ADVERTISEMENT

WVSPORTS.COM West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries press conference summary

Keenan Cummings

Fact Based and Wonderful
Staff
Sep 16, 2007
111,278
240,855
688
39
--West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries said that he just wants to get a lot of the first game butterflies out. The players are excited to get into the Coliseum and play in front of the fans and see where they're at from an execution standpoint. They won't show a lot but will be pretty free and open.

--The Mountaineers haven't gotten to practice in the Coliseum yet.

--The trip to Italy helped a lot when getting guys acclimated but this is a chance to be in front of the home crowd and work through some of the early season jitters.

--Every body is in a pretty good spot injury wise.

--The two latest signees have been great and brought physicality to practice. They are still adjusting but he loves the fact that they have some extra time to develop. Both of them come in and try to catch them up as fast as they can. One is older and one is a freshman but they're both doing a lot of things together.

--DeVries said he is excited to see the pre-game stuff and walking on the carpet. Ofri Naveh is going to have to tell them where to go. They'll have to get used to the Musket at as well.

--DeVries said it is different if you're playing an opponent and the game lights are on. Those are the type of things with the group that they want to see how people respond.

--DeVries said they don't have much of a scouting report for this game but for the most part you're just trying to rely on your principles and go play. You want to keep it simple and will work on their style of play like playing fast in transition and tough on defense.

--DeVries said that players and coaches are trying to grow together and figure out how to best utilize a player, while players want to find out how they fit into what's going on.

--DeVries said he loves everything about building a staff and a roster and a program. There are challenges but how you put it together and is fun. Now you have to figure out how to win games. You have to hit the ground running and tackle what's in front of you.

--DeVries said he's seen the schedule and it's a good one but that's why they're here and they're excited about it.

--DeVries said that he tries to do a workout after a shoot around and run stuff through his head to make sure they got all the stuff they have in the scout and the game prep. The ball changes hands fast so you have to be ready to have a play.

--DeVries thinks guys offensively play better and more confidently when they know they have the freedom and confidence to trust their instincts. As long as they are doing it with the right motives and staying unselfish he has no problem with it. The only run he has is you better be practicing the shots he takes. They had a couple guys turn down a step in three at practice and he told them to shoot it again because they have put the time into it.

--The approach is to win the game but you also want to get everybody on the floor to get some experience in an exhibition game.

--Stone has been good and given them a nice little scoring punch and the roles are always in the flux.

--DeVries said he doesn't want to be satisfied or complacent and it's always about trying to squeeze out a little more and continuing to improve every single day.

--DeVries said he has general philosophies but he will not do the same thing every time with his philosophies such as putting players in with two fouls in the first half or fouling up three, etc.

--Tom Ostrom joined him at Drake and he has been at the high major level and coached and recruited and won at this level. He's somebody that gives them a vast experience that he can draw from at all times. He's enjoyed the fact he has been able to join them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JWG66
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT