Starting to feel the love

I'm gettin very close to loving this team. They are finding their fight. They aren't great yet, but they are scrappers. I love the thought of having Henderson and Harris to root for for 3 more years.

I am right with you BobBob. It appears the light is going off and the team is gelling. If we continue to build on what we did today, we will be capable of beating anyone in the Big 12. I think we are getting close to being a good team. Our defense has really never been an issue, it has been spotty offense and we looked alot better at that today. I am telling you right here and now, both Henderson and Harris are going to terrorize the Big 12 in the next 3 years. Harris is starting to get a dribble-drive going in his repetroir and that will make him much better offensively. Henderson looks healthy again and is shooting it with confidence. Both players are really fun to watch.

If this team can find a way to beat some good teams, I might find some love. They have looked so bad against the better teams they've faced this year, it is hard for me to get too excited. But, I have been yelling at the TV the past 4 games, so I am close.

Just read in Casazza's article on today's game that WVU has 1 win and 9 losses against teams ranked in the RPI top 100. I guess that supports my point.

Deniz is starting to play a lot better and Murray continues to throw tantrums like a 5 year old....If he can grow up a little he will be good, otherwise he'll have a rutledge role on the team next year...What a waste

bbwvfan, have you noticed any change tho, from the earlier games this season?  Could it be, even with the no so great teams played, that there is a confidence starting to form?  I just don't think there was much of a team early, but I could be wrong.

Well we sure looked worse against inferior Duquesne, eastern Kentucky, Davidson, Oakland and radford teams.... The thing to remember though is that as for those 9 RPI top100 losses, in only 4 were we truly outplayed. One was the first game of the season at 3am EST out in Spokane. Another was vs a really good Michigan team in NY, and Murray not playing made that one worse than it would have been IMO. The road loss at purdue was our worst outing of the season. We were missing Henderson, but losing the way we did was still embarrassing. The loss at okie st was also pretty bad but Henderson was playing hurt. The point though is that we have really been right there since conference play started. 5-5 and only one loss by more than 10 points.

Jim,

Since you asked, here is my take... WVU is playing better in almost every facet of the game.  I believe this can be contributed to increased defensive pressure, and running better offense.  As far as the offense goes, I like how the kids are working Huggy's motion... much more movement.  And, I think the kids are realizing they have a couple of guys who can knock down shots... in Henderson and Harris.  Having trust in these guys, allows everyone to look for them now... instead of any hesitation.

But, this streak has been against pretty weak competition, and I would have hoped they'd beat the bottom of the conference... because they are bad teams. 

I said this earlier in the season... but, it bears repeating.  Outside of last year, we have seen Huggy's WVU teams improve at season's end.  Obvioulsy, this team had no where to go but up.  It looks like the team is starting to believe in themselves.

Shooting is a matter of confidence, and while these teams beaten recently are offensively challenged... they play pretty good defense.  To see WVU shooting above 50% in 2 out of their last 3 is a real positive sign. 

Well we sure looked worse against inferior Duquesne, eastern Kentucky, Davidson, Oakland and radford teams.... 

Out of this list, Duquensne and Radford are the only teams with lower RPI's than any of the teams responsible for WVU's 5 conference wins with RPI rankings of 212 and 307 respectively.

Texas has an RPI of 163, TT is #215, and TCU is #222. 

They gave Kansas a good game and have beaten the three teams in Big 12 that they should beat. Will be curious if this is consistent with the season so far, (playing to their RPI) or if they are turning it up for the stretch. 

If they play to their RPI it will be a 1-7 finish heading into the Big 12 tourny. If they are finding their way, they'll  beat Baylor Wednesday, come home and beat Texas Tech and make it 5 in a row. When a TCU can beat Kansas, even if they are in a rut, anything is possible if you make some shots. 

 

Out of this list, Duquensne and Radford are the only teams with lower RPI's than any of the teams responsible for WVU's 5 conference wins with RPI rankings of 212 and 307 respectively.<br /><br />Texas has an RPI of 163, TT is #215, and TCU is #222.  <br /><br /><br />I hear you, but sometimes the RPI represents some fuzzy math.  Oakland has 13 losses - as many as these B12 schools.  They are getting more credit for "better wins" in beating teams that only have 5 or 6 total losses.  Remember, the record (not the SOS) of your opponent is what counts the most in the equation.  The problem there though is that the top 2 Summit league teams combined to play a total of 1 major conference team - in that game Minnesota blew out NDSU...  I think Texas, for instance, is a much better team than Oakland - they beat North Carolina and their worst loss was to USC on a neutral floor by 2 points.  

Thank you bbwvfan.  it had appeared to me that Henderson and Harris had come a long way too.  Huggins has always had fast closer type teams, you are 100%  correct.  Tough 8 game schedule left, I would be happy breaking even for a 16-15 record going into the Big 12 tournament. We will see.

If this team could go 4-4, I would be thrilled. Personally, I don't see it happening though.

LOVE is such a strong word. At this point in our relationship - I am beginning to feel the stirrings
in my heart for a deep, abiding "LIKE" of this team, but LOVE is about 4 wins off. They need to win
about 4 more to make up for the wins they should have had earlier in the season, but threw away
due to sloopy play, horrific shooting and lazy offensive displays (i.e.; standing around).

If they can win 4 or 5 of their remaining games - I will admit to a growing affection.
While I am not sure I can imagine this happening, 3 wins over teams they should have beat is a good start.
Now show me something unexpected.

I seriously do feel that this team is beginning to find itself and is building confidence.
But I have thought this a few times this season. Let's just hope it isn't too late to make a difference.

One thing I liked Saturday was having both Henderson and Harris on the floor together - something we haven't seen.  Usually they sub out for each other at the 3, but Harris got some time at the 2.  Henderson still has to work on his defense, which is the only reason he doesn't see more court time.  Eventually Staten, Hinds and Browne will have reduced minutes because of those 2.  This season I think Hinds has made the most progress of the 3 Sophomores.  As I predicted early in the season, this team is taking baby steps forward.  They are not a top-45 team.  Even if they can win at Baylor, I don't think that means the light has suddenly come on.  I think next season should be a very good year, depending on how quickly the new forwards figure things out.

They are not a top-45 team.  Even if they can win at Baylor, I don't think that means the light has suddenly come on.

If there is a light bulb, it's that it seems Huggs has finally caught on that we're not going to win many games with Browne, Hinds and Staten chucking up shots from the outside.  In every one of our losses those 3 combined for an average of about 20 shots.  That's a shot every 2 minutes from guys who shoot 0%, 20%, and 25% from 3 point range.  In the last 3 games, Browne, Hinds and Staten have combined for no more than 14 shots.  Huggs seems to have figured out that playing two of those guys at once for long stretches wasn't working so well.  Those guys need to focus on running the offense when they are on the floor to create plays for our other guys.  They've done this over the past few games.               

It's true the better shooting in the past 3 games has been against the bottom of the B12, but it's also worth noting that earlier in the season it didn't matter who we played.  My nephews CYO team has better shooters that what we looked like chucking up those bricks (recall Radford, VMI, Duquesne, etc.)