Post by rainman on Oct 16, 2007 5:46:19 GMT -5
Huggins: Players’ enthusiasm is terrific
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— “I thought their enthusiasm was terrific,” Coach Bob Huggins said Monday of the West Virginia University men’s basketball squad after the first two full practices.
“It’s a lot more fun when everyone is enthusiastic about playing. They have been terrific. We’ll see how it goes the rest of the week.”
Huggins, who took over last April from John Beilein (now at Michigan), noted that the players he inherited have picked things up really well.
“I think we are making a lot of progress,” he said.
Told that a couple of players thought the practices are pretty physical, Huggins replied: “That’s a matter of opinion. It hasn’t been all that physical yet.
“We are going to be more physical. But it has not been all that bad yet. I haven’t had any disappointments at all.”
But the veteran coach said he has been pleasantly surprised at how quickly the players have picked up things.
“I think they really have learned very quickly,” Huggins continued. “We just have to get more depth.”
That’s a chief concern which he has expressed previously.
“I think everybody realizes the five or six guys who have played a bunch,” he said. “We have to get more guys that can be effective for us.”
Huggins, a Morgantown native who grew up mostly in Ohio, admittedly watches a lot of practice tape.
“We’re putting things in now,” he said. “In another week, it will be much more important. I think if they were not running into each other right now, there probably would be something wrong. I watch a lot.”
Asked about the early development of his offense and defense, Huggins replied:
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. We have to get really sound in the half-court. Then, once we get sound at half-court, we are planning on extending it.
“It’s all a matter of habit. It’s doing things a bunch of times so you remember what you’re doing. As long as they continue with the same kind of enthusiasm, it’s fine.
“I know we as coaches have had fun coaching them, and I think they have had a good time learning and playing. It’s still basketball.”
Huggins confirmed that the players are going to have a little more freedom than they did under Beilein. They’re going to run more of a motion style that gives them that freedom.
But he stressed that you have to have some rules or it can turn into chaos. “They have been good, real good,” he continued. “I don’t have anything negative to say at all.”
All practice sessions in men’s basketball are closed to the public.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— “I thought their enthusiasm was terrific,” Coach Bob Huggins said Monday of the West Virginia University men’s basketball squad after the first two full practices.
“It’s a lot more fun when everyone is enthusiastic about playing. They have been terrific. We’ll see how it goes the rest of the week.”
Huggins, who took over last April from John Beilein (now at Michigan), noted that the players he inherited have picked things up really well.
“I think we are making a lot of progress,” he said.
Told that a couple of players thought the practices are pretty physical, Huggins replied: “That’s a matter of opinion. It hasn’t been all that physical yet.
“We are going to be more physical. But it has not been all that bad yet. I haven’t had any disappointments at all.”
But the veteran coach said he has been pleasantly surprised at how quickly the players have picked up things.
“I think they really have learned very quickly,” Huggins continued. “We just have to get more depth.”
That’s a chief concern which he has expressed previously.
“I think everybody realizes the five or six guys who have played a bunch,” he said. “We have to get more guys that can be effective for us.”
Huggins, a Morgantown native who grew up mostly in Ohio, admittedly watches a lot of practice tape.
“We’re putting things in now,” he said. “In another week, it will be much more important. I think if they were not running into each other right now, there probably would be something wrong. I watch a lot.”
Asked about the early development of his offense and defense, Huggins replied:
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. We have to get really sound in the half-court. Then, once we get sound at half-court, we are planning on extending it.
“It’s all a matter of habit. It’s doing things a bunch of times so you remember what you’re doing. As long as they continue with the same kind of enthusiasm, it’s fine.
“I know we as coaches have had fun coaching them, and I think they have had a good time learning and playing. It’s still basketball.”
Huggins confirmed that the players are going to have a little more freedom than they did under Beilein. They’re going to run more of a motion style that gives them that freedom.
But he stressed that you have to have some rules or it can turn into chaos. “They have been good, real good,” he continued. “I don’t have anything negative to say at all.”
All practice sessions in men’s basketball are closed to the public.
