03-16-2010, 06:34 PM
Huggins deserves plaudits
Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010 12:45 AM
Filed Under: Big East, From Ballin Is a Habit
Editor’s note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I’m adding help. The guys behind Ballin’ Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.
By Rob Dauster
Bobby Huggins had every right to celebrate this win.
His 10th conference tournament title. The first Big East tournament title for both Huggins and West Virginia. Madison Square Garden. ESPN.
Short of hanging a banner from Indy in three weeks, this is as good as the college hoops season gets.
But after Da'Sean Butler hit his second game-winner in three nights (and sixth of the season), and after Chris Wright's desperation lay-up couldn't quite get to rim level, Huggins stood to the side as the Mountaineers celebrated.
"I've never gotten involved in that," Huggins said after the game, "because I don't think its about me. I think its about them.
"They're the one who come in and go through what they go through on a day-to-day basis. They're the guys who have to go out and produce on the floor."
He's right. Bob Huggins doesn't have to go through a season's worth of Bob Huggins' practices. The Mountaineers deserve praise for simply surviving.
"We practice three hours a day," Butler said.
Huggins has a unique coaching style. He has developed a reputation as a yeller and a screamer, a younger Bobby Knight if you will. While that isn't necessarily false -- I don't know if there are five people in this profession better at berating an official or a player -- Huggins is actually very calm on the sideline 90 percent of the time.
"I just stand over there," Huggins said. "I can't sit, so I stand. If I could sit I would probably sit."
That said, there may not be a more demanding coach in the country than Huggins. Simply put, he expects the best from each and every one of his players.
And whether it is great coaching, an ability to motivate, or intimidation -- is it possible he scares his players into playing their best to avoid a screaming session? -- Huggins always seems to get the most out of the guys that come through his program.
I mean, this isn't exactly a team chock full of all-americans and lottery picks. West Virginia just won the toughest conference tournament in the country, and they did it with just one five-star (Devin Ebanks) and one four-star (Kevin Jones) recruit. Butler and Wellington Smith were three-star recruits, as was Truck Bryant. Joe Mazzulla and Cam Thoroughman were two-star recruits.
Hell, he turned Joe Alexander, an afterthought as a recruit in high school and as a draft prospect heading into his junior season, into the eighth pick in the draft. After leaving West Virginia and Huggins, Alexander subsequently became the highest draft pick to have his rookie contract option declined.
And you still don't believe he is able to squeeze every ounce of talent out of his players?
There is nothing that is particularly great about this West Virginia team. They have one point guard that is ineffective and another that has one arm. They don't have a true center, or a true shooting guard for that matter. It seems like every player on there roster is stuck somewhere between being a small forward and a power forward.
And yet, he has this team on the brink of becoming a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He has a Big East Tournament banner to hang in WVU Coliseum. He has a team capable of reaching the Final Four, in not further.
"I just want them to enjoy it and receive the accolades they deserve," Huggins said.
Anyone that caught a glimpse of this team after the game knows they were.
As the team was celebrating after the game, there were hugs all around. They participated in a rousing chorus of "Take me home, country roads" as it played through the Garden's sound system. Butler, once again the hero, came to the press conference with a net around his neck and a smile permanently stretched from ear to ear.
As happy as each of the Mountaineer players were, I think that they would agree, to a man, that they would not be here without Coach Huggins.
He may not take the credit, but he cannot do anything if it is given to him.
As Wellington Smith said, "Coach did a great job just coaching me."
You can find more of Rob’s writing at Ballin’ is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @ballinishabit.
http://beyondthearc.msnbc.msn.com/archiv...27652.aspx
Lance linked to this this morning. I thought it was pretty dead on. Talent wise WVU does not seem like they should be that great, but Huggs just seems to have a way of hiding weaknesses and playing to his teams strengths. WVU is a team full of tweener forwards (only two of which were highly recruited) and they won the Big East Tournament...pretty impressive, shows what great coaching can do.
Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010 12:45 AM
Filed Under: Big East, From Ballin Is a Habit
Editor’s note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I’m adding help. The guys behind Ballin’ Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.
By Rob Dauster
Bobby Huggins had every right to celebrate this win.
His 10th conference tournament title. The first Big East tournament title for both Huggins and West Virginia. Madison Square Garden. ESPN.
Short of hanging a banner from Indy in three weeks, this is as good as the college hoops season gets.
But after Da'Sean Butler hit his second game-winner in three nights (and sixth of the season), and after Chris Wright's desperation lay-up couldn't quite get to rim level, Huggins stood to the side as the Mountaineers celebrated.
"I've never gotten involved in that," Huggins said after the game, "because I don't think its about me. I think its about them.
"They're the one who come in and go through what they go through on a day-to-day basis. They're the guys who have to go out and produce on the floor."
He's right. Bob Huggins doesn't have to go through a season's worth of Bob Huggins' practices. The Mountaineers deserve praise for simply surviving.
"We practice three hours a day," Butler said.
Huggins has a unique coaching style. He has developed a reputation as a yeller and a screamer, a younger Bobby Knight if you will. While that isn't necessarily false -- I don't know if there are five people in this profession better at berating an official or a player -- Huggins is actually very calm on the sideline 90 percent of the time.
"I just stand over there," Huggins said. "I can't sit, so I stand. If I could sit I would probably sit."
That said, there may not be a more demanding coach in the country than Huggins. Simply put, he expects the best from each and every one of his players.
And whether it is great coaching, an ability to motivate, or intimidation -- is it possible he scares his players into playing their best to avoid a screaming session? -- Huggins always seems to get the most out of the guys that come through his program.
I mean, this isn't exactly a team chock full of all-americans and lottery picks. West Virginia just won the toughest conference tournament in the country, and they did it with just one five-star (Devin Ebanks) and one four-star (Kevin Jones) recruit. Butler and Wellington Smith were three-star recruits, as was Truck Bryant. Joe Mazzulla and Cam Thoroughman were two-star recruits.
Hell, he turned Joe Alexander, an afterthought as a recruit in high school and as a draft prospect heading into his junior season, into the eighth pick in the draft. After leaving West Virginia and Huggins, Alexander subsequently became the highest draft pick to have his rookie contract option declined.
And you still don't believe he is able to squeeze every ounce of talent out of his players?
There is nothing that is particularly great about this West Virginia team. They have one point guard that is ineffective and another that has one arm. They don't have a true center, or a true shooting guard for that matter. It seems like every player on there roster is stuck somewhere between being a small forward and a power forward.
And yet, he has this team on the brink of becoming a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He has a Big East Tournament banner to hang in WVU Coliseum. He has a team capable of reaching the Final Four, in not further.
"I just want them to enjoy it and receive the accolades they deserve," Huggins said.
Anyone that caught a glimpse of this team after the game knows they were.
As the team was celebrating after the game, there were hugs all around. They participated in a rousing chorus of "Take me home, country roads" as it played through the Garden's sound system. Butler, once again the hero, came to the press conference with a net around his neck and a smile permanently stretched from ear to ear.
As happy as each of the Mountaineer players were, I think that they would agree, to a man, that they would not be here without Coach Huggins.
He may not take the credit, but he cannot do anything if it is given to him.
As Wellington Smith said, "Coach did a great job just coaching me."
You can find more of Rob’s writing at Ballin’ is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @ballinishabit.
http://beyondthearc.msnbc.msn.com/archiv...27652.aspx
Lance linked to this this morning. I thought it was pretty dead on. Talent wise WVU does not seem like they should be that great, but Huggs just seems to have a way of hiding weaknesses and playing to his teams strengths. WVU is a team full of tweener forwards (only two of which were highly recruited) and they won the Big East Tournament...pretty impressive, shows what great coaching can do.