Down 15 points in the 2nd half against Northern Iowa in the Cancun Challenge, Bob Huggins and the West Virginia Mountaineers needed someone, anyone to step up and take over to have a chance of coming back to win. Enter Miles McBride.
McBride, the outstanding Freshman point guard, finished with 19 points and 5 assists, hitting key shots late in the second half to lead the Mountaineers back to victory. On a team that desperately needs a leader, McBride increasingly looks like the floor chief that Huggins needs and the player that he can rely on to hit big shots at critical times in the game.
Miles McBride is a winner. Underrated as a three star recruit out of high school, McBride led Moeller High School to the Ohio Division I state championship with a 29-0 record. McBride hasn’t lost a game in a long, long time; 54 straight games, in fact, dating all the way back to his Junior season at Moeller.
McBride doesn’t play like a Freshman. Rather, he provides a sense of calm to the relatively young West Virginia team and does not make a lot of mental mistakes, which is typical of a Freshman player.
Not only is he a leader and winner, he’s also becoming the player that Bob Huggins can rely on on both sides of the ball. While his clutch shots will be what’s remembered from him in this game, McBride’s key block shot on a driving Northern Iowa player (AJ Green) and incredible defensive effort in the second half was just as meaningful.
While he’s a Freshman and other players on the team have seniority over him, this team desperately needs a true leader and Miles McBride appears to be just the right player to lead the Mountaineers this season.
Following the Northern Iowa game, Bob Huggins said, “Deuce made some huge shots for us. He’s in the huddle saying, “Just give it to me. I’m good, just give it to me.”
Huggins gave it to him and he answered the call. Expect McBride to be relied on more during big situations this season and for him to be the unquestioned floor leader for the Mountaineers from now on.
