Huggins: ‘I still got all the faith in the world that this team is going to get turned around’

MORGANTOWN — The last time West Virginia was in the midst of a five-game losing streak — back in 2019 — Bob Huggins’ plan was more about fixing the future of the program.

He had dismissed two seniors and began using a lineup of three true freshmen against the best the Big 12 had to offer with the thought of it making WVU more prepared the following season.

WVU (13-7, 2-5 Big 12) travels to No. 4 Baylor (18-3, 6-2) at 9 p.m. Monday to play in the Ferrell Center, an arena the Mountaineers have not experienced a victory since 2018.

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At risk is a sixth consecutive defeat, which would be only the second time that’s happened at WVU during Huggins’ 15 years on the sideline.

Yet there are striking differences between what the Mountaineers are dealing with now and what transpired in 2019.

Huggins is the first to admit the Mountaineers are currently dealing with some attitude issues that have sprung up in what has been a difficult stretch of the season.

“We’ve had some guys who feels it’s more about them than it is about our team,” Huggins said Saturday, after WVU fell to Arkansas 77-68.

But he is also quick to note that there is a major difference between attitude problems and character issues.

“They’re not bad guys, they’re not any of that,” Huggins continued. “They just get into a game and the first thing for them is how do I get a shot, not how do I help the team?”

That, in itself, is a problem, but not one that Huggins believes can’t be fixed sooner rather than begin looking at next season.

“I still got all the faith in the world that this team is going to get turned around,” Huggins said. “We’re going to get it turned around. We are playing in the hardest league in the country. I think you all sometimes forget that, but we’re going to come out of it. I believe that. I believe that with all my heart and I think you guys know me well enough that I wouldn’t lie to you about it.”

And so the Mountaineers will play the Bears, who began this season with 15 consecutive wins and was once ranked No. 1 in the country, with the thought of pulling off a major upset that could right a lot that’s gone wrong in recent weeks.

“I’m looking forward to playing Baylor,” Huggins said. “I’m looking forward to playing Baylor in Waco. I think we’re coming. I think we’re coming in the right direction.”

Baylor, too, has struggled recently, going 3-3 over its last six games.

What was once one of the most difficult defenses to score against in the Big 12 just gave up 87 points in its loss to Alabama on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide shot nearly 60% from the floor (29 of 49) for the game and scored 49 points in the second half to secure the 87-78 victory.

“Rebounding-wise, that was an area that we thought we’d do a little bit better in the first half, and we didn’t,” Baylor coach Scott Drew told The Associated Press after the game. “The second half, when we got down, they scored too many points in transition, again too many turnovers from us. And then the big thing is at the end of day, points in the paint.”

Baylor played without guard L.J. Cryer against Alabama. Cryer was out with foot soreness. He scored 25 points against the Mountaineers on Jan. 18.

Baylor point guard James Akinjo sat out the first meeting against WVU this season with a bad back.
He did return to play against Alabama, but was held to just eight points on 4 of 13 shooting over 32 minutes.

With it’s losing streak, the Mountaineers have likely fallen out of at-large consideration for the NCAA tournament, but many opportunities await to help WVU climb back into contention.

Today’s game against Baylor is the first of three straight games against Top 25 teams, with No. 13 Texas Tech and No. 23 Iowa State to follow.

“It’s not tough, it’s an opportunity,” Huggins said. “It’s an opportunity for those guys heading to the bus better feel the same way.”

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