Post by rainman on Oct 12, 2007 6:19:27 GMT -5
Huggins: ‘We’re excited to get going’
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— “We’re excited to get going,” Bob Huggins said Thursday of his first season as the West Virginia University men’s basketball coach.
“We’ve been working with our players two hours a week, and it’s hard to get much done in that short a time.
“But these guys have been terrific. I think they’re really looking forward to getting started.”
Huggins, a Morgantown native and WVU alumnus who succeeded John Beilein on April 3, has an amazing 590-211 record (.737 percent) for 25 seasons as a head collegiate coach.
He admittedly was tired Thursday, coming off a trip to the West Coast. But he’s anxious to begin preseason practice at Friday night’s Mountaineer Madness event.
Gates will open at 8 o’clock, and WVU fans are urged to attend and get autographs from members of both the women’s and men’s teams.
Huggins said all of the players he inherited have gained strength as well as weight. That’s what he had asked them to do when he took over the program.
“I think Joe Mazzulla (6-2, 190 sophomore) is tough and pretty competitive,” he reported. “I think he’s probably stood out.
“And I think we’ve had a couple other guys who are very competitive. When you gain muscle mass, you’re going to gain some weight.
“I think Joe Alexander (6-8, 210 junior) probably has made the biggest gain.”
Asked about reports that WVU will go with a smaller lineup this year, Huggins responded:
“Well, we don’t really have a choice. We’re just not very big. But I’ve always felt like (opponents) have to guard us, too.
“If we can take some of the bigger people that we play and then be faster, I think we can be effective that way.”
However, Huggins said he’s not as concerned about how small his players are as he is about not having a lot of experience or depth, particularly on the front line.
He revealed that 6-2 Darris Nichols, one of just two seniors on the roster, again will be the starting point guard.
“We’re going to give Darris the ball, and he’s going to be really in charge of running things for us,” the veteran coach said.
“I think the biggest change for him is that, defensively, he’s going to be at the point rather than at the basket like he was in the 1-3-1 zone. We’re going to start everything off, offensively and defensively, with him.”
Huggins’ chief concern, he noted, is the lack of depth up front.
But he also expressed concern that a lot of those who are going to play for him really are young and short on experience.
“So you have the tendency, when not as experienced, to make some dumb fouls and kinda put yourself in a position you probably wouldn’t later on in your career,” Huggins explained.
But he emphasized that he likes his players’ attitude and willingness to work hard.
“I think, by and large, they’ve been pretty good,” he said. “Some of them have got to compete a little harder, though.
“But I think all of them have made strides in that regard. We’ve got a lot of young kids. Seven guys were in last year’s freshman class, and we have only two seniors and two juniors.
“So the majority are young. And then you have the big freshman class because of redshirting and a big sophomore class.”
His thinking is that a team isn’t always going to shoot the ball well and, as a result, must rely on help from other areas such rebounding, defense and not turning the ball over.
“But you’ve got to get shots, and you’ve got to get to the foul line as well,” Huggins said.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— “We’re excited to get going,” Bob Huggins said Thursday of his first season as the West Virginia University men’s basketball coach.
“We’ve been working with our players two hours a week, and it’s hard to get much done in that short a time.
“But these guys have been terrific. I think they’re really looking forward to getting started.”
Huggins, a Morgantown native and WVU alumnus who succeeded John Beilein on April 3, has an amazing 590-211 record (.737 percent) for 25 seasons as a head collegiate coach.
He admittedly was tired Thursday, coming off a trip to the West Coast. But he’s anxious to begin preseason practice at Friday night’s Mountaineer Madness event.
Gates will open at 8 o’clock, and WVU fans are urged to attend and get autographs from members of both the women’s and men’s teams.
Huggins said all of the players he inherited have gained strength as well as weight. That’s what he had asked them to do when he took over the program.
“I think Joe Mazzulla (6-2, 190 sophomore) is tough and pretty competitive,” he reported. “I think he’s probably stood out.
“And I think we’ve had a couple other guys who are very competitive. When you gain muscle mass, you’re going to gain some weight.
“I think Joe Alexander (6-8, 210 junior) probably has made the biggest gain.”
Asked about reports that WVU will go with a smaller lineup this year, Huggins responded:
“Well, we don’t really have a choice. We’re just not very big. But I’ve always felt like (opponents) have to guard us, too.
“If we can take some of the bigger people that we play and then be faster, I think we can be effective that way.”
However, Huggins said he’s not as concerned about how small his players are as he is about not having a lot of experience or depth, particularly on the front line.
He revealed that 6-2 Darris Nichols, one of just two seniors on the roster, again will be the starting point guard.
“We’re going to give Darris the ball, and he’s going to be really in charge of running things for us,” the veteran coach said.
“I think the biggest change for him is that, defensively, he’s going to be at the point rather than at the basket like he was in the 1-3-1 zone. We’re going to start everything off, offensively and defensively, with him.”
Huggins’ chief concern, he noted, is the lack of depth up front.
But he also expressed concern that a lot of those who are going to play for him really are young and short on experience.
“So you have the tendency, when not as experienced, to make some dumb fouls and kinda put yourself in a position you probably wouldn’t later on in your career,” Huggins explained.
But he emphasized that he likes his players’ attitude and willingness to work hard.
“I think, by and large, they’ve been pretty good,” he said. “Some of them have got to compete a little harder, though.
“But I think all of them have made strides in that regard. We’ve got a lot of young kids. Seven guys were in last year’s freshman class, and we have only two seniors and two juniors.
“So the majority are young. And then you have the big freshman class because of redshirting and a big sophomore class.”
His thinking is that a team isn’t always going to shoot the ball well and, as a result, must rely on help from other areas such rebounding, defense and not turning the ball over.
“But you’ve got to get shots, and you’ve got to get to the foul line as well,” Huggins said.
