The Sports Bankโs college basketball season previews undergo a face lift this season. Rather than counting down the top 111 teams in 111 days, we will go conference-by-conference. ย I’ve already counted down the Pac-12 and now we turn our attention to theย Big 12.
The West Virginia Mountaineers were expecting to have everybody returning from last yearโs team and make a significant leap in the Big 12. However, Bob Huggins lost two key players to transfer and another who decided to turn pro overseas which will stunt the programโs growth.
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
Last Season: T-6th, 9-9 in Big 12, 17-16 overall
Predicted Big 12 Finish: 7th
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Devin Williams (So)/Kevin Noreen (Sr)
PF: Nathan Adrian (So)/Brandon Watkins (So)
F: Jonathan Holton (Jr)/Elijah Macon (Fr)/BillyDee Williams (Jr)
G: Gary Browne (Sr)/Jaysean Paige (So)/Jevon Carter (Fr)/Daxter Miles (Fr)
PG: Juwan Staten (Sr)/Tarik Phillip (So)
Gone: SG-Eron Harris (transfer-Michigan State), SG-Terry Henderson (transfer-N.C. State), F-Remi Dibo
2014-2015 Outlook:
Huggins nearly lost a fourth key player in starting point guard and leading scorer, Juwan Staten. The Dayton transfer decided to return for his senior season rather than enter the NBA Draft and will be the driving force for the Mountaineers due to his experience, leadership, and versatility on both ends of the floor.
Harris and Hendersonโs exits leave question marks at guard. Gary Browne should start alongside Staten but four newcomers will battle for minutes off the bench; JUCO transfers Tarik Phillip and Jaysean Paige along with freshmen Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles.
WVU does have plenty of options in the frontcourt. Devin Williams, Nathan Adrian, Brandon Watkins, and Kevin Noreen were all part of the rotation last season. There is quality depth and size among that foursome with Williams being the most productive. Jonathan Holton and Elijah Macon were both on roster last year but didnโt suit up for the Mountaineers and add even more talent to the forward spot. Figuring out a consistent rotation and finding more scoring among this group is a must for Huggins if he is going to get West Virginia back to the Big Dance.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/20 vs. George Mason (Puerto Rico Tip-Off)
11/21 vs. New Mexico/Boston College (Puerto Rico Tip-Off)
11/23 vs. UConn/Dayton/Texas A&M/Charleston (Puerto Rico Tip-Off)
12/4 vs. LSU (SEC/Big 12 Challenge)
12/20 vs. NC State (Gotham Classic at MSG)
12/30 vs. Virginia Tech
OTHER BIG 12 PREVIEWS:
PAC-12 PREVIEWS:
#1 ARIZONA WILDCATS
#4 UCLA BRUINS
David Kay is a senior featureย NBA Draft,ย NBA, andย college basketballย writer for the Sports Bank.ย He also heads up theย NBAย andย college basketballย material atย Walter Football.comย and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities.ย David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu.ย He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and theย most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draftย on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.)ย You can follow him on Twitter atย David_Kmiecik.
