-I was able to speak with Bob Huggins in regards to his thoughts about his team entering the postseason. Huggins told me that he thinks that this year's team is a more complete team than the the team he had last season, which reached the Sweet 16. Huggins also says this team has more stability defensively than last year's group had and on offense are probably more diverse than last year's tournament team. He added that he thinks this West Virginia team can win in more ways.
-Huggins also went into detail about seeding vs. location for the NCAA tournament, which I thought was really interesting. I asked Huggins if a better seed or a location closer to home for the NCAA tournament was more important and he told me, he'd take the better seed. Huggins says it's really nice to play near Morgantown because the fan base travels, but at the same time, the coaches and players have to deal with tickets and family, which can be tough. He did say the tournament committee does try to keep the top seeds closer to home, so he thinks West Virginia has a good shot to play somewhere close.
-One other tidbit on seeding, in reference to 2010, Huggins says he still can't believe West Virginia was the last two-seed and ended up in the same region as the top overall one-seed, Kentucky.
-As far as the Big 12 tournament goes, Huggins said the team kept a goal of winning the Big 12 regular season, but came up short. Another goal the team had at the beginning of the year was to win this tournament, he says that serves as a motivation.
-Huggins also said that he was unsure of whether or not Jon Holton would go through conditioning today, but did say West Virginia hopes to have Holton by Wednesday.
-Devin Williams only scored eight points in the final two regular season games combined. With Williams, Huggins says Williams has had to absorb more contact this year. Huggins says with how big Williams is at six-foot-eight, 260 pounds, referees don't think contact can impact him as much. Additionally, with all the size in the league between Prince Ibeh at Texas, Rico Gathers at Baylor, Ryan Spangler at Oklahoma and others, that Williams gets beaten up on a game to game basis. Huggins said Williams is still fighting through contact, but it has impacted his offensive game a bit.
-Williams still says he has plenty of confidence in his offensive game. He told me that if the team needs him to score, he feels more than capable that he can still do it. Williams did admit, he also hasn't had to score as much, which isn't a bad thing because other guys on the team have started to score like Nate Adrian, Daxter Miles Jr. and Jevon Carter. In the Big 12 tournament, Williams plans to approach the event like he has approached every game all season - rebound first, score second.
-West Virginia will play the winner of Texas Tech and TCU on Thursday night. Williams told me the toughest challenge with Texas Tech would be that West Virginia would play a very motivated opponent. Williams says between Texas Tech trying to improve their NCAA tournament chances and get some revenge on West Virginia, Texas Tech would come to play. With TCU, Williams told me that if West Virginia were to play TCU, that the toughest challenge for him would be playing against a team that tries to play more physical than they really are. Williams says TCU is one of those teams with all their bigs come at him harder that what they show up on tape as.
-I also asked Williams about West Virginia's win at Baylor on Saturday. He told me that although he only scored six points in the game, that he thought his layup past Gathers to begin the half, set the tone for West Virginia's big run in the game.
-Jevon Carter spoke with media members also on Monday. Speaking with him, it was all about how he's played over the last week. In the last three games, Carter scored 24 points, had 14 assists, nine steals and only six turnovers. Carter credits the successful run to his better understanding of the point guard position. He admitted, the position change has been really challenging at times and he is still learning, but he says he understands it more now. Carter believes he's making more of the right decision in terms of when to pass and when to shoot, which has helped him score the ball more efficiently.
-In the win over Baylor, Carter made an outstanding no-look pass to Holton for a slam dunk. I asked Carter if that pass was a sign of his growth at the position because it wasn't too long ago he made some horrid decisions on fast breaks like when he tried an around-the-back pass at Madison Square Garden back in December. He told me yes because he didn't have the feel for driving an dishing then like he does now.
-Finally, Big 12 Sixth Man Award winner, Jaysean Paige talked to the media. Paige said the goal going to Kansas City is simple: stick around for a little while. Paige was on last year's team and knows the poor showing West Virginia has had at the tournament since the program joined the conference. Paige told me he thinks the team is playing well and heating up at the right time to do so.
-I also asked Paige about the play of Carter and Paige told me that while he doesn't really talking about other players' performances, good or bad, he honestly think Carter is probably playing the best he's played since he made the position change. Paige says if Carter can continue being reliable, between Carter and Tarik Phillip, West Virginia has two great options at point guard.
-Paige also echoed Huggins' thoughts and said that West Virginia is a better offensive team entering the tournament than the team was a year ago when it entered the Big 12 tournament.
-Huggins also went into detail about seeding vs. location for the NCAA tournament, which I thought was really interesting. I asked Huggins if a better seed or a location closer to home for the NCAA tournament was more important and he told me, he'd take the better seed. Huggins says it's really nice to play near Morgantown because the fan base travels, but at the same time, the coaches and players have to deal with tickets and family, which can be tough. He did say the tournament committee does try to keep the top seeds closer to home, so he thinks West Virginia has a good shot to play somewhere close.
-One other tidbit on seeding, in reference to 2010, Huggins says he still can't believe West Virginia was the last two-seed and ended up in the same region as the top overall one-seed, Kentucky.
-As far as the Big 12 tournament goes, Huggins said the team kept a goal of winning the Big 12 regular season, but came up short. Another goal the team had at the beginning of the year was to win this tournament, he says that serves as a motivation.
-Huggins also said that he was unsure of whether or not Jon Holton would go through conditioning today, but did say West Virginia hopes to have Holton by Wednesday.
-Devin Williams only scored eight points in the final two regular season games combined. With Williams, Huggins says Williams has had to absorb more contact this year. Huggins says with how big Williams is at six-foot-eight, 260 pounds, referees don't think contact can impact him as much. Additionally, with all the size in the league between Prince Ibeh at Texas, Rico Gathers at Baylor, Ryan Spangler at Oklahoma and others, that Williams gets beaten up on a game to game basis. Huggins said Williams is still fighting through contact, but it has impacted his offensive game a bit.
-Williams still says he has plenty of confidence in his offensive game. He told me that if the team needs him to score, he feels more than capable that he can still do it. Williams did admit, he also hasn't had to score as much, which isn't a bad thing because other guys on the team have started to score like Nate Adrian, Daxter Miles Jr. and Jevon Carter. In the Big 12 tournament, Williams plans to approach the event like he has approached every game all season - rebound first, score second.
-West Virginia will play the winner of Texas Tech and TCU on Thursday night. Williams told me the toughest challenge with Texas Tech would be that West Virginia would play a very motivated opponent. Williams says between Texas Tech trying to improve their NCAA tournament chances and get some revenge on West Virginia, Texas Tech would come to play. With TCU, Williams told me that if West Virginia were to play TCU, that the toughest challenge for him would be playing against a team that tries to play more physical than they really are. Williams says TCU is one of those teams with all their bigs come at him harder that what they show up on tape as.
-I also asked Williams about West Virginia's win at Baylor on Saturday. He told me that although he only scored six points in the game, that he thought his layup past Gathers to begin the half, set the tone for West Virginia's big run in the game.
-Jevon Carter spoke with media members also on Monday. Speaking with him, it was all about how he's played over the last week. In the last three games, Carter scored 24 points, had 14 assists, nine steals and only six turnovers. Carter credits the successful run to his better understanding of the point guard position. He admitted, the position change has been really challenging at times and he is still learning, but he says he understands it more now. Carter believes he's making more of the right decision in terms of when to pass and when to shoot, which has helped him score the ball more efficiently.
-In the win over Baylor, Carter made an outstanding no-look pass to Holton for a slam dunk. I asked Carter if that pass was a sign of his growth at the position because it wasn't too long ago he made some horrid decisions on fast breaks like when he tried an around-the-back pass at Madison Square Garden back in December. He told me yes because he didn't have the feel for driving an dishing then like he does now.
-Finally, Big 12 Sixth Man Award winner, Jaysean Paige talked to the media. Paige said the goal going to Kansas City is simple: stick around for a little while. Paige was on last year's team and knows the poor showing West Virginia has had at the tournament since the program joined the conference. Paige told me he thinks the team is playing well and heating up at the right time to do so.
-I also asked Paige about the play of Carter and Paige told me that while he doesn't really talking about other players' performances, good or bad, he honestly think Carter is probably playing the best he's played since he made the position change. Paige says if Carter can continue being reliable, between Carter and Tarik Phillip, West Virginia has two great options at point guard.
-Paige also echoed Huggins' thoughts and said that West Virginia is a better offensive team entering the tournament than the team was a year ago when it entered the Big 12 tournament.
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