Post by rainman on Nov 27, 2007 6:37:59 GMT -5
WVU men host UMES
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— The West Virginia University men’s basketball team returns to the Coliseum Tuesday night for a game against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
The tip-off is set for 7 o’clock.
Coach Bob Huggins’ club is coming off a split in the Legends Classic Final Four at Newark, N.J. After dropping a 74-72 decision to No. 7-ranked Tennessee, the Mountaineers (3-1) defeated New Mexico State, 75-61, for third place in the tournament.
Maryland Eastern Shore (1-5) has not won since Nov. 15, when the Hawks eked out a 53-52 victory over Stony Brook. They bowed 71-58 to Florida Gulf Coast University last Saturday.
“Their guards are good,” Huggins said Monday. “They played Iowa right down to the end at Iowa (losing 65-48). They’ve got guards that are very capable.”
UMES also lost to Bradley 98-71, Virginia Commonwealth 70-51 and Valparaiso 66-55.
Huggins said, “We’ve got to become more physical inside so we can rebound better. I did think the intensity were better on Friday (vs. Tennessee) than on Saturday.”
He thought both WVU and New Mexico State probably were a little tired Saturday and didn’t have the same intensity.
That could be one reason the Mountaineers made fewer turnovers (9) against New Mexico State than Tennessee (19).
“We have breakdowns at times,” Huggins noted. “We haven’t figured out yet how important possessions are. But these guys really want to win, and they really want to do things right.”
While WVU used 11 players in the close contest with Tennessee, Huggins said he hasn’t settled on a top eight yet.
“Right now we’re just trying to win some games,” he said.
Four players are averaging double digits in scoring. Alex Ruoff, 6-6 junior guard, leads the way with 16.5 points per game. Da’Sean Butler, 6-7 sophomore forward, is next at 13.0. Darris Nichols, 6-3 senior, is scoring at an 11.8 clip and 6-8 junior forward Joe Alexander at 10.5.
Jamie Smalligan, 7-0 senior center, rounds out the opening cast. He’s averaging 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.
Alexander, who had a double-double against New Mexico State, is rebounding at a team-best 7.3 rate per game. Huggins thinks he can become a greater force, especially in the offensive boards.
“Joe is young and has to think about things,” the coach explained. “I think once he gets to react, rather than have to think about what he’s got to do, you’re going to see more from him.”
Maryland Eastern Shore starts three forwards and two guards. Ed Tyson, 6-2 junior guard, is averaging 20.2 points per game. He’s the player WVU must try to contain.
Denzel Jackson, 6-6 freshman, is rebounding at a 6.5 gait.
This is only the second meeting between the two schools. WVU prevailed a year ago by 95-49 in the Coliseum.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— The West Virginia University men’s basketball team returns to the Coliseum Tuesday night for a game against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
The tip-off is set for 7 o’clock.
Coach Bob Huggins’ club is coming off a split in the Legends Classic Final Four at Newark, N.J. After dropping a 74-72 decision to No. 7-ranked Tennessee, the Mountaineers (3-1) defeated New Mexico State, 75-61, for third place in the tournament.
Maryland Eastern Shore (1-5) has not won since Nov. 15, when the Hawks eked out a 53-52 victory over Stony Brook. They bowed 71-58 to Florida Gulf Coast University last Saturday.
“Their guards are good,” Huggins said Monday. “They played Iowa right down to the end at Iowa (losing 65-48). They’ve got guards that are very capable.”
UMES also lost to Bradley 98-71, Virginia Commonwealth 70-51 and Valparaiso 66-55.
Huggins said, “We’ve got to become more physical inside so we can rebound better. I did think the intensity were better on Friday (vs. Tennessee) than on Saturday.”
He thought both WVU and New Mexico State probably were a little tired Saturday and didn’t have the same intensity.
That could be one reason the Mountaineers made fewer turnovers (9) against New Mexico State than Tennessee (19).
“We have breakdowns at times,” Huggins noted. “We haven’t figured out yet how important possessions are. But these guys really want to win, and they really want to do things right.”
While WVU used 11 players in the close contest with Tennessee, Huggins said he hasn’t settled on a top eight yet.
“Right now we’re just trying to win some games,” he said.
Four players are averaging double digits in scoring. Alex Ruoff, 6-6 junior guard, leads the way with 16.5 points per game. Da’Sean Butler, 6-7 sophomore forward, is next at 13.0. Darris Nichols, 6-3 senior, is scoring at an 11.8 clip and 6-8 junior forward Joe Alexander at 10.5.
Jamie Smalligan, 7-0 senior center, rounds out the opening cast. He’s averaging 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.
Alexander, who had a double-double against New Mexico State, is rebounding at a team-best 7.3 rate per game. Huggins thinks he can become a greater force, especially in the offensive boards.
“Joe is young and has to think about things,” the coach explained. “I think once he gets to react, rather than have to think about what he’s got to do, you’re going to see more from him.”
Maryland Eastern Shore starts three forwards and two guards. Ed Tyson, 6-2 junior guard, is averaging 20.2 points per game. He’s the player WVU must try to contain.
Denzel Jackson, 6-6 freshman, is rebounding at a 6.5 gait.
This is only the second meeting between the two schools. WVU prevailed a year ago by 95-49 in the Coliseum.
