MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — If not for some of West Virginia’s student managers getting set to graduate, West Virginia’s Senior Night would be nonexistent Wednesday.
That doesn’t mean a West Virginia roster that is now made up of 11 scholarship underclassmen — nine healthy enough to play — will exactly return intact next season.
In speaking about the future of the program Tuesday, WVU coach Bob Huggins said it was fair to believe that his team next season will have a different look than what takes the floor against Iowa State at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“Obviously, it’s going to be different,” Huggins said. “We’ve got scholarships to fill. We’ve got two guys coming in now. I think that’s fair.”
The dismissals of Esa Ahmad and Wes Harris in January created two scholarship openings for next season, openings that will be filled by incoming recruits Oscar Tshiebwe and Miles McBride.
The Mountaineers are recruiting several junior-college prospects, as well as other high school recruits to come in next season.
How many of those recruits who decide to come to West Virginia will go along way in determining how many current players may or may not be a part of the Mountaineers’ future.
The next signing period for college basketball begins April 15.
“Tell me the last time we had 13 guys and they all stayed,” Huggins said. “The chances are pretty good that if you’re playing behind somebody now, then you’re probably going to play behind them next year. In today’s world of instant gratification, why not leave? Particularly if you’re going to graduate and we’ve got a bunch of them going to graduate.”
Among those set to graduate in May include Beetle Bolden, who is out for the rest of the season with a high ankle sprain, as well as Chase Harler and Lamont West.
Huggins did not comment on the future of those scholarship players, or on any of his underclassmen who may look to transfer after the season.
When asked what he’s looking for on the recruiting trail, Huggins said, “We need toughness. We need a guy who is going to lock somebody down and not going to take alot of crap. This is the softest team I’ve ever been around. I think Derek [Culver] will grow into that, but it takes more than just one.”
As far as the immediate future, WVU’s postseason chances hinge on either winning the Big 12 tournament or possibly taking a look at playing in the CBI.
“There’s pluses and minuses [to the CBI],” Huggins said. “I think the pluses are all the young guys I have will get a lot more practice. The negative side is attitudes and worrying about all of that stuff. To a degree, you want it to be a positive experience. You’d like to end the season on a good note.”
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