Post by cviller on Dec 10, 2007 11:26:23 GMT -5
WVU players excited about plans for basketball-only practice gym
By Mike Casazza
Daily Mail sportswriter
MORGANTOWN - Alex Ruoff had mixed feelings about West Virginia's plans for a basketball-only practice facility.
"It's a bummer because I'm probably not going to be here when it opens," the junior guard from Spring Hill, Fla., said. "But I'm excited because that stuff matters to recruits. I still remember when I toured Florida State and their practice facility.
"It was state of the art. It helps attract recruits and get them on campus. It's only going to help the program here."
WVU confirmed plans last week for a privately funded, 50,000-square foot facility. The men's and women's basketball teams presently share the Coliseum, but also have to deal with volleyball and gymnastics as well as concerts and other events that frequently force the basketball teams to adjust their schedules.
"It'll be nice to have a place for people to go and practice and get some actual shots whenever they want," sophomore forward Wellington Smith said. "We'll have a gym where we won't have to worry about so many other things. It's going to be nice to have a place to call your own."
The facility, which will be located behind the Coliseum, will have separate courts for men's and women's basketball, as well as offices for the staffs and rooms for meetings and lounging.
The expected cost is around $20 million and construction would begin once the appropriate amount of money has been received from donors.
The architectural firm Ellerbee Becket, which is helping WVU with its construction of a Coliseum scoreboard, is expected to deliver a construction plan before Christmas. Once the building begins, the project should be complete in roughly two years.
The practice facility has been talked about for some time now and was desired by former coach John Beilein. Plans intensified after Bob Huggins was hired in April.
"You look around the country and everybody who has a legitimate basketball program has one, or is in the process of getting one,'' he said.
In each of the past two offseasons, the men's team has been forced to vacate the Coliseum and conduct workouts at Morgantown High. Some preseason workouts were at the student recreation center this year, which seemed odd to a team that had just won the NIT and was expected to prepare itself for a new head coach.
"It gets annoying," Ruoff said. "There are plenty of different things that interfere when sometimes you just want to shoot but you can't. This is a chance to have our own place."
Many Mountaineers said when they were recruited, WVU's facilities were a factor and the lack of a practice place was considered.
That won't be a problem much longer and the addition will benefit the school's image.
"That's definitely going to change the way people look at West Virginia," sophomore guard Joe Mazzulla said. "If we want to be a big-time program, now you not only see Bob Huggins and his style of play and the environment, but now there are great facilities, too. It's a definite plus."
By Mike Casazza
Daily Mail sportswriter
MORGANTOWN - Alex Ruoff had mixed feelings about West Virginia's plans for a basketball-only practice facility.
"It's a bummer because I'm probably not going to be here when it opens," the junior guard from Spring Hill, Fla., said. "But I'm excited because that stuff matters to recruits. I still remember when I toured Florida State and their practice facility.
"It was state of the art. It helps attract recruits and get them on campus. It's only going to help the program here."
WVU confirmed plans last week for a privately funded, 50,000-square foot facility. The men's and women's basketball teams presently share the Coliseum, but also have to deal with volleyball and gymnastics as well as concerts and other events that frequently force the basketball teams to adjust their schedules.
"It'll be nice to have a place for people to go and practice and get some actual shots whenever they want," sophomore forward Wellington Smith said. "We'll have a gym where we won't have to worry about so many other things. It's going to be nice to have a place to call your own."
The facility, which will be located behind the Coliseum, will have separate courts for men's and women's basketball, as well as offices for the staffs and rooms for meetings and lounging.
The expected cost is around $20 million and construction would begin once the appropriate amount of money has been received from donors.
The architectural firm Ellerbee Becket, which is helping WVU with its construction of a Coliseum scoreboard, is expected to deliver a construction plan before Christmas. Once the building begins, the project should be complete in roughly two years.
The practice facility has been talked about for some time now and was desired by former coach John Beilein. Plans intensified after Bob Huggins was hired in April.
"You look around the country and everybody who has a legitimate basketball program has one, or is in the process of getting one,'' he said.
In each of the past two offseasons, the men's team has been forced to vacate the Coliseum and conduct workouts at Morgantown High. Some preseason workouts were at the student recreation center this year, which seemed odd to a team that had just won the NIT and was expected to prepare itself for a new head coach.
"It gets annoying," Ruoff said. "There are plenty of different things that interfere when sometimes you just want to shoot but you can't. This is a chance to have our own place."
Many Mountaineers said when they were recruited, WVU's facilities were a factor and the lack of a practice place was considered.
That won't be a problem much longer and the addition will benefit the school's image.
"That's definitely going to change the way people look at West Virginia," sophomore guard Joe Mazzulla said. "If we want to be a big-time program, now you not only see Bob Huggins and his style of play and the environment, but now there are great facilities, too. It's a definite plus."