SAN DIEGO — WVU has maintained only intermittent flashes of “Press Virginia” this season, pulling back from its full-court traps once the most skilled opponents proved unaffected.
“I didn’t do a very good job recruiting to this system this year,” Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins said March 15, on the eve of an NCAA first-round game against Murray State. “Compared to the previous two years, we don’t have near the foot speed that we had before, and when you’re talking about covering the amount of area that our guys cover, foot speed is important.”
Teams such as Kansas, Texas Tech and even Big 12 cellar-dweller Iowa State punished the press with open looks on the back end. The Mountaineers have a 2-7 record when the opponent shoots 45 percent or better.
Yet WVU still forces 16.5 turnovers per game, 10th-most in the nation.
“We’ve played against pressing teams, but we know this will be different,” Murray State coach Matt McMahon said.
BOARDS DECISIVE?
Ohio Valley Conference player of the year Jonathan Stark, a 21-points-per-game scorer, didn’t highlight his offense as the key to Murray State upsetting WVU.
“I think we are going to have to out-rebound them,” he said.
While Murray State is solid offensively — 52nd in the KenPom efficiency ratings — it doesn’t push tempo. Fast-break opportunities will be sacrificed in order to secure defensive boards.
“We’ve been a good rebounding team all season long, but this is about to be another level with West Virginia being fourth in the country in offensive rebound percentage,” McMahon said. “We’re going to have to gang rebound with all five.”
THE RULE OF 3S
Led by Stark, the Racers shoot better than 37 percent from 3-point range, which ranks among the top 50 in Division I.
WVU surrenders 37-percent shooting on 3s, among the bottom 50 in the nation (307th overall).
“I think it’s about knowing who you’re trapping, and knowing who the person is that you’re leaving,” WVU freshman Teddy Allen said. “If you’re leaving a shooter, you need to make sure the next guy over there is rotating so they don’t get a wide-open shot.”
