West Virginia Mountaineers
Big 12 (26-8, 13-5)
West Virginia did not make much of a splash on the national level early in the season due to a pretty easy nonconference slate. However, in retrospect, beating San Diego State 72-50 was a very good win. But their only other test was against Virginia and it was the Mountaineers who got blown out in that contest. It was not until the middle of January when WVU beat Kansas at home that the team started gaining momentum.
Big Wins: 1/12 Kansas (74-63), 1/23 at Texas Tech (80-76), 2/2 at Iowa State (97-87)
Bad Losses: 1/30 at Florida (71-88), 1/20 Texas (49-56), 2/16 at Texas (78-85)
Coach: Bob Huggins
Why They Can Surprise:
As with any team coached by Bob Huggins, West Virginia is great on the glass. Devin Williams leads the way with 9.3 rebounds per game and adds 13.3 points. Williams is a tough player on both ends of the floor and has emerged as a leader. When the offense runs through Williams, this is a very efficient offense. Jonathan Holton is the other top tier rebounder on the team. Holton is not quite as prolific as Williams in the scoring or rebounding department, but he can stretch the defense a little bit more. Nathan Adrian, Esa Ahmad and Elijah Macon give Coach Huggins plenty of frontcourt depth and options. None of those players are particularly great shot blockers, but this is a solid defensive team. There are five players who average at least one steal per game.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The guard play for WVU is solid. Jaysean Paige is a great scorer who can attack the basket and knock down the occasional long ball. The problem is this team lacks a major three-point shooting threat. Daxter Miles and Jevon Carter can hit long balls, but neither is particularly prolific or consistent. The guards are going to get open looks while the opposition keys in on Williams in the paint and Paige driving to the basket, so they need to take advantage of that and knock down those shots. Carter does a lot to facilitate the offense and leads the perimeter defensive effort, so much of the pressure is on Miles to be much more consistent in his outside shooting.
Probable Starters:
Jevon Carter, Sophomore, Guard, 9.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 spg
Daxter Miles, Sophomore, Guard, 9.7 ppg, 1.4 apg
Jonathan Holton, Senior, Forward, 8.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg
Nathan Adrian, Junior, Forward, 4.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Devin Williams, Junior, Forward, 13.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Esa Ahmad, Freshman, Forward, 4.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Elijah Macon, Sophomore, Forward, 4.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Jaysean Paige, Senior, Guard, 13.9 ppg, 1.2 apg, 3.5 rpg
Tarik Phillip, Junior, Guard, 9.4 ppg, 2.8 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 79.6 (36th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 66.2 (48, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.1 (120, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.6 (123, 5)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.9 (281, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.3 (277, 9)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.8 (281, 9)
Rebound Margin: 8.9 (8, 1)
Assists Per Game: 14.8 (82, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.7 (268, 8)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2015 NCAA Second Round win over Buffalo
2015 NCAA Third Round win over Maryland
2015 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Kentucky
2014 NIT First Round loss to Georgetown
2012 NCAA Second Round loss to Gonzaga
2011 NCAA Round of 64 win over Clemson
2011 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Kentucky
2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over Morgan State
2010 NCAA Round of 32 win over Missouri
2010 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Washington
2010 NCAA Regional final win over Kentucky
2010 NCAA National Semifinal loss to Duke
2009 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Dayton
2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over Arizona
2008 NCAA Round of 32 win over Duke
2008 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Xavier
2007 NIT First Round win over Delaware State
2007 NIT Second Round win over Massachusetts
2007 NIT Quarterfinal win over North Carolina State
2007 NIT Semifinal win over Mississippi State
2007 NIT Final win over Clemson
*all team stats through 3/6
