West Virginia Basketball: The Future of the Mountaineers
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WVU basketball is on the rise. The Mountaineers are led by Head Coach Bob Huggins and are poised to make a run at the NCAA title.
The Future of West Virginia Basketball
The 2017-2018 season was a tough one for Mountaineer fans. After high expectations early in the season, the team struggled down the stretch, finishing just 18-16 overall and 6-12 in Big 12 play. That led to head coach Bob Huggins making some changes to his Coaching Staff and it also put some pressure on the program to Bounce Back in a big way this coming season.
Fortunately, there is reason to believe that West Virginia will be much improved in 2018-2019. The Mountaineers return all five starters from last season, including junior point guard Jevon Carter, who is widely regarded as one of the best Defensive Players in the country. They also add a talented recruiting class that should provide some much-needed depth and scoring punch off the bench.
With a more experienced and deeper team, West Virginia is primed for a breakout season in 2018-2019. The Mountaineers have the talent to compete for a spot in the NCAA tournament and they should be considered one of the favorites to win the Big 12 conference title If everything comes together, this could be one of the best teams in school history.
The Mountaineers’ Recruiting Class
The 2019-2020 West Virginia Mountaineers Recruiting Class is one of the most highly anticipated in recent years
The class is headlined by five-star point guard Miles McBride, who is ranked as the No. 17 player in the country by ESPN. McBride is a dynamic playmaker with a High Basketball IQ and the ability to score from anywhere on the court. He should be an immediate impact player for the Mountaineers and has the potential to be a star at the collegiate level.
Joining McBride in the Mountaineers’ recruiting class are four-star shooting guard Chase Johnson, four-star Power Forward Isaiah Johnson, four-star small forward Kaleb Johnson, and three-star center D’Andre Davis.
This is an extremely talented and deep recruiting class that should help the Mountaineers compete for championships in the years to come.
The Mountaineers’ Schedule
The West Virginia Mountaineers men’s basketball team will play an abbreviated non-Conference Schedule this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mountaineers will play only Big 12 Conference opponents during the 2020-21 campaign.
The league released its conference schedule on September 29, 2020. Each team will play 18 conference games, with nine games at home and nine on the road. The season will begin on December 29, 2020, and end on March 3, 2021.
West Virginia’s home games will be played at the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, West Virginia The Mountaineers have compiled a 564-175 (.764) all-time record at the Coliseum, which opened in 1970.
The Mountaineers’ Roster
West Virginia’s Basketball team is looking to the future with a promising young roster. The core of the team is made up of sophomores and juniors, with a few key seniors providing leadership. The Mountaineers will have to rely on their young players to step up and fill the shoes of the departing senior class.
The returning starters are led by junior guard Beetle Bolden and sophomore forward Derek Culver Bolden was West Virginia’s leading scorer last season, averaging over 16 points per game He will be counted on to carry the scoring load again this season. Culver is a big post presence who averaged a double-double last season, with 10 points and 10 rebounds per game He will be looked to as the team’s primary rebounder and shot blocker.
The Mountaineers will need contribution from their bench players to make up for the loss of production from the seniors who graduated. Junior guard Sean McNeil and sophomore forward Emmitt Matthews Jr. are two players who could see an increase in playing time this season. McNeil is a sharpshooter who can provide a scoring spark off the bench, while Matthews is a versatile forward who can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the court.
With a talented young roster, West Virginia basketball is poised for success in the years to come.
The Mountaineers’ Coaching Staff
The Mountaineers have a new Head Coach in Bob Huggins, and he has put together an impressive staff. They are led by associate Head coach Larry Harris, who has been with Huggins for over 20 years. The rest of the coaching staff includes:
--Tim Collins Assistant Coach
-Ronnie Duncan: Assistant Coach
-Erik Martin: Assistant Coach
-Jamar Diggs: Director of Player Personnel
-Geoff Ellis: Director of Player Development
The Mountaineers’ Fans
The Mountaineers’ fans are some of the most passionate in all of college basketball They love their team and their state, and they are always ready to support their team through thick and thin. They are also very knowledgeable about the game of basketball and they know what it takes to win.
The Mountaineers’ Arena
West Virginia University’s basketball team the Mountaineers, have seen a lot of success in recent years Most notably, they made it to the Final Four in 2010. They have also won the Big East conference tournament championship three times since 2009. With this level of success, it is no surprise that the school is planning to build a new arena for the team.
The new arena will be located on land that is currently owned by the university. It will be adjacent to the school’s football stadium, making it easy for fans to get to games. The arena will seat approximately 18,000 people and will cost an estimated $60 million to build. Construction is set to begin in 2015 and should be completed by 2016.
The new arena will give the Mountaineers a much-needed upgrade from their current home, the WVU Coliseum. The Coliseum was built in 1970 and only seats about 11,000 people. It is also not located on campus, which makes it difficult for students to get to games. With the new arena, West Virginia University is hoping to increase attendance and create a more enjoyable experience for fans.
The Mountaineers’ Conference
The Mountaineers compete in the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference. They are currently coached by Bob Huggins and play their home games at the WVU Coliseum, which has a capacity of 14,000.
The Mountaineers have made multiple appearances in the NCAA Tournament with their most recent appearance coming in 2019. They have also won multiple conference championships including two regular season championships and one conference tournament championship.
Looking to the future, the Mountaineers are primed to compete for more conference championships and make deep runs in the NCAA tournament With a young core of talented players and a proven head coach West Virginia basketball is poised for success in the years to come.
The Mountaineers’ Rivals
In order to reach the top of the conference, the Mountaineers will have to go through some tough competition. Some of their biggest rivals include:
-The Kentucky Wildcats
-The Louisville Cardinals
-The Syracuse Orange
The Mountaineers’ Legacy
West Virginia University men’s Basketball team has cemented its place among the nation’s best programs. The Mountaineers have appeared in the NCAA tournament 28 times, including four Final Fours and one National Championship game appearance. WVU has also won 13 conference championships, the most recent coming in 2010. The Mountaineers’ success is built on a strong tradition of Great players coaches and teams. Here is a look at some of the key figures in WVU Basketball History