Basketball

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Former West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins sat down for an interview with KDKA in Pittsburgh and he had a lot to say in a short interview. Huggins, who looked noticeably thinner and healthy, said that he was never an alcoholic and hasn't had a drop of alcohol since his incident in Pittsburgh. "I wasn’t the guy who would wake up and have a drink, I wasn’t the guy who had to have a drink before bed. I didn’t drink every day. What’s an alcoholic? An alcoholic drinks every day. I never drank every day. I went to rehab because it was something I felt I needed to do to continue doing what I love doing. I've always been the guy on the other side, helping people to get where they want to go, and so it was different for me when I had people trying to help me." https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1769873490180522269?s=20 Huggins then discussed his fundraising activities and why it's important to him: "My mom died of cancer and I love to help people. I raised a lot of money. We have the best practice facilities in America," Huggins said of West Virginia University. When asked if he would consider returning to coach basketball again, he said, "I would take it in the right situation. Yeah, I would like to coach again. I love working with young people. I was coaching kids as a freshman in high school. I love West Virginia and the people of West Virginia. I don't really want to leave West Virginia, but I don't think I have much of a choice." Huggins was then asked if he thinks he'll ever coach at West Virginia again and he responded by saying, "If there's a change in leadership." Huggins, 70, has had his name pop up recently as a potential candidate at current job openings, but it's not believed that he has been offered a position yet. Huggins has 935 career wins, is the 3rd winningest head coach in college basketball history, and is in the Hall of Fame. If a program wants to win immediately, Huggins would be just he guy to hire to turn a program around if they are willing to overlook his recent off-the-court issues. https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1769860701869285830?s=20

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Moments ago, West Virginia Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting, Jay Kuntz, announced his departure from the Mountaineers' basketball program. Kuntz, who as spent 15 years with the Mountaineer basketball program, served as Assistant to the Head Coach from July 2017-22 after serving as coordinator of player development from 2015-17. Kuntz is one of the best at his job and will certainly be pursued by top programs around the country, and this is a huge loss for the Mountaineers' basketball program. In his message, Kuntz had the following to say: To the Greatest Fanbase & State, Saying goodbye to a place I've called home and to many people I've considered family for the past 16 years is no easy task. West Virginia University and the state of West Virginia hold such a special place in my heart and always will, no matter where this profession leads me and my family. I am so thankful for so many people that this post alone cannot do it justice. But I'd be remiss to not start with the person who gave me my first opportunity as an 18-year-old kid. Coach Huggins cared enough to take me under his wing and show me what it truly meant to work. He and his family have meant so much to me throughout my time in Morgantown, and I will be eternally grateful to them for everything. Two summers ago, Coach Huggins, then-athletic director Shane Lyons, and now Tarleton State athletic director Steve Uryasz awarded me the opportunity to help direct the transfer portal for the first time in this new era of college basketball. I was extremely fortunate, as I have always been, to work with a talented coaching staff consisting of many previous head coaches and rising stars In the coaching world. With only one senior returning, Kedrian Johnson, accompanied by five underclassmen with little to no experience, we knew this would be no easy task. The initial goal was to return this program to its rightful place in the NCAA tournament. Our program achieved that feat, only a season removed from not reaching the postseason and returning very few contributors. That was all a testament to the coaches and players. As C.S. Lewis said, "Hardships oftentimes prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." Navigating through these tumultuous waters this past season tested the will of every employee of Mountaineer Basketball. Like many others, I was very fortunate that Coach Ellert stepped up and accepted the daunting task of guiding this program through the season. His leadership allowed our staff and players to move forward. Josh, Brandi, and the Eilert family taught me what it meant to look adversity in the eyes and make zero excuses, even if the results weren't ultimately what we all hoped. They did it with integrity and class, and Mountaineer fans should commend Coach Eilert on everything he did for our program. Next, I thank all the players who donned the Mountaineer uniform. We as a staff are only as good as our players, and I'm incredibly grateful for all of the amazing relationships I've had with you guys over the past 16 years. Your hard work, dedication to your craft and commitment to West Virginia University and its Basketball program never went unnoticed or unappreciated. For that, I love you all. Lastly, to the Mountaineer fanbase and the people of West Virginia, I am at a loss for words for the first time, which I know will surprise some of you. The love and support you provide West Virginia University and its athletics programs are second to none. You are tough, but fair, and I wouldn't want it any other way. The grit of the fanbase is what truly separates WVU from anyone else, and unless you have been here to experience it, you have no idea what it means when we say our people bleed gold and blue. Thank you for all of it, The good, the bad, and the ugly. Those experiences have shaped me into who I am today, and I'll be better for it in the future. West Virginia Basketball has a storied past and a rich history that will continue to make memorable moments for all of us in the future. We are fortunate to have Director Baker at the helm. I say this unequivocally: he will not only make the right hire, but the best hire, to lead Mountaineer Basketball for years to come. Yours truly, Jay Kuntz https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1770166970010198326?s=20  

I have heard of aggressive coaching - but this is ridiculous.   First reported by The Athletic, Head Coach of the Wichita State Shockers, Gregg Marshall, is facing some rather disturbing allegations. The incidents allegedly took place during the 2015-16 season, where Marshall is being accused of hitting a former player.   Shaquille Morris, a former center for the Shockers, is the player who Marshall allegedly struck. On top of this, Marshall was also said to have "put his hands around the neck" of assistant coach Kyle Linsted, who is now with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.   According to the report, the school has conducted interviews and are doing a lengthy investigation to get to the bottom of the incident. There is no place for this in college athletics. If Marshall is found guilty of the allegations, his contract must be terminated immediately without question.   Stay tuned to The Voice of Motown for updates on the situation.

Morgantown, WV - The West Virginia Mountaineer Men’s Basketball team is off to a rough start. After falling to Ohio State in overtime on Saturday, they now sit with a 5-8 record going into Big 12 play. Earlier this morning, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports shared updated odds to win the Big 12 via FanDuel Sportsbook. As expected, the Mountaineers have the lowest chance to win the conference at +20,000 odds. https://twitter.com/jonrothstein/status/1741868864709783833?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw WVU takes on Houston in their Big 12 opener on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Fertitta Center. The game will broadcast on ESPN+. (Photo by WVU Athletics) 

Morgantown, West Virginia - In ESPN's article released today called "Your Comprehensive Guide to the 2023 Men's College Basketball Coaching Hot Seat" by Jeff Borzello, West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins is mentioned as a coach who could potentially retire following the 2023 season. Borzello discussed the possibility of Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, who is 78 years old, retiring after this season. Borzello went on to say, "Besides Boeheim, Florida State's Leonard Hamilton and West Virginia's head coach Bob Huggins are potential coaches to watch -- but Hamilton recently told College Hoops Today he has more work to do in Tallahassee, while Huggins has West Virginia poised for a return to the NCAA tournament." Huggins, 69, who is currently 3rd all-time in wins by college basketball head coaches with 916 career wins, has one year remaining on his current contract. Huggins has dismissed talks of retirement in recent years. His most recent comment on the idea of retiring suggests that he's still not sure himself when he'll retire. “I don’t have a timeline. I don’t think about those things. Honestly, I don’t,” Huggins said. “People ask me how long have you been coaching. I absolutely have no idea.”  

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — Moments ago, West Virginia University released the following statement, announcing that the previously scheduled trip to Italy will not happen this summer: “The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has postponed men's basketball's previously scheduled Italy Summer Tour until next summer. The Mountaineers were set to begin practice for the tour later in July before embarking on the 10-day, three-game trip on July 31. With the coaching transition and roster changes that have transpired since June, the Athletics Department worked with trip organizer Complete Sport Management to defer the tour to the summer of 2024. ‘For the trip to be most beneficial to our program, it made more sense to defer the Italy summer trip to next year,’ interim head coach Josh Eilert said. ‘A lot of factors went into the decision, but it became clear that getting our roster finalized and continuing our workout schedule here in Morgantown was the best course of action.’”