UNCASVILLE, Conn. — West Virginia will suit up for Sunday’s 1 p.m. Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase, at the Mohegan Sun Casino, betting that facing one team from the Atlantic 10 won’t be like the first time.
West Virginia’s 97-90 victory against St. Joseph’s in Myrtle Beach was an offensive showcase featuring a combined 28 3-pointers.
That’s just two less than Rhode Island (4-3) has made all season.
“Our defense is much more ahead of our offensive game, that’s for sure,” said Rhode Island coach David Cox, who is in his first season taking over for former coach Danny Hurley. “Our defense has been pretty solid. That’s been a part of our culture and program, particularly under Danny’s leadership for the last four or five years. I’ve made it a point with this new staff to continue to emphasize the importance of defense and it’s actually paid huge dividends for us early, because we have not shot the ball well. Defense has kept us in games.”
Cox was an assistant under Hurley during a run that saw the Rams win 51 games over the last two seasons and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament both times. He was promoted to head coach after Hurley left to become Connecticut’s coach.
“We obviously lost a lot from last year,” Cox said. “We lost five seniors from that team. It’s a completely different team. We have guys in new roles. We have four freshmen playing in our rotation.”
What the Rams have retained is a defensive mentality that has led to their opponents shooting just 24.7 percent from 3-point range and held to 63.4 points per game.
The Mountaineers (6-3), too, are a team that is improving defensively.
“We’re getting better,” Huggins said. “We were not very good early, but I think with each practice and with each game we get better and better. I thought our intensity for the Pitt game was very good. It was the best it’s ever been. We have guys who are learning. The more games we play and the more practices we get, the better we’ll get.”
In what was West Virginia’s most physical game of the season, West Virginia held the Panthers to just 31.5 percent shooting from the floor — the lowest a team has shot against the Mountaineers and the third straight game WVU has held an opponent to under 40 percent.
“Defensively, we’re improving in our rotations and guys are understanding more on where to be,” West Virginia guard Chase Harler said. “We’re starting to believe more in what we can accomplish on defense.”
This matchup could serve as another opportunity for West Virginia to turn in a strong defensive performance.
Rhode Island averages just 69.4 points per game and is shooting 39.9 percent from the field as a team and just 20 percent from 3-point range.
The Rams have connected on 45 percent of its shots or better in just four games.
In their 79-63 victory against Holy Cross last week, they hit for 49 percent from the field, but went just 3 of 18 from 3-point range.
Junior point guard Jeff Dowtin is the Rams’ top scorer at 16.6 points per game. He was a role player and distributor for Rhode Island the last two seasons, but is now the Rams’ go-to guy.
“Jeff has been a leader on and off the floor for the last couple of years,” Cox said. “He’s on the floor for us more than anyone else.”
The game is part of a series put on by the Naismith Hall of Fame and is meant to promote the Hall.
The other two games — Washington vs. Virginia Tech, Penn State vs. North Carolina State — were played Saturday in Atlantic City.
Following the completion of final exams, the Mountaineers arrived in Springfield, Mass. on Friday to tour the Hall of Fame before moving on to the Mohegan Sun.
It will be West Virginia’s first game in a casino since playing in the 2015 Las Vegas Invitational, at the Orleans Arena.
“I think it’s important that our guys understand the history, particularly in light of the fact that we have three former players [from WVU] in the Hall of Fame,” Huggins said, noting that former standouts Jerry West, Rod Hundley and Rod Thorn are enshrined as a player, a broadcaster and an executive. “I was fortunate enough this year to be with Rod Thorn when he was put into the Hall of Fame. I think it’s important our guys understand the history and tradition that West Virginia basketball brings.”
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