The backcourt Huggins inherits features a pair of superstars that have not received the kind of national recognition they deserve.  That will change this year.  Seniors Rod Hundley and Jerry West are both seniors who hail from the Mountain State and are basically the same size (both are 6’4 with West actually being a bit taller but for some reason WV only list West as 6’3) and both are incredible basketball talents.  That is where the similarities end!  ‘Hot’ Rod as he has become known would be better suited representing Harlem than Morgantown as he is the crown prince of college basketball.  Don’t get me wrong Hundley is one heck of a player who can score, handle the ball, pass and rebound but loves to have fun on the court. His behind the back dribbles and passes and his antics on and off the court have made him extremely popular in West Virginia.  Two years ago he had a chance to become the first WV player to score 50 points in a game as he got fouled with no time left and sitting at 49 points.  With the crowd of WVU Coliseum (a place he and West helped built with their popularity) roaring and the game already decided Hundley stepped to the line and attempted in succession a hook shot (he loves hook shots) and a behind the back shot.  He missed both and the 50 point barrier has now been broken by none other than West.  Hundley can flat play though as he led the team in scoring his first year here averaging over twenty a game and almost ten boards and is way more athletic than he looks.  One of his favorite antics used to be to hang on the rim until a teammate passed him the ball for a dunk.  That will not happen anymore as he did get a few T’s doing this and with Huggins (who actually used to be his backup and who he tortured in practice) in charge. ‘Huggy Bear’ almost for sure will cut down on some of the tom foolery on the court but will be carry that over to his off the court stuff specifically his highly entertaining interviews?  They do say any publicity is good publicity and as ‘goofy’ as Hundley can be the man can talk (he would be one heck of wrestler as the Rock has nothing on his monologues) basketball (and just about anything else). And boy do the fans love to hear him talk!  If he doesn’t make it in basketball he most definitely can become a talk show host or something where he talks!

West is at the opposite end of the spectrum.  The aptly nicknamed ‘Zeke from Cabin Creek’ is as quiet and reserved as they come.  Until you get him on the basketball court.  Then he is a ruthless assassin.  Known for his scoring and picturesque form West plays with a passion that borders on psychosis.  One of the most complete players in the country West can (and will) do it all to help his team win.  He takes every loss as if someone punched him in the mouth and will let these losses fester at least until he has the chance to redeem himself.  Mr. Clutch wants the last shot.  West has gladfully played in the shadows of Hundley for the last three years as he has accumulated an incredible reputation (and ridiculous stats) of being one of the great models for how the game is ‘supposed’ to be played.  West will kill you with his jump shot but he is just as good is not afraid to mix it up as he is adept at drawing fouls and might be the best inch for inch rebounder in the country.  Will his immaculate game (and style) transfer over to the Big Show of this league?  Well, those fans at MSG and the Carrier Dome and DC have not seen anything like Jerry West. 

There is a third wheel to the magnificent Batman and Robin combo in Morgantown and he aint no Joker.  Fellow senior Rod Thorn is another 6’4 kid from West Virginia who loves to put the ball in the basket.  He was recruited so heavily at WV that the legislature there passed a resolution designating him a natural resource.  Of course as good as he is he pales in comparison to the great West.  Thorn does give Huggins wing who can score and helps out on the boards but the new coach has to decide whether he will be better suited starting or coming off the bench.  Thorn is a cerebral player who might even know the game better than West or Hundley if that is even possible.   The Mountaineers seem to be filled with those guys but you can’t play them all at once, or can you?.  In many ways Thorn was West’s protégé.  He even wanted to wear 44 (West’s eventual number) but gave up the ghost when he quickly realized that this was a big deal to his teammate and no way did he want to tussle with him over a number.  They have enough conflic in the practice gym or discussing the best ways to play this game.  Whether he starts or is the sixth man Thorn will continue to be an asset to WV basketball and no doubt will make a huge impact at the next level as well. 

Ron’ Fritz’ Williams was the point guard off the pine last year but could start this season depending on which way Huggins goes with Thorn.  The small town kid from Weirton WV was the first black athlete in Morgantown and has taken his lumps.  He can score but has accepted his role as a distributor and defender at the point as he understands that is probably the only way to get on the court with this lineup.   Wil Robinson is another outstanding guard who is caught in the shuffle of too many scorers on one roster.  He loves to score but like Williams has adjusted accordingly on this team but does bring more instant offense to this roster.  Fellow juniors Tony Robertson and Jerome Anderson got some minutes last year on JV but are straight wings so are looking down the road for playing time though both are great defensive players. Steady senior Bob Smith is also in this group and has been a solid contributor in Morgantown since he got here and knows 10 minutes a game on this roster is about his ceiling.  Junior Lowes Moore and Sophomore Greg Jones are two more guards that can play but they are caught up in the numbers game behind West and Hundley.  They were dynamic last year on the JV and deserve a shot but where are they going to play?  There can be only so many guards on the court at once no matter what Huggins tries to accomplish (he has hinted at four guard sets) and in the end this team needed some size up front who could defend and board and score just a little. 

Huggins is taking over a veteran team, many of whom he played with, to surround these three studs as the Mountaineers are ready to do battle in the tough Big East.  But do they have enough size?  The returning post players are solid players but are they ready for this league?  Starting up front for the Mountaineers should be two seniors who know how to play the game but are not the most physical or biggest guys even in the A-10.  Mark Workman is a go to post player who has a great touch and complements the backcourt well.  Workman, another WV native, gave the Mounties size at 6’9 (at least height as he only goes about 215 with his six nine frame) and he can rebound pretty well for a guy who is that svelte.  Workman will well have to become a working man if he is to lunch pail it down low in this league.   Fellow Senior Fred Schaus is as smart as it gets on the basketball court and has range to 18 feet.   He too is a bit frail in the battles underneath as he only goes 6’5 and 205.  This Newark kid is tough but would be better suited at the but as we have seen the Mountaineers have a plethora of wings.  The likable Shaus was just elected the Student Body President of the University so replacing him will be no easy task but if this team is going to hang in this new league they have to get bigger underneath and we are not talking John Holmes here.   Senior Lloyd Sharrar does have size, 6’10 though he is only 210, and can board but can he hang with Ewing and Bouie?   Juniors Warren Baker and Maurice Robinson are much of the same though even smaller at 6’7 though both does have some beef and can bang down low.  Sophomore Darryl Prue proved last year in limited games he can play in the paint but is another guy a bit undersized at 6’7 210 for this league.  With the lack of dominant big men on his roster Huggins made it a point of emphasis to recruit post players in his first class.  8 of his 10 recruits this year are inside players including three 6’11 kids as the new coach has made sure his beloved Mountaineers will not be bullied in the future.  As far as this year that is an entirely unwritten text but one thing is for sure a few of these new kill will have an important role for the Mountaineers. 

The West Virginia Mountaineers are entering a new world and how well they do will depend on one simple thing.  How will their bigs will be able to hang in this tough, physical and big league.  They have the perimeter players who can hang with anyone.  Or at least dominated the A-10!  New Coach Bob Huggins is from Morgantown and is the right man for the job with his intensity and defensive mindedness but no matter how good you are outside if you can’t hang in the middle you will not get off the porch in the Big East!