Basketball

Morgantown, West Virginia - It's a huge weekend in Morgantown with two major players in the transfer portal visiting. Jesse Edwards, a 6'11 center from Syracuse, and Caleb Grill, a 6'3 guard from Iowa State, will both be in town for official visits starting today. Edwards, a five star transfer and one of the top players available in the transfer portal, averaged 14.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game for the Orangemen last season. Edwards narrowed his list to three schools last night with Gonzaga, Kansas and West Virginia making his top (and final) schools. Edwards added several West Virginia players on his social media account yesterday and based on what we're hearing, him committing to play for the Mountaineers this weekend looks very, very promising. According to Eric Bossi, the National Basketball Director at 247 Sports, Edwards to WVU is a near lock: "Country Roads, Take Me Home...(unless something changes drastically between now and when he hits campus tomorrow). https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1646699148375126016?s=20 If/when Edwards commits, West Virginia's starting lineup for the 2023-2024 season will be very for formidable, particularly if Caleb Grill commits as well. With both Edwards and Gill, the Mountaineers' starting lineup would look like the following: Kerr Kriisa Caleb Grill Jose Perez Tre Mitchell Jesse Edwards While Bob Huggins has had several talented teams since arriving in Morgantown, this could potentially be his most talented overall team. In addition to a dominant starting lineup, the Mountaineers would have Joe Toussaint, Omar Silverio, Seth Wilson, Kobe Johnson, Josiah Harris, Pat Suemnick, Mohamed Wague and James Okonkwo. This level of size, athleticism and depth would be unprecedented at West Virginia.

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- The West Virginia Mountaineers' basketball team has suffered several setbacks recently with the losses of Jose Perez and a 9 game suspension for Kerr Kriisa, but moments ago, the program got outstanding news! Camerlo Adkins, a 6'5 combo guard from Phoenix, Arizona, committed to play for the Mountaineers! Adkins, who visited Morgantown on October 20, averaged 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.3 steals per game this past season. Adkins held offers from Holy Cross, Bryant and UT Arlington, among others. WELCOME HOME! https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1720201956331868286?s=20

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Former West Virginia forward Josiah Harris has found a new home. Harris, a 6'7 sophomore from Canton, Ohio, has chosen to play at Akron. Harris averaged 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season for the Mountaineers and will join two other former West Virginia players, Seth Wilson and James Okonkwo, at Akron. Both Wilson and Okonkwo announced that they have committed to play there a few days ago. https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1779947908349182340 Here is what Harris had to say to Mountaineer Nation when he departed West Virginia: “Dear Mountaineer Family, I am referring to you as family because that is what you are. When I left my family in Ohio two years ago it was difficult, but knew that the departure would not be forever and that it was necessary in order to grow from a boy to a man. That is what West Virginia has done for me. I walked through the doors as a boy, and I am both saddened and proud to say that i must leave you a man, but a man who is truly blessed. Blessed to not only have a Bachelor's degree, but in May, a Master's degree that will be permanently engraved with the West Virginia University insignia.“  

Morgantown, West Virginia - According to multiple reports, Kerr Kriisa, one of the top players in the transfer portal, will visit Morgantown this weekend and will be hosted by Jose Perez. Kriisa, a 6'3 guard from Estonia, is known for his brash personality and fiery temperament on the court. He averaged 9.9 points and a PAC-12-best 5.1 assists per game while shooting 77% from the foul line and 37% from three point range, and has been the Wildcats' starting point guard for the past two seasons. The fact that Kriisa is being hosted by Jose Perez is also outstanding news for the West Virginia basketball program. Perez has not yet publicly revealed whether he will return to play for the Mountaineers next season or consider professional options. However, him hosting Kriisa is a tremendous sign that he intends to stay in Morgantown to finish his collegiate career. https://twitter.com/WVUBarstool/status/1639373171823345666?s=20 https://twitter.com/ej_stevenson5/status/1639385469556514816?s=20 https://youtu.be/2GtUf0mQk4A

Jalen Bridges, the 6’7  four star small forward originally from Fairmont, WV, committed to West Virginia University instead of playing a year of prep school basketball.  It was decided by the Bridges family that he would take a year to settle into college, adjust to life in Morgantown and better prepare his body for the rigors of college basketball. Bridges,  who averaged 22.2 points per game at Fairmont Senior and took his team to the state championship game last season, is expected to redshirt this season and be a part of the 2020 class. West Virginia Head Coach Bob Huggins commented on Jalen Bridges recently, saying,  “I think he’s going to be a really good player, but the decision has always been for him to redshirt this season. However, Bridges looks ready right now.  He’s long, athletic, can shoot and although he probably needs to add some weight and muscle, he appears ready to contribute for the Mountaineers right away. https://twitter.com/WVUhoops/status/1190411199646535680   Bridges , who was allowed to play in the exhibition game against Duquesne, has 4 points in limited time in the first half, but has already flashed signs of brilliance. If Bridges remains a Redshirt this season, imagine the production that he will provide for the hometown Mountaineers in the next four seasons!  If it’s decided that he plays this season, Bridges is absolutely ready to step in and contribute for the Mountaineers right away.  Regardless of what’s decided, it’s wonderful to see him in a Mountaineers uniform and a part of the West Virginia basketball program!

Morgantown, West Virginia - The West Virginia Mountaineers finished the regular season 18-9 overall and 11-6 in the Big 12 Conference after back-to-back losses to the hottest team in the college basketball, the Oklahoma State Cowboys. With the losses, West Virginia's hopes of being a 2 or even 3 seed appear to be unlikely at this point.  According to Bob Huggins, "This probably took us off the 3 line in the tournament." ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi, known as "Joey Brackets", is the most reliable source in predicting how the NCAA Tournament Committee will seed teams.  According to Lunardi, the Mountaineers will be a 4 seed and the 13th ranked team overall. https://twitter.com/ESPNLunardi/status/1370787198602248197?s=20 This means that West Virginia is only one spot from being a 3 seed in the tournament.  Kansas is currently a 3 seed, but had to drop out of the Big 12 Tournament with a COVID case on the team and is questionable for the NCAA Tournament.  If the Jayhawks can't play, the Mountaineers could easily slide into the 3 seed. In addition, Texas is currently a 3 seed according to Lunardi, but a loss in the Big 12 Championship against Oklahoma State could drop the Longhorns below West Virginia in the overall rankings.

Morgantown, West Virginia - The West Virginia Mountaineers are a very different team than they were at the beginning of the season. The Mountaineers were considered a very big, strong, deep team, and they were expected to dominant teams physically in the paint.  Led by two of the best big men in the conference, Derek Culver and Oscar Tshiebwe, West Virginia was a team built to overpower its competition with its size and pure athletic ability. Then sensational freshman Isaiah Cottrell, a 6'10 forward who Bob Huggins called "the most skilled big man on the team", had a season-ending injury to his leg.  Days later, Oscar Tshiebwe, widely considered the most talented player on West Virginia's roster, left the team for "personal reasons." What was once a team that had unlimited potential was now a team searching for an identity.  Most teams and coaches would have folded and made excuses.  Not Bob Huggins.  Not this team. West Virginia re-invented itself and became one of the best offensive teams in the Big 12 Conference.  They became even tighter and more cohesive after the incredible adversity they faced with the losses of Tshiebwe and Cottrell. And this all has to do with Bob Huggins.  He's a basketball mastermind and he knows how to win.  He has proven that he can make the necessary modifications and adjustments to make his team successful. Huggins is now being mentioned as a potential Big 12 Coach of the Year by college basketball experts and analysts. According to ESPN's Myron Medcalf, Huggins is the "top competition" to Baylor's Scott Drew for the Big 12 Coach of the Year: "It's cool to watch Huggins adapt at 67 years old, transitioning from his "Press Virginia" days to a balanced group that's second in offensive efficiency in league play (41 percent from the 3-point line) on KenPom - with a 5-1 record in its past six games entering Thursday's road game against Baylor. If we'd told you before the season Oscar Tshiebwe would play only 10 games and Huggins' squad would still be in second place in the Big 12 - a prestigious position when the No. 1 team hasn't lost a game in more than a year - you'd probably doubt that reality, but Miles McBride and Derek Culver have helped the squad thrive without the NBA prospect who transferred to Kentucky." While Drew's Baylor Bears have had an outstanding season, Huggins completely transforming his team after they were hit with tremendous adversity makes his work as a coach even more impressive than Drew this season. Bob Huggins deserves to be the 2021 Big 12 Coach of the Year.

Morgantown, West Virginia - According to CBS Sports' annual Top 100 best college basketball players list, the West Virginia Mountaineers have three of the top one hundred players in the country this season. CBS Sports ranked sophomore forward Oscar Tshiebwe, sophomore guard Miles McBride and junior forward Derek Culver in the Top 100 players for the upcoming 2020-2021 basketball season. Tshiebwe was ranked as the 15th best player in the country: "After leading West Virginia in field goal percentage, points, rebounds and shots blocked last season, we expect his jumbo role will further increase as he heads into his second season. The dynamic Mountaineer big man is a force on both ends of the floor and could take the mantle as the Big 12's most impactful frontcourt presence." Miles McBride, who did not receive any preseason recognition from the Big 12 Conference, was listed as the 76th best player in the nation: "The unheralded prospect figures to be a starter now after making the Big 12 all-freshman team while averaging 9.5 points and 1.1 steals in just 22.3 minutes per game last season." In addition, Derek Culver made CBS Sports' Top 100 basketball list: "The Mountaineers have a deep cast of proven talent, so don't expect Culver to produce eye-popping offensive numbers, but the 6-10 forward is a great rebounder who does a lot for the Mountaineers." Bob Huggins' team is loaded this season, and with three of best one hundred players in the country, the West Virginia Mountaineers should be one of the favorite teams to not only win the Big 12 Conference but also the National Championship. https://twitter.com/mattnorlander/status/1326556848858796033?s=21  

Morgantown, West Virginia - When the #9 ranked Mountaineers, 7-2 and 1-1 in the Big 12 Conference, welcome the 1-4 Northeastern Huskies to the WVU Coliseum today, it should be a massive blowout.  It's time for West Virginia basketball to stop playing today down to their level of opponent and really destroy a team, and today's opponent is the absolutely perfect victim. So far this season, the Mountaineers have struggled against lower-level competition (80-71 win over an average Georgetown team on the road, a 62-50 struggle-fest against a really bad North Texas team at home, barely beating the worst team in the Big 12 Conference, the Iowa State Cyclones, 70-65) and have shown in flashes that they are capable of competing against any team in the country. West Virginia out-played the #1 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs for most of the game and should have beaten the #3 ranked Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence. Today's game is an opportunity to show that the Mountaineers can play at the same high level regardless of the competition. The basement-dweller of the Colonial Athletic Conference, Northeastern has stayed close in most of their games this season and likely feel that they can do the same against the Mountaineers.  The Huskies have lost their last three games at Syracuse (62-56), Old Dominion (66-62) and Georgia (76-58), so playing inside the WVU Coliseum without fans won't scare Northeastern at all. Barely squeaking by an average team at home again won't provide the Mountaineers the much-needed confidence going into the new year.  West Virginia needs to play a full game with tremendous effort and few mistakes.  In other words, the Mountaineers need to put their foot on Northeastern's throat and end them early. While this game won't be remembered in March, this is an opportunity for West Virginia to no longer allow weak teams to hang around until the end of the game.  Instead, it's time for West Virginia to put together a complete performance and win by 50 points like they should.

Morgantown, West Virginia - There is no question that the Big 12 Conference is the toughest, most difficult conference in college basketball right now. With six teams in the Top 25 and no real weak teams, there is no other conference in the nation that compares to the Big 12. Former West Virginia Mountaineers guard Drew Schifino believes that West Virginia would be one of the top-ranked teams in college basketball if they played in a difference conference and didn't have to play tough game after tough game every time they step on the court. "Wish WVU played in the ACC," Schifino said. "They would be a top ten team right now." https://twitter.com/drewfino15/status/1619415148246224897?s=20&t=wRz6Ac-qxTjBv4e1SyF-5w Schifino, who played for the Mountaineers from 2001-2004 and was one of the most prolific scorers in team history, averaging 15.4 points per game in three seasons in Morgantown, does have a point. The ACC does not compare to the Big 12 and West Virginia would certainly have a far better record in another conference and would likely be ranked in the Top 25 if not the Top 10. Schifino added, "Big 12 basketball is like the SEC in football. Best conference, no debate." https://twitter.com/drewfino15/status/1619428929483464704?s=20&t=wRz6Ac-qxTjBv4e1SyF-5w

Morgantown, West Virginia - Senior Taz Sherman is off to a tremendous start to the 2021-2022 season, averaging 19.0 points, 3.6 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game for the West Virginia Mountaineers through 5 games.  Sherman was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week following his outstanding performance at the Charleston Classic, where West Virginia finished in third place in the tournament. However, one player on the Mountaineers is the literal heartbeat of the team.  Despite not being a starter and not being a particularly effective offensive player, Gabe Osabuohien is without a doubt the most important player on the West Virginia Mountaineers this season. Osabuohien, who is averaging 4.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks in 17.6 minutes per game, is an absolute rock for the team and the player that Bob Huggins can most rely on. Although Osabuohien doesn't provide flashy statistics, it's all of the little things that he does that don't show up in the box scores really matters.  In addition to being "the anchor of the West Virginia defense", according to Bob Huggins, he's also one of the top players in the country at taking charges. '"For me to get real time, I knew I had to play defense and stuff like that," Osabuohien says. "Once I did that, landing that time on the court and playing however many minutes I do is by playing hard. I stuck with it and kept being the guy that does the little stuff that nobody else wants to do if that was going to land me on the court." Last season, CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein released his list of the "Top 10 Glue Guys in College Basketball" and Osabuohien was an obvious choice.  This year, he'll likely be at the very top of the list. Rothstein said of Osabuohien: "Can a player be on this list and average 4 points a game? Yes, if that player is Osabuohien. The 6-7 forward is an elite defender with magical feet that allows him to cover ground all over the court. There are no 50-50 plays with Osabuohien on the floor — they’re 90/10 in favor of West Virginia." Osabuhoien, a redshirt senior, is unfortunately in his final season, but he is everything that West Virginia loves in one of its athletes - he's a hard worker, the ultimate team player and the very definition of a true Mountaineer! Who do you think is West Virginia's most important player?  Vote below! https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1463320420711649288?s=20

Morgantown, West Virginia - According to Adam Zagoria, recent DePaul transfer Pauly Paulicap spoke with Bob Huggins yesterday and has scheduled a Zoom call with the West Virginia coaching staff for today. Paulicap, a former MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 10.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while at Manhattan during the 2019-2020 season, and then averaged 7.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game last season with DePaul. Huggins is clearly prioritizing defense in the offseason, and Paulicap is one of the best available defensive prospects in the transfer portal. Paulicap, a 6'8 forward originally from Elmont, New York, is an extremely high-energy player that would provide an immediate boost to the Mountaineers' porous interior defense. With the return of Gabe Osabuohien and Huggins seeking out the most most impactful defensive players available, look for West Virginia's top weakness last season to actually become a strength next season. Paulicap is a graduate transfer and has one year of eligibility remaining. According to the DePaul Men's Basketball Official Website:  Career Highs Points: 24, vs. Stony Brook (Dec. 5, 2018)* Rebounds: 13 (3x), last at Iona (Feb. 23, 2018)* Assists: 2 (2x), last at Seton Hall (Dec. 23, 2017)* Steals: 2 (4x), last vs. Fairfield (March 6, 2020)* Blocked Shots: 6 (2x), last vs. Canisius (Jan. 19, 2018)* https://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/1377682644566212608?s=20

Morgantown, West Virginia - Although Bob Huggins was recently nominated, he is still somehow not in the Basketball Hall of Fame.  879 wins, 70% win percentage, 24 NCAA Tournament appearances, 9 Sweet Sixteens, 2 Final Fours in his illustrious 36 year career and he has yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He is the 6th all time winningest coach in Division I college basketball history and has the 4th most wins of active coaches, behind only Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, and Roy Williams. Huggins was nominated again this year but was once again overlooked by the selection committee.  According to Hall of Fame rules, candidates who are still coaching must meet the following eligibility requirements: “…have coached for as either a full-time assistant or head coach on the high school and/or college and/or professional level for a minimum of 25 years.  That person will then be considered for Enshrinement in the 26th year of active coaching.”  Bob Huggins certainly meets these requirements, but for some reason continues to be denied induction. With that said, West Virginia University should honor Huggins, who is the most important figure in West Virginia basketball’s modern history, by naming the basketball court “The Bob Huggins Court at the WVU Coliseum.” Duke University did something similarly with Mike Krzyzewski by naming the court “Coach K Court at Cameron Indoor Stadium.”  Davidson’s court is named “Bob Mckillop Court” after their Head Coach.  In addition, North Carolina’s court is named after Roy Williams and Syracuse’s court is “Jim Boeheim Court.”  Has Bob Huggins meant any less to his university than any of the aforementioned names? No one other than Jerry West has done more for the basketball program than Huggins and waiting for his retirement to honor him would be a mistake; rather, he should be made aware of how respected and appreciated he is while still coaching. The new design on the Coliseum court looks absolutely beautiful, but the only thing that would make it even better would be to add “The Bob Huggins Court” written prominently to honor the greatest basketball coach in West Virginia history.  A simple gesture like this would mean so much and West Virginia University should absolutely move forward with making this happen immediately. In addition, the Coliseum should be named after Jerry West.  West, who holds 12 WVU all-time records, is the most prominent and important athlete in West Virginia University history.  He was also born and raised in West Virginia and is a state hero.  No one will ever mean more to basketball in the state of West Virginia than West. West, 82, already has his number 44 retired and statue outside of the Coliseum, but why not show him the ultimate respect by naming it "The Jerry West Coliseum?"  Why not?  Why is West Virginia University so hesitant to honor its former players and coaches?  If not Jerry West, then who?   West Virginia University has made incredible improvements to the Coliseum over the past several months - including new seats and a massive new videoboard that hangs over the court - but it's now time to honor the two most significant people in West Virginia basketball history, Bob Huggins and Jerry West.

Former WVU Head Coach Bob Huggins is set to participate in a 12-month diversion program, according to ESPN.  Morgantown, WV - According to ESPN, former WVU Head Coach Bob Huggins is set to participate in a 12-month diversion program, as part of his arrest for drunk driving in June. Huggins, who resigned after the incident, will also have the opportunity to reduce his one-year probation to six months pending successful completion of his alcohol treatment program. The outlet also reports that Huggins' original arraignment date for the arrest was canceled due to his acceptance into the alcohol treatment program. There has been no word on if Huggins wants to coach again in the future. (Photo by WVU Athletics)

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Moments ago, West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins released a statement after receiving a 3 game suspension and a $1 million deduction in his yearly salary. Huggins had the following to say about his punishment for insensitive remarks: "Over the past 48 hours, I have reflected on the awful words that I shared on a radio program earlier this week. I deeply regret my actions, the hurt they unfairly caused others and the negative attention my words have brought to West Virginia University. I also regret the embarrassment and disappointment it has caused our Athletics family, members of our campus community and the state of West Virginia. I am sorry for the hurt and distress I have caused our students and our student-athletes. I represent more than just our University and our basketball program, and it pains me to know that I have let so many people down. I have no excuse for the language I used, and I take full responsibility. I will abide with the actions outlined by the University and Athletics leadership to learn from this incident. I have had several conversations with colleagues and friends that I deeply respect and admire over the last 24 hours, and I am keenly aware of the pain that I have caused. I meant what I wrote on Monday - I will do better. I am looking forward to working with WVU’s LGBTQ+ Center and other state organizations to learn more about the issues facing the community. As a leader, I am eager to use my platform to take what I learn and share it with a broader audience. I also regret my comments regarding Xavier University. I am hopeful that my personal donation to the university to support its Center for Faith and Justice and its Center for Diversity and Inclusion will further the work it does and the impact it has on its students. West Virginia and West Virginia University are my home. I love this University and know first-hand that the education and experiences students receive here make a difference. I am truly sorry for the damage I have done. And I am grateful for the chance to move forward in a way that positively represents this University and our state." https://twitter.com/CoachHuggs/status/1656354809140637705?s=20