton says the hard part isn't defending the inbound pass, but rather running from the first trap after that pass to second trap spot. Holton said it took him time to learn it last year and thinks he's better at it now as a senior but still says is so challenging because of the effort he has to exert.
-Holton says what's allowed him to push through some of those tiring moments is by making the opponent think he's crazy. Holton says when the opposing point guard or extra guard sees him running from side-to-side into different traps, it gets him excited because he can start to sense the frustration with that player. He says that's what keep him going. To add to that, Holton told me when he screams at the guy inbounding the ball, it's the same thing, he just wants the opponent to be totally "physced-out."
-Paige spoke about his growth as a player and person at West Virginia from year one to year two. He said if he could only describe it in one word, that word would be 'tough' because if you think about all the work he's had to put to go from afterthought role player to probable Sixth Man of the Year in the league, it's a great deal. Paige says he turned the corner because he bought into what Huggins was trying to teach him and says that's what's made the difference with him this season.
-Paige also says he wants to have a win on senior day, but knows it'll be tough because of Texas Tech's improvement. Paige says even from the time West Virginia beat the Red Raiders in Lubbock, Tubby Smith's team has vastly improved. Paige says Texas Tech plays harder on defense than they have in the past and that it'll be challenge for West Virginia to score. In order to score, Paige says West Virginia will have to use defense to create offense.
