We've decided to do something different with our Syracuse basketball previews. We've asked a fellow blog to give us a preview of their team because everybody knows their own team the best. So we asked Andy Brown from WV Mountaineers Sports to give us a really nice look at the Mountaineers basketball team. You can check out of WV Mountaineers Sports for all the West Virginia sports information you'll ever need.
Here's what Andy had to say about WVU:
The West Virginia Mountaineers under legendary head coach Bob Huggins carry an 11-4 record to Sunday's matchup against the 'Cuse. They've recently faced a tough four-game stretch that started with Oklahoma then carry on to Notre Dame, Marquette, and a recent road date to Louisville losing 3 of 4. This tough stretch has improve their RPI ranking to 28th with a Strength of Schedule ranking at 34 according to realtimerpi.com.
The 'Eers are led by rising Big East star Joe Alexander. Alexander has insane athletic ability and can hit the J from anywhere. Look at those numbers he averages 16.1 ppg with 6.1 rebounds and shoots an excellent 85% from the foul line. Alexander's quality wingman is the Rainmaker Alex Ruoff. A fiery leader on and off the court he leads the team with 16.2 points per game and 45% from the three point line. Rounding out the starting lineup are quiet but steady senior PG Darris Nichols, smooth and savvy sophomore Da'Sean Butler who tends to get in foul trouble too much and senior Jaime Smalligan.
The bench is relatively short with Jacob Green leaving the team but remains set nonetheless with freshman F John Flowers, sophomore Wellington Smith, and backup guard speedy Joe Mazzulla. Walk-on guard Ted Talkington might see some times too. Who can forget Teddy T raining some 3's last year against UCLA. Could happen Sunday.
What has troubled the Mountaineers recently is lack of ability to handle the rebound. The rebounding margin has greatly improved since John Beilein left, at one time it was one of the worst in the nation, but still give up the put-backs. Any team with a frontcourt would own WVU as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Louisville did. WVU can only go as their 3 point shot takes them. The WVU Coliseum is one of the great arenas in college sports.
There are 14,000 rabid Mountaineer fans who come to support the Mountaineers whenever the Big East gets rolling. The students are what makes the crowd as they wear the gold shirts and stand on their feet the entire game. West Virginia will be a worthy opponent for the 'Cuse as it is shaping up to be a classic on Sunday.
I'd like to say good luck West Virginia Sunday, because they'll definitely need it. We look forward to working with WV Mountaineer Sports You can check out WV Mountaineers Sports for my preview of Syracuse for Sunday's game.
Here's what Andy had to say about WVU:
The West Virginia Mountaineers under legendary head coach Bob Huggins carry an 11-4 record to Sunday's matchup against the 'Cuse. They've recently faced a tough four-game stretch that started with Oklahoma then carry on to Notre Dame, Marquette, and a recent road date to Louisville losing 3 of 4. This tough stretch has improve their RPI ranking to 28th with a Strength of Schedule ranking at 34 according to realtimerpi.com.
The 'Eers are led by rising Big East star Joe Alexander. Alexander has insane athletic ability and can hit the J from anywhere. Look at those numbers he averages 16.1 ppg with 6.1 rebounds and shoots an excellent 85% from the foul line. Alexander's quality wingman is the Rainmaker Alex Ruoff. A fiery leader on and off the court he leads the team with 16.2 points per game and 45% from the three point line. Rounding out the starting lineup are quiet but steady senior PG Darris Nichols, smooth and savvy sophomore Da'Sean Butler who tends to get in foul trouble too much and senior Jaime Smalligan.
The bench is relatively short with Jacob Green leaving the team but remains set nonetheless with freshman F John Flowers, sophomore Wellington Smith, and backup guard speedy Joe Mazzulla. Walk-on guard Ted Talkington might see some times too. Who can forget Teddy T raining some 3's last year against UCLA. Could happen Sunday.
What has troubled the Mountaineers recently is lack of ability to handle the rebound. The rebounding margin has greatly improved since John Beilein left, at one time it was one of the worst in the nation, but still give up the put-backs. Any team with a frontcourt would own WVU as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Louisville did. WVU can only go as their 3 point shot takes them. The WVU Coliseum is one of the great arenas in college sports.
There are 14,000 rabid Mountaineer fans who come to support the Mountaineers whenever the Big East gets rolling. The students are what makes the crowd as they wear the gold shirts and stand on their feet the entire game. West Virginia will be a worthy opponent for the 'Cuse as it is shaping up to be a classic on Sunday.
I'd like to say good luck West Virginia Sunday, because they'll definitely need it. We look forward to working with WV Mountaineer Sports You can check out WV Mountaineers Sports for my preview of Syracuse for Sunday's game.
1 comment:
The Mountaineers' lack of rebounding dates back to Coach Beilein's offensive (and defensive...) systems. On offense his front court was setting screens and posted out on the perimeter, in no position to get offensive rebounds. On defense they employed a 1-3-1 zone, designed to "absorb" dribble penetration. Their bigs were often pulled to one or the other side of the baseline to cover the "entry pass" into the corner. The big would move away from the basket to cut off penetration. Out of position for the rebound. Teaching this cohort of players to value the rebound will take time, more than fall practice and 10+ games into the schedule. Give them time.
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