bitcruncher Wrote:

CatsClaw Wrote:

Krocker Krapp Wrote:And 73-67 is your first final score of the day. The interesting thing about West Virginia is that Bob Huggins doesn't even have his own recruits playing yet. It will be really interesting to watch the Mountaineers once that happens.

Actually, Bob Huggins would be better off mixing in old style WVU recruits with his future recruits. The reason Bob Huggins struggled in the tournament in the past is that he never consistently recruited good PGs and he never recruited consistent shooters.

Huggins may have recruited his best PG ever in Darryl 'Truck' Bryant (#20 in the video). He's ranked #39 by scout.com, although rivals.com doesn't list him. But that doesn't surprise me. I saw Josh Jenkins ranking drop slightly on rivals.com when he signed with WVU.

Congrats to WVU and Coach Huggins. If anyone deserved the win it was Huggs.
Best point guard ever is a strong statement given that Huggins had Nick Van Exel, Steve Logan, and Kenny Satterfield at UC.

LaRue777 Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:I just read Dana O'Neil's Instant Analysis of the game @ ESPN.com, and boy did he get it wrong. He had Joe Alexander as the Player of the Game, but the real hero in the game was Joe Mazzula.

Before Mazzula came into the game, Duke's pressure was causing a lot problems for WVU. He made it a non-factor. The 2PG alignment Huggins has been using is what turned the game around. Mazzula began driving, and that opened up shooting lanes for all Mountaineers.

Ah well. I guess I shouldn't expect ESPN to get it right about WVU.

I think what makes it tough when they are playing well is that the 3 guard lineup gives them 3 players that can easily handle the PG position and 2 players that are tough at the shooting guard. Let's hope this setup can help them down the road against the smaller lineups they will face. Butler and Alexander have to be tough inside with this setup.

Actually, only 2 of the guards can handle PG. Ruoff isn't a PG, and never will be. He's not a bad ball handler, but a PG he isn't. And Mazulla will never be a shooter like Darris Nichols. But that's okay if he plays like he did against Duke. A driving distrubutor is a huge asset.

Alexander and Butler are just now starting to learn how to play together inside. They finally learned how to do that at just the right time too. At tourney time, you have to be playing your best, and the Mountaineers are peaking at just the right time.

I wonder how far it will take them this year?

I wonder how far it will take them next year?

bearcat65 Wrote:Congrats to WVU and Coach Huggins. If anyone deserved the win it was Huggs.
Best point guard ever is a strong statement given that Huggins had Nick Van Exel, Steve Logan, and Kenny Satterfield at UC.

Van Exel was by far the best of that group.

Tough to pick the best of that group. Logan was my favorite. His senior year he put the team on his back for most of the year and carried them to a #1 seed in the NCAA's.

bitcruncher Wrote:Actually, only 2 of the guards can handle PC. Ruoff isn't a PG, and never will be. He's not a bad ball handler, but a PG he isn't. And Mazulla will never be a shooter like Darris Nichols. But that's okay if he plays like he did against Duke. A driving distrubutor is a huge asset.

I was going back and forth about whether to consider Ruoff in the PG slot. He has the passing skills but perhaps lacks some in the dribbling department. I have vague recollections of him playing point with Nichols on the bench a few years ago but it could be the mind playing tricks. You are correct about Mazulla not being a shooting guard. When he is on he adds to the mix with his ability to take it to the basket.

LaRue777 Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:Actually, only 2 of the guards can handle PC. Ruoff isn't a PG, and never will be. He's not a bad ball handler, but a PG he isn't. And Mazulla will never be a shooter like Darris Nichols. But that's okay if he plays like he did against Duke. A driving distrubutor is a huge asset.

I was going back and forth about whether to consider Ruoff in the PG slot. He has the passing skills but perhaps lacks some in the dribbling department. I have vague recollections of him playing point with Nichols on the bench a few years ago but it could be the mind playing tricks. You are correct about Mazulla not being a shooting guard. When he is on he adds to the mix with his ability to take it to the basket.

Mazulla doesn't need to be a shooter with his game. He's a scorer. Driving down the lane will get him a ton of free throws, a lot of assists, and a lot of layups.

For a true PG, shooting is a luxury. But it isn't essential.