MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — In a season that is sure to be hectic and where chaos has already been felt by the WVU men’s basketball coaching staff in terms of scheduling, Bob Huggins is trying to take a simplistic approach as possible.
“I’m trying to deal with today and let tomorrow fall as it may,” Huggins said before the 15th-ranked Mountaineers headed off to Sioux Falls, S.D. for Wednesday’s Crossover Classic.
There are milestones within reach, to be sure. Huggins is nine wins shy of 300 at WVU and 19 away from 900 for his career.
But just getting to the start of this season probably couldn’t come soon enough.
The Mountaineers are scheduled to face South Dakota State in the first round, but the Jackrabbits are already the third opponent WVU has had to prepare for.
In what has been an ever-changing bracket, the Mountaineers spent most of the offseason getting ready for Texas A&M, but the Aggies opted out of the tournament last week.
In the days leading up to the tournament, Northern Iowa was substituted for Texas A&M and then South Dakota State became the opponent when Crossover Classic officials adjusted the bracket.
In all, six teams have dropped out of the original field. The need to get in as many games as possible this season, Huggins said, was a major reason why the Mountaineers remained in the tournament.
“We need to play games,” Huggins said. “Not having a scrimmage or an exhibition like we’ve had in the past has kept some guys from getting some important reps that they would have gotten before.
“We’ve got to get those guys ready and our guys are getting tired of getting fouled by the same guys in practice, so I think the best thing for everyone is to go out and play.”
So, as the season draws near, here are some of the hot topics surrounding the Mountaineers:
Who has the point?
Maybe part of the beauty of basketball is there are no real position battles.
Whether sophomore Deuce McBride or junior Jordan McCabe gets the start at point guard, it’s not like Huggins will keep the other straddled to the bench.
In some instances, it’s possible both players could play at the same time.
“I think Deuce has improved tremendously,” Huggins said. “He’s really studied being a point guard and getting people the ball. At the same time, he’s probably our best guy at creating his own shot.
“Jordan’s understanding is just so much better. He’s worked a bunch on his shot, but his understanding of when guys are coming open and where to get them the ball is so much better. I’ve been very pleased with our point guards.”
McBride averaged 22 minutes per game last season, but started only twice. McCabe started 29 times, but played just 13.5 minutes per game.
Huggins has always liked having an impact player come off the bench, so you could see McCabe getting the starts again, but McBride getting a bulk of the minutes.
Freshman impact
From most accounts, the play of freshman forwards Jalen Bridges and Isaiah Cottrell will be a welcomed addition to WVU’s roster.
Both were top 100 recruits, and Bridges sat out last season as a redshirt.
“Every day I try to push Jalen, because I know what his potential is,” WVU forward Emmitt Matthews Jr. said. “He’s long-armed and tall and he can shoot the ball really well and he can get to the basket and finish. There’s really not anything in his game that I don’t like, and he’s only going to get better.”
Cottrell averaged 18.9 points and 9.3 rebounds as a senior at Huntington Prep last season and has the ability to take his 6-foot-10 frame and shoot from the outside.
“I think the biggest thing for Isaiah is physicality,” Huggins said. “It’s a huge difference between playing high school and playing at this level. He’s learning and he’s become much better as a rebounder.
“The great thing about Isaiah is he can step out and make shots. He can’t clog up the floor, because he can step out and make shots.”
Picking it up
Through 10 games last season, Matthews was shooting 47% from the field and averaging 10.6 points per game.
He finished at 39% and 6.3 points per game.
Finding consistency, he said, was something he worked on in the offseason.
“That was kind of my first year playing in a bigger role,” Matthews said. “I went out there the first few games and did whatever and it was working. When it didn’t work for me, I kind of folded up into a ball instead of staying resilient and confident and just playing my game.
“This year, I’ll be more confident. A lot of it will be in being right mentally and going out there knowing I can play my game and not worrying about the other things going on.”
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