West Virginia Preview Capsule
Eds: With: BKC–West Virginia Preview. Should stand
By The Associated Press=
West Virginia
Last season: 26-9, lost in first round of NCAA Tournament.
Nickname: Mountaineers
Coach: Bob Huggins
Conference: Big 12.
Who’s gone: F Devin Williams, G Jaysean Paige, F Jonathan Holton.
Who’s back: G Jevon Carter led the Mountaineers in assists (3.3), 3-pointers made (44) and had the most minutes played. Carter, G Daxter Miles Jr. and G Tarik Phillip are the top returning scorers at about nine points per game. All three are capable of taking over games – Carter had 26 points in the Big 12 semifinals against Oklahoma. F Esa Ahmad averaged five points in 34 starts as a freshman.
Who’s new: The Mountaineers have five freshmen, including G James ”Beetle” Bolden who sat out last season after tearing knee ligaments in preseason practice. Huggins brought in two players born outside the United States – 6-10 Maciej Bender is from Warsaw, Poland, and 6-8 Sagaba Konate is from Mali.
The Skinny: West Virginia said farewell to their two top scorers in Paige and Williams and must replace the solid rebounding of Williams and Holton in order to return to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in Huggins’ 10 seasons.
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Online:
More AP College Basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org
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