Post by rainman on Nov 17, 2007 8:47:22 GMT -5
WVU prevails 81-53 to mark Huggins’ debut
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— The West Virginia University men’s basketball team made Bob Huggins’ official debut as the head coach a success Friday night.
But Arkansas-Monticello, a Division II team, stayed within shouting distance of the Mountaineers for about 14 minutes when it trailed by just five points at 27-22.
West Virginia then responded with a 14-0 tear that opened up a 17-point advantage at 41-24 with 2:04 left in the first half. It was 45-30 at halftime.
A Coliseum crowd of 8,371 saw this first-round game of the StubHub! Legends Classic which wound up as an 81-53 blowout.
It hardly was a work of art, however, as both teams struggled at times in a fast-paced, mistake-filled battle. They combined for a staggering 45 turnovers — 27 by the Boll Weevils.
WVU shots 46.3 percent (31-67) while holding Arkansas-Monticello to 38.2 percent (21-55).
Huggins had to be encouraged by his team’s boardwork. It came up with 41 rebounds, including a game-high nine by 6-9 sophomore Da’Sean Butler.
“We’ve got to have pride in rebounding the ball,” Huggins said. “It creates offense for you. If you shoot as many threes as we do, and you don’t make them, you will get drilled.”
The Boll Weevils had 30 rebounds, seven by 6-6 sophomore forward Derek Easter.
“We’re really young,” Huggins reiterated. “We have two seniors and two juniors, and the other guys haven’t done much. It’s just going to take some guys time to get to where we want to go.”
West Virginia attempted 31 shots from three-point range and made only eight. Ruoff was 3-for-8.
Arkansas-Monticello hit on seven of 20 threes.
Alex Ruoff scored a game-high 17 points to lead four Mountaineers in double digits. Twelve of his points came in the first half.
Butler was next with 14 points, while Joe Alexander and Jamie Smalligan chipped in 12 each. Alexander, 6-8 junior forward, had just one point and two rebounds in the first half.
Deron Brown, 5-10 junior guard, and Giovanni Marchetti, 6-4 sophomore, tallied 13 points apiece to lead the visitors. Easter had 12.
The Mountaineers picked up at the start of the second half where they had left off at intermission. Another 10-0 run widened the gap to 25 points at 55-30.
The largest lead was 30 points at 81-51 on Josh Sowards’ jumper just before time ticked out.
Huggins was surrounded by relatives and friends for his first official game at his alma mater.
“My dad was here, my sister was here, and my brother was here,” he said. “There’s so many people through the years that I’ve remained close with. It’s good to be around friends and family, and it’s good to be at a university that you love.
“It’s always been a part of our family.”
West Virginia now moves into the second round of the Legends Classic against Prairie View A&M. The game will be played at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Coliseum.
Then the fun really starts next week when the Mountaineers must go up against Tennessee on Nov. 23 in the semifinals at Newark, N.J. Texas plays New Mexico State in the other semifinal.
The championship contest will follow on Nov. 24 at the same site.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— The West Virginia University men’s basketball team made Bob Huggins’ official debut as the head coach a success Friday night.
But Arkansas-Monticello, a Division II team, stayed within shouting distance of the Mountaineers for about 14 minutes when it trailed by just five points at 27-22.
West Virginia then responded with a 14-0 tear that opened up a 17-point advantage at 41-24 with 2:04 left in the first half. It was 45-30 at halftime.
A Coliseum crowd of 8,371 saw this first-round game of the StubHub! Legends Classic which wound up as an 81-53 blowout.
It hardly was a work of art, however, as both teams struggled at times in a fast-paced, mistake-filled battle. They combined for a staggering 45 turnovers — 27 by the Boll Weevils.
WVU shots 46.3 percent (31-67) while holding Arkansas-Monticello to 38.2 percent (21-55).
Huggins had to be encouraged by his team’s boardwork. It came up with 41 rebounds, including a game-high nine by 6-9 sophomore Da’Sean Butler.
“We’ve got to have pride in rebounding the ball,” Huggins said. “It creates offense for you. If you shoot as many threes as we do, and you don’t make them, you will get drilled.”
The Boll Weevils had 30 rebounds, seven by 6-6 sophomore forward Derek Easter.
“We’re really young,” Huggins reiterated. “We have two seniors and two juniors, and the other guys haven’t done much. It’s just going to take some guys time to get to where we want to go.”
West Virginia attempted 31 shots from three-point range and made only eight. Ruoff was 3-for-8.
Arkansas-Monticello hit on seven of 20 threes.
Alex Ruoff scored a game-high 17 points to lead four Mountaineers in double digits. Twelve of his points came in the first half.
Butler was next with 14 points, while Joe Alexander and Jamie Smalligan chipped in 12 each. Alexander, 6-8 junior forward, had just one point and two rebounds in the first half.
Deron Brown, 5-10 junior guard, and Giovanni Marchetti, 6-4 sophomore, tallied 13 points apiece to lead the visitors. Easter had 12.
The Mountaineers picked up at the start of the second half where they had left off at intermission. Another 10-0 run widened the gap to 25 points at 55-30.
The largest lead was 30 points at 81-51 on Josh Sowards’ jumper just before time ticked out.
Huggins was surrounded by relatives and friends for his first official game at his alma mater.
“My dad was here, my sister was here, and my brother was here,” he said. “There’s so many people through the years that I’ve remained close with. It’s good to be around friends and family, and it’s good to be at a university that you love.
“It’s always been a part of our family.”
West Virginia now moves into the second round of the Legends Classic against Prairie View A&M. The game will be played at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Coliseum.
Then the fun really starts next week when the Mountaineers must go up against Tennessee on Nov. 23 in the semifinals at Newark, N.J. Texas plays New Mexico State in the other semifinal.
The championship contest will follow on Nov. 24 at the same site.
