The Diehard Breakdown: WV 69 Marshall 66

[WvuDieHard]

This game was everything we all knew it would be, a slugfest down to the last shot, and it was as Justin Edmonds' 3-pointer with 16 seconds left brought Marshall within 67-66. After Staten's free throws, JP Kambola's 3-point try for Marshall went off the front of the rim at the buzzer. This game was tied 27 -27 at the half as both teams struggled from the field. In the end, Marshall had committed 24 turnovers and that was just enough for WV to overcome its shooting woes. The Mountaineers did control the glass winning the rebounding battle by a margin of 36-26.

WV was led in scoring by Staten with 15 while Holton and Javon Carter chip in 14 each. Marshall hit 9-24 3 point attempts while shooting 50% from the field and that help keep the game close.

In conclusion, a win over Marshall is nice no matter how you get it. The main thing to take from this game was that this team could have folded the tent but they didn't. WV showed some poise and spunk to hang in there and slug it out for the victory. West Virginia (9-1) is off to its best start since going 11-0 in the 2009-10 season, when it reached the Final Four. Have a great day Mountaineer fans wherever your country road has taken you!

 

[DCWV4life]

I think this team is going to end up being average...Huggs already ripping this team pretty good and IMO they do not have much offense...combine that with poor FT shooting and 3 pt shooting I jut don't see much happening:

@WestByGodGBZ: Huggins: "I don't have much patience for those guys who show up five minutes before practice starts and leave when it's over."

 

[ralphiewvu]

Marshall always plays us tough. But my God, every time we are ranked and play them it seems we lose or win very close. Criminy

 

[WvuDieHard]

I think the culprit's that Huggs is referring to is Paige and Miles, Jr. But I agree, not making free throws and shooting 34% night in an night out will make you a .500 team in the Big 12, maybe. I also think every team will go thru a lull in the season, let's hope we are seeing ours now. It does seem like we peaked a little but remember who the competition has been. The UConn win was the only thing that had any meaning and it now looks like UConn is on a downward spiral after losing to Yale.

 

[bbwvfan]

Boatright was injured on the last play of the Texas game. Not at full speed for the Yale game, but they may turn out to be a disappointing team in the end.

WVU looked uninspired tonight. Disappointing to hear kids aren't remaining committed to the template.

Did any of you guys watch the 30 for 30 last night? The boys from the U talked about the template...

An ugly win... bring on NC State. They lost to Wofford today...

 

[Mac_Bridger]

I think this team is going to end up being average...Huggs already ripping this team pretty good and IMO they do not have much offense...combine that with poor FT shooting and 3 pt shooting I jut don't see much happening:

@WestByGodGBZ: Huggins: "I don't have much patience for those guys who show up five minutes before practice starts and leave when it's over."

Sounds like this team needs a leader on the floor...

 

[Slaton10]

I think this team is going to end up being average...Huggs already ripping this team pretty good and IMO they do not have much offense...combine that with poor FT shooting and 3 pt shooting I jut don't see much happening:

@WestByGodGBZ: Huggins: "I don't have much patience for those guys who show up five minutes before practice starts and leave when it's over."

Can't score...eventually you won't win.....

And from the quote it sounds like Huggins of the past 4 years.......he doesn't have patience for the kids...gotta beleive the alumni won't have much more patience for him.......

 

[Mike]

He needs to go IMHO. Who have we beat? Uconn is not a good team. I hope I'm wrong, but I think we will be exposed once conference play starts.

 

[Anotherwvufan]

Can't score...eventually you won't win.....

And from the quote it sounds like Huggins of the past 4 years.......he doesn't have patience for the kids...gotta beleive the alumni won't have much more patience for him.......

last I looked we were 10-1. We will do well enough in conference play to make the tourney this year which will buy Huggs a couple of more years.

Anyone has a tough go recruiting ball talent to wvu and not being in the big east hurts also. Huggs will keep getting fast scrappy defensive players who can't make a free throw and every now and then will get lucky and have a guy like staton who can take us further.

It would be very hard for any BBall coach to change the picture at WVU. Beilein used shooters and ball handlers and ran a unique offense. We just can't compete with our neighbors in ky and NC for the best recruits. Does not matter who the coach is, we are not a popular BBall destination. Huggs probably gives as good a chance as anyone and as long he makes the field of 64 regularly, he has a job.

 

[WVUDAD]

last I looked we were 10-1. We will do well enough in conference play to make the tourney this year which will buy Huggs a couple of more years.

Anyone has a tough go recruiting ball talent to wvu and not being in the big east hurts also. Huggs will keep getting fast scrappy defensive players who can't make a free throw and every now and then will get lucky and have a guy like staton who can take us further.

It would be very hard for any BBall coach to change the picture at WVU. Beilein used shooters and ball handlers and ran a unique offense. We just can't compete with our neighbors in ky and NC for the best recruits. Does not matter who the coach is, we are not a popular BBall destination. Huggs probably gives as good a chance as anyone and as long he makes the field of 64 regularly, he has a job.

I agree another, this team looks more like a Huggins team than any I've seen for several years, they are 10-1 right now, and I am willing to give the hall of famer the benefit of the doubt. IF this team can stay together with no defections, keep playing good defense, getting the steals like they are capable of, we MAY see something special this year. Huggins can still coach on gameday, but he has recruiting issues as you mentioned. It is hilarious to see the quartet pound on Huggins, calling for his head, YET make excuses for a certain football coach.............

 

[CoolBeans]

Now before some of you get your panties in a bunch....


Preseason, who EXPECTED WVU to be a Top 25 Team? Not I. This team is what I expected, a Top 50 team, an NCAA team who'll get to Round 2 or 3 (Round 1 is the play in game), a gritty team that will have to win with defense.


Now we have people calling for Hugs to be fired? For real?


Ask yourself one VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION, and think it through before you answer.


Who is better that would come to WVU? No one. I am sorry. It's a tough gig that got tougher because we do not play basketball in the Northeast anymore. The Big 12 is the best BB conference in the country right now but it is out of our traditional basketball recruiting base. I think this team has overachieved to this point. I did not expect us to win in Puerto Rico, nor to beat Boston College after they won first round the way they did.


So get off the panic button. This team is ahead of schedule. They will go about 8-10 in a very strong Big 12 and we will end up around 20-12 going into the postseason, which is 3 more wins than I'd have had them pegged for pre-season. And... they are young guys. The future IS BRIGHT.

 

[DrPhil58]

This was another physical game to include 56 total fouls called. Marshall seems to always get up for this game, but this game would not have been close if WVU would have made 45% of their shots and 70% of their freethrows. Is this team the same team as we saw after the first 8 games?

This is what Hugs says, “I just don’t think we’re the same team we were when we left Puerto Rico,” he said. “We’ve got guys doing things that they can’t do … accentuate the positive and stay away from the negative.”

 

[DCWV4life]

Guys do not get me wrong I am not calling for his head, just from what I have seen I do not expect much from this team.....if Huggs went I would not care...IMO he airs the team laundry in the media way to much. We will see how it plays out, but this is the team that Huggs built in his style 11 games in already laying ground work for the "they don't work hard enough" crap we have heard so often from him.

LETS GO!!!!

 

[WvuDieHard]

News Flash: Huggs will go in the coffin before he goes out the door. Reason being is that he will always win games. He has done a good job with this group and right now he trying to keep this club from having a let down due to over confidence. He is getting the most out of the talent right now and what more could you ask for?

 

[Slaton10]

News Flash: Huggs will go in the coffin before he goes out the door. Reason being is that he will always win games. He has done a good job with this group and right now he trying to keep this club from having a let down due to over confidence. He is getting the most out of the talent right now and what more could you ask for?

Honestly...Belein did much more...with a lot less talent...and Huggins comes with a big time reputation...I am not buying it's because we lost our recruiting base or where Morgantown is...if Butler can get to Back to Back Final Fours...and Mark Few in nowhere Washington can win...I am not giving Huggins an inch...

He's old..unmotivated and the same can be said for the cronies on his staff..

 

[WVUDAD]

I think that Huggins is still a great coach on game day, but either can't get or keep the kids. College basketball has changed with the rash of transfers, one and dones, plus trying to meet the graduation standards. He may well need some assistants who can recruit better, but on game day, I will take Huggins over most others. If you think playing in the B12, rather than the BE doesn't change the recruiting dynamic, you need to rethink it, when in the BE, it was a definite draw to tell a kid that they would be playing in some of the most storied places in the game, playing against national champions. I used to have a bad opinion of Huggins character, but the final four game when Butler went down changed my opinion of him.

 

[DCWV4life]

News Flash: Huggs will go in the coffin before he goes out the door. Reason being is that he will always win games. He has done a good job with this group and right now he trying to keep this club from having a let down due to over confidence. He is getting the most out of the talent right now and what more could you ask for?

Not asking for anything more, I just think when this team start playing real teams they are not going to win many games. They already had a let down against the only team they played with talent.

Historically at WVU his conf record is a little above .500...nothing makes me think that will change this year. Last two years he is 12-20 last half of the season.

 

[WVUDAD]

I find it strange that when we joined the B12, it was said that we would be fighting Kansas for the league title every year, as they were our only real competition. NOW, everyone in this league is a "real" team, too funny.

 

[WvuDieHard]

How many Freshman are on this team? How many are seeing real minutes? So I guess it would a let down if they didn't go out and win 12 games in the conference? It is time for a reality check here? I find it amazing that we bitch and moan when a team is 9-1 and playing relatively well with a bevy of freshman.

 

[DCWV4life]

How many Freshman are on this team? How many are seeing real minutes? So I guess it would a let down if they didn't go out and win 12 games in the conference? It is time for a reality check here? I find it amazing that we bitch and moan when a team is 9-1 and playing relatively well with a bevy of freshman.

Sounds like the coach is doing more bitching and moaning than anyone else...