College Hoops Countdown | #11 West Virginia

Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin’ Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation.

‘08 – 09 Results: 23 – 12 (10 – 8 Big East). Lost to Dayton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 68 -60.

Coach: Bob Huggins 49 – 23 (2 seasons at WVU) 639 – 234 27 seasons.

Key Returners:

Da’Sean Butler – 17.1ppg, 5.9rpg

Devin Ebanks – 10.5ppg, 7.8rpg

Wellington Smith – 5.2ppg, 3.8rpg

Darryl Bryant – 9.8ppg, 1.8rpg

Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/26 vs. Long Beach State, 11/27 vs. Clemson or Texas A&M, 12/9 vs. Duquesne, 12/19 at Cleveland State, 12/23 vs. Ole Miss, 1/1 at Purdue, 1/23 vs. Ohio State

Stat of Identity: 30.2% Three point FG defense.

By Paul Gotham

It’s year three of the Bob Huggins reign in Morgantown, and it’s all systems go. While some of the Big East heavyweights will operate in rebuilding mode, the Mountaineers have reloaded and are ready to make a run. Will the Mountainneers have a sweet ending in 2010?

Naismith watch candidates, De’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks lead a Mountaineer squad which returns four starters and plenty of depth on the bench.

The always dangerous Butler scored 20+ points in six consecutive conference games. Then the Newark, New Jersey native went off for 43 against Villanova. Butler hit 35% (62 -177) from behind the arc, but he can go off the dribble. Opponents need to ready themselves for Butler developing his mid range game.

Ebanks finished the Big East regular season with back-to-back 20 point games at Pittsburgh and at Syracuse. There is more where that came from.

What the Mountaineers don’t bring with size in the front court, they make up for with athleticism. Wellington Smith and Kevin Jones will pull down their share of rebounds.

Junior college transfer, Casey Mitchell should fit in well with the Mountaineers. Mitchell was the JUCO Player of the Year.

Joe Mazzulla returns to the lineup after suffering an injury last season.

West Virginia has made five Sweet Sixteen appearances – ’59, ’60, ’63, ’98, and ’06.