MORGANTOWN —
The West Virginia University men’s basketball team (8-9, 1-3 Big 12) is headed for the school’s worst record since 2001-02.
It was so pitiful in last Saturday’s 79-52 blowout at Purdue (10-8, 3-2 Big 10) that coach Bob Huggins called it “totally unacceptable” in his postgame radio interview.
What’s more, he apologized to WVU fans and to the people of the state of West Virginia.
With few exceptions, the Mountaineers have lacked consistency and the season is more than half gone. And all the remaining 14 games are in the Big 12 Conference.
Huggins has tried a variety of changes and twists to put this team on a winning track. But little seems to work.
He doesn’t think his players perform hard enough competitively. He hints strongly that they don’t grasp what they’re told to do at times.
It is not what you can call a good shooting team. Defense is good, but at times there are lapses.
Huggins certainly is a great coach. He ranks No. 3 among the nation’s active winningest mentors.
Meanwhile, there are some observers who question West Virginia’s recent recruiting classes. They think that’s a problem.
I don’t know. I’m most certainly not a coach. But one critic said, “I’ve been blaming the recruiting all along.”
Poor shooting admittedly has been a problem. WVU shot only 29 percent from the field (17 of 58) against Purdue, which made 49.2 percent of its field goal attempts (29 of 59).
The Boilermakers had four scorers in double figures (17, 16, 11, 10). West Virginia’s only one was Eron Harris, with just 10 points.
The Mountaineers did connect on 15 of 20 free throws, but were outrebounded 44-34 and committed 17 turnovers.
“I never saw this coming,” Huggins said. “I honestly didn’t.”
Last year’s record was 19-14 and 9-9 in the Big East.
“We will be better this year, a lot better,” the veteran coach told me last fall.
The Mountaineers return home to play TCU (9-9, 0-5 Big 12) Wednesday night and they visit Oklahoma State (12-4, 2-2) on Saturday.
Following the loss at Purdue, Huggins said, “I’ve never had a guy in my (31-year) career that wouldn’t compete. Our shooting was terrible. It shouldn’t stop us from rebounding.
“And we threw the ball away. We turned the ball over to them. All I’m asking them to do is block out on rebounds. And we make stupid fouls.”
He told the squad that he was going out to the broadcast crew to apologize to WVU fans and West Virginia residents “that this is totally unacceptable.”
“This is not what we are supposed to represent.”
Huggins expressed hope that those who support his program have enough faith in him that he’ll fix the problems eventually.
“I don’t know that I can this year, but we will fix it.
“That was as worthless an effort as anyone could possibly give.
“I saw things that were unexplainable. Unexplainable.”
Mickey Furfari
Is recruiting WVU’s problem?
- Mickey Furfari
-
-
FURFARI COLUMN: WVU should reinstate men’s track — not golf
West Virginia University has not had a men’s golf team since 1982 in its sports program.
But Oliver Luck, who’s been the school’s athletic director going on three years, reportedly is talking about bringing back that sport “because it’s cheap.” -
FURFARI COLUMN: Harrick greatest WVU two-sport coach
The late Steve Harrick was the longest-serving, most-successful two-sport head coach in West Virginia University’s athletic history.
-
FURFARI COLUMN: Crutchfield ‘miracle man’ at West Liberty
Jim Crutchfield, who learned the value of “aggressive defense” in basketball as a player at the old Roosevelt-Wilson High School in Clarksburg, continues to parlay that play phase with others to lead the nation in scoring as well as achieve smashing success as an NCAA Division II head coach.
-
FURFARI COLUMN- Talley successful as business owner
Darryl Talley, one of the hardest-hitting and most productive tacklers in West Virginia University football history, is now owner and operator of a successful business in Florida.
-
FURFARI COLUMN: Is WVU’s Mazey Big 12 Baseball Coach of the Year?
Randy Mazey, West Virginia University’s new baseball coach, continues to raise eyebrows from coast to coast as the Mountaineers elevate to a three-way tie in the Big 12 Conference for first place in the standings.
-
FURFARI COLUMN: Ex-WVU swimmer still winning at 77
Dan “Cav” Cavanaugh, who grew up in Parkersburg, is individually the most honored swimmer in West Virginia University’s athletic history.
-
FURFARI COLUMN- ‘Ideal’ conference can’t possibly become reality
With West Virginia University nearing the end of its first year as a member of the Big 12 Conference, some people are speculating where it could — or should — have been competing in intercollegiate athletics.
-
FURFARI COLUMN- Former Mountaineer DB Agee a celebrity in Hollywood
Tim Agee, one of the toughest little defensive backs in Don Nehlen’s 21 years as West Virginia University’s head football coach, did not waste much time becoming a celebrity in Hollywood, Calif.
-
FURFARI COLUMN: Former LB now is noted artist
David Benn of Akron, Ohio, was an outstanding linebacker on the West Virginia University football team in 1968-69-70.
But the 6-2, 200-pound alumnus became more of a longtime celebrity than he was then. -
FURFARI COLUMN: Dunlap said to be taking a new role
Steve Dunlap reportedly has told friends he will be rejoining West Virginia University’s football program in a new, non-coaching role on July 1.
- More Mickey Furfari Headlines
-
FURFARI COLUMN: WVU should reinstate men’s track — not golf
