--Head coach Josh Eilert said that the team is going into day seven. Saturday they rewarded them with a 20-minute scrimmage and he has been pleasantly surprised by how they are competing. Eilert said that last Tuesday was the worst practice they had and needed to go back and refocus the energy. Thursday, Friday and Saturday were great and they needed to refocus the energy.
--Guys are starting to understand what other guys can do and the more they can develop in that area the better they can be. He is trying to mix and match with the rotations. He hasn't done a starting lineup yet but is trying to keep everybody competitive and see who plays well together.
--Jeremiah Bembry has had his issues trying to learn everything because he hasn't played a game of college basketball but he surprised with 4 assists and 0 turnovers in the scrimmage. He has stepped up and the Mountaineers have good guys to mentor him. Biggest impact he will have early is on the defensive end.
--West Virginia will play a secret scrimmage this year. The way they're scheduling everything he wanted to reward them at the end of the week to get some good looks with the scrimmage and get away from the practices and the drill work. Following weekend they will have a closed scrimmage against a legit opponent.
--Seth Wilson played really well early and made shots. Kobe Johnson and Josiah Harris came out really well and it's not surprising because they have played together. The White team was Kerr Kriisa, RaeQuan Battle and Jesse Edwards. Shots weren't falling for them early, but they turned up the pressure on defense and forced overtime. The white team with Kriisa had a chance to win but it didn't fall.
--The student privacy laws he can't get in on what occurred with Jose Perez. He is proud of him for getting his degree but he can't go any further. Eilert is in charge of the basketball program and leading it, he is going to do what is in the best interest for everybody in the program. He is going to make the right decisions for the best interests of everybody.
--It will empower a lot of guys. A lot of guys on the roster that felt like they were in the background and now they see they will have a good opportunity.
--Talked about non-negotiables they are moving forward and have a great group of guys.
--Josiah Harris could benefit from this and he is an excellent kid with a great approach. He is excellent at rebounding and had 8 in that scrimmage.
--With Ofri Naveh there is a language barrier but he does so many things for them. They're prioritized diet and nutrition and the weight room and once he gets that he's going to be a force. They are looking at him to play a significant role. Da'Sean Butler had some connections there and they looked at his film and were intrigued.
--Kobe Johnson is a good defender and his confidence is starting to sky rocket. He is the most improved guy from a carry over standpoint and he is the one that's going to pick up a lot of minutes as a backup point guard as Jeremiah Bembry figures things out. If he had to go to somebody to get a stop and lock somebody down it will be Kobe Johnson.
--Eilert said it's not fair to have those conversations yet about expectations with this team. You have to put the smaller goals in place to maximize things.
--Eilert said that Perez was there for ten months but didn't play. They had every intention of him playing but there was nothing that anybody said that he would be at that level. They had a lot of guys competing for that spot.
--Nothing on RaeQuan Battle and his waiver. They are patiently waiting.
--Teams that lose with talent there are culture or chemistry issues but teams that don't have the talent can win when everybody is bought in and there are no arguments.
--The whole summer was a challenge and it was important to develop chemistry on the staff and the team.
--The team is going to play Friday at the end but it won't be structured. Eilert encourages the fans to come out and get to know the team.
--Josiah Harris said that his scholarship is paying for him to go to class so he's going to take as many as possible and get the best education that he can.
--Guys are starting to understand what other guys can do and the more they can develop in that area the better they can be. He is trying to mix and match with the rotations. He hasn't done a starting lineup yet but is trying to keep everybody competitive and see who plays well together.
--Jeremiah Bembry has had his issues trying to learn everything because he hasn't played a game of college basketball but he surprised with 4 assists and 0 turnovers in the scrimmage. He has stepped up and the Mountaineers have good guys to mentor him. Biggest impact he will have early is on the defensive end.
--West Virginia will play a secret scrimmage this year. The way they're scheduling everything he wanted to reward them at the end of the week to get some good looks with the scrimmage and get away from the practices and the drill work. Following weekend they will have a closed scrimmage against a legit opponent.
--Seth Wilson played really well early and made shots. Kobe Johnson and Josiah Harris came out really well and it's not surprising because they have played together. The White team was Kerr Kriisa, RaeQuan Battle and Jesse Edwards. Shots weren't falling for them early, but they turned up the pressure on defense and forced overtime. The white team with Kriisa had a chance to win but it didn't fall.
--The student privacy laws he can't get in on what occurred with Jose Perez. He is proud of him for getting his degree but he can't go any further. Eilert is in charge of the basketball program and leading it, he is going to do what is in the best interest for everybody in the program. He is going to make the right decisions for the best interests of everybody.
--It will empower a lot of guys. A lot of guys on the roster that felt like they were in the background and now they see they will have a good opportunity.
--Talked about non-negotiables they are moving forward and have a great group of guys.
--Josiah Harris could benefit from this and he is an excellent kid with a great approach. He is excellent at rebounding and had 8 in that scrimmage.
--With Ofri Naveh there is a language barrier but he does so many things for them. They're prioritized diet and nutrition and the weight room and once he gets that he's going to be a force. They are looking at him to play a significant role. Da'Sean Butler had some connections there and they looked at his film and were intrigued.
--Kobe Johnson is a good defender and his confidence is starting to sky rocket. He is the most improved guy from a carry over standpoint and he is the one that's going to pick up a lot of minutes as a backup point guard as Jeremiah Bembry figures things out. If he had to go to somebody to get a stop and lock somebody down it will be Kobe Johnson.
--Eilert said it's not fair to have those conversations yet about expectations with this team. You have to put the smaller goals in place to maximize things.
--Eilert said that Perez was there for ten months but didn't play. They had every intention of him playing but there was nothing that anybody said that he would be at that level. They had a lot of guys competing for that spot.
--Nothing on RaeQuan Battle and his waiver. They are patiently waiting.
--Teams that lose with talent there are culture or chemistry issues but teams that don't have the talent can win when everybody is bought in and there are no arguments.
--The whole summer was a challenge and it was important to develop chemistry on the staff and the team.
--The team is going to play Friday at the end but it won't be structured. Eilert encourages the fans to come out and get to know the team.
--Josiah Harris said that his scholarship is paying for him to go to class so he's going to take as many as possible and get the best education that he can.
