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Bau managed basketball trying to find who they are. What
are they the team that showed up versus UCF at
the Merriy Center down thirty for most of the game,
or are they the team that knocked off the potential
number one seed Iowas state cyclones where we've had the
peak We've had the valley. Now who are they going
to be as they faced West Virginia. We're gonna get
to know the fall a little bit better. What challenges
this West Virginia team poses here on your UTI ESPN
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to the hot line, Welcome in and insider for all
things West Virginia. He's West Virginia Radio Basketball alndlests. We
got Brad how on the line. Brad how you living
a Hi?
Speaker 3: Ben, Good to talk to you again. I appreciate you
having me on and looking forward to talking a little
ball here with you.
Speaker 2: Yes, indeed excited to talk some involved with you. Let's
first start off with West Virginia. Who is West Virginia
this year? How would you describe maybe their culture, their mantrase,
their style of play?
Speaker 3: Who are they? Yeah? What's interesting is you could almost
rewind the tape from when we talked last year and
have the same conversation, although it's a different coach. West
Virginia on its fourth coach in four seasons, it's on
his third complete roster flip over the last three years.
So I think when you're telling West Virginia's basketball story,
you have to start with that. It's really been an
unbelievable and unprecedented run of four years with all of
these different coaches coming in. You thought the thing was
back on track with Darren Debries last year. We only
had him for a year and he's off to Indiana.
Enter Ross Hodge, who coached under Grant mccaslem, the successful
Texas Tech coach at North Texas, and then took over
that North Texas program when mcaslym left for Texas Tech.
Ross comes in here in year one with the Mountaineers
and then I'll be honest with you, it's been a
really surprisingly good year. Given all of that turmoil and
roster turnover that I just talked about, this West Virginia
team was right in the hunt for a potential NCAA
bid up until this last week. And we'll get into
that here in just a minute. It's been a rough
last three games for this team. But it's a very
defensive minded team. It's a team that controls pace when
things are going well and makes it really difficult for
teams to score. I believe we're still in the top
five nationally and scoring defense. So that's where Ross Hodgins
it's at. That's where this teammates it's at is on
the defensive end. On the offensive side, you'll see one
of the best shooters in the country in Honor Huff,
who just on Saturday moved into third place all time
in West Virginia's single season made three pointer list past
the guy by the name of Kevin pittsnovel that your
fans may remember back from West Virginia's a Good Turney runs
back in the mid two thousand. So that's the main
offensive threat. There's some others, and we'll get down in
the weeds here a little bit if you want. That's
a quick overview of what West Virginia is going to
bring to the BYU Cougar's on Saturday. Yeah.
Speaker 2: Why has there been so much turmoil ross are coaching,
attrition coaching? I guess it just chaos.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it has been chaos, and some of it the
move from Darren Debrees being here just one year. That's
the one that's a little more difficult to explain. I
mean again, it is Indiana. Darren was from the Midwest.
That's a crown jewel job of the Midwest, and given
what they have in nil funds, I guess you can
understand that a little bit, but it certainly didn't endear
him to Mountaineer fans after what was a really successful
first season last year. The other two years are a
little easier to explain. You went seventeen years with no turnover.
Was Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins was here, led
the Mountaineers to the Final four in twenty ten and
had a ton of high level success. He got himself
into some trouble by his own doing their late in
his career and precipitated his retirement from WVU. That led
to an interim coach for one season, and you guys
know our interim coach, well, that was Josh Eilert, who
had been with Hugs for a long time in various capacities.
So Josh stepped in and had what was a really
difficult year in trying to hold program together because hudgs
resignation came so late. It happened in the summer. And
I'll always have a lot of respect and give a
lot of credit to Josh Eilert for what he was
able to do and how he was able to lead
a program having never been in that position for that
one season. And of course I mentioned that you all
know him as he took over as the weirdest thing
in college coaching I've seen. Ben a guy was an
interim head coach in back to back seasons at two
different schools. As he took over for the Utes last
year when they got rid of their coach. So that
was the second year. Then you entered Darren for a year.
He's gone after one season, and then incomes Ross Hodge
as the fourth coach in four years. And it was
a complete roster sweep, no rebounds, no points returned, from
last year. So I give this group a lot of
credit for West Virginia guys for staying together. They're still
battling hard, they're still playing hard, they don't take any
possessions off, and like I said, up until last week,
had positioned themselves in the conversation for an NCAA tournament bid,
which was pretty remarkable at the time.
Speaker 2: No one thought that UCF could come into the Mary
Center as twelve and a half point dogs and destroy
this BAYU Cougar basketball team that had just beaten Iowa
State and beaten i Always State, not handily, but they
were in control the entire night. So I don't think
it's too far fetched that West Virginia can knock off
the Cougs as well. What's the messaging to this team
as the Cougars are on the docket for the Mountaineers.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a it's a good point. It's a good question.
And we were just getting on the plane from the
Oklahoma State game and slipped on the BYU UCF game,
and we were we were shocked as well, maybe not
necessarily even that the UCF could pull off a win,
because I think all of us that follow this league
know just how difficult it is, and the old cliche
of there's no nights off. I think that's never been
more true in this league. But the manner in the
in which UCF did that was a bit of a surprise.
So I think if you're West Virginia, you know you're
going to get a laser focus BYU team coming into
the Coliseum on Saturday, and and this is one of
those if I'm looking at it from a West Virginia
perspective and building the case for them against what we
know is a super talented BYU team, even without Ritchie Saunders.
I mean, we were certainly well aware of AJ and
Robert Wright and company coming in here. But I think
if you're building a case for West Virginia's first and
foremost that you're back home in front of what will
be a sold out crowd in the Coliseum, and we
know that's one of the more difficult places to play
in the league. So that's first and foremost. I think
West Virginia it rocked a little bit because it's lost
three straight for the first time all season, and it
only had one two game losing streak all season that
was early back in the Charleston Classic down in Charleston,
South Carolina, when West Virginia lost a couple close ones
to Clemson and Xavier, and back to back days after that.
They had not lost two in a row up until
this stretch against Utah, TCU and Oklahoma State. So I
just think from a confidence standpoint, West Virginia has to
find that first and foremost and it knows this defense
is going to get tested mightily against that offensive firepower.
Speaker 2: For BYU talking BYU versus West Virginia here on your
Utah ESPN Radio network with Brad Howe, West Virginia Radio
Basketball and Loose and getting into it. It's brought to
you by Central Garage, Utah Central Garage Utah dot com.
So I'm looking at at the Quad one opportunities with
West Virginia four and seven and Quad one games two
and four Quad two, I'd actually say like the Quad
one games aren't the concerning portion of it. It's the
the Quad two games two and four. What happened in
these Quad two games that they fell short with.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and I think again that when you look at
Utah and TCU and Oklahoma State in particular, to take
these last three games that have popped up here. I
think all three of those are surprises, quite frankly, if
you're looking at it from a West Virginia perspective. And
I think it was two things that West got West
Virginia in trouble over these last three games that had
been strengths all season and that just switched here over
the last week. So, coming into the Utah game, which
took place on February eighteenth, West Virginia was number one
in the twelve and two different categories. One was free
throw attempt rate for its opponents and one was defensive rebounding.
And so West Virginia was very good at controlling the
glass and it was guarding without falling well. Suddenly, Ben
that has switched over the last three games. All three
of those teams, Utah, TCU, and Oklahoma State have had
success on the offensive glass, and they've got to the
free throw line on West Virginia. Over those three games,
West Virginia is minus twenty nine points at the free
throw line. So for a team that wants to control
possessions and keep the pace down, you're in essence, starting
in a ten to nothing hole at the free throw line.
And that's just that's too difficult for West Virginia to overcome.
So if I was looking for two things moving into
this game, West Virginia has to get back to controlling
the glass and they have to get back to guarding
without fouling. Is one of Ross Hodge's favorite sayings. And
for whatever reason, over the last three games, the whistle
has been different and that has really hindered West Virginia,
taking two of its strength and turning him into two weaknesses.
Speaker 2: If We Virginia beats the Coupes, how do you think
they do it? Here in the you know, just right
around the corner. This game is about to tip off soon.
Speaker 3: Yeah. I think it's a couple of things, and one
of them is what I just mentioned. It's it's you
get a cold shooting night from BYU and then you
corral the rebound and don't allow them to have a
second opportunity when West Virginia is playing well, that's the formula.
This is a really good defensive team. In fact, it's
number eleven nationally an opponent two point field goal percentage.
So they do a great job of loading up the
lane and keeping teams out of there, making them shoot
from outside. So if West Virginia can get a cold
BYU team or a team that is struggling to make
some shots and corral the rebound. That's the first level
of this and when West Virginia has won, that has
been a formula. And then number two, they're going to
make some shots. And they had been in a mired
and a slump from distance for a number of games.
They finally broke out of that against Oklahoma State when
they made twelve threes on her Huff had six himself,
Trey Eagle Staff had four. So that's another component. West
Virginia's two point offense or offense inside the arc has
been very serviceable at times and been very good at
other times. But when it's making threes, that's when it's
difficult to handle because it controls the pace so well
that once West Virginia gets a lead midway through the
second half, they can kind of squeeze it out because
they're so good at protecting the clock and working the clock.
So if I were giving you two, it would be
West Virgin's got to be making shots from distance, and
it's got to limit BYU shots if in fact it's
missing from the.
Speaker 2: Field players that BAYU fans should know, and I get
a scattering report on give us a little personnel breakdown.
Speaker 3: Yeah, ano Hoff's the first and foremost guy. And again,
if you can watch it as an unbiased basketball observer,
which I know MOSTYU fans won't be able to on Saturday,
he's a lot of fun to watch. It's a minutive guy,
but man, he is outstanding. Led the nation in three
pointers made last year while at Chattanooga, and he's having
another fantastic year this year, closing in on one hundred
mad threes this season. And he's a lot of fun
to watch. Very Steph Curry esque from this standpoint, unlimited
range and doesn't stop moving. If you watch him off
the ball, he is in constant motion off picks and running,
so really fun offensive player. Another guy to know would
be Tracing Eagle Staff. He transferred in from North Dakota.
He had a game last year where he put forty
plus points on Alabama and then scored fifty two in
a conference tournament game, so he can light it up
at times as well. Those are two guys to really know.
If you're looking for one inside, it would be number zero.
Brennan Laurent, a transfer that came with Ross Odds from
North Texas. He was All Conference for him last year
and is a really talented six' nine. Defender he's the
guy that will match up On devonsa most of the,
day so that will be a critical matchup For West.
VIRGINIA i know nobody has STOPPED aj just, yet but
can you limit him or at least make him make
difficult shots if You're West, Virginia so keep an eye
On Brendan laurent as well from your.
Speaker 2: PERCH i don't know how much you've scouted by you
sure you keep tabs on all the big twelve teams.
Obviously what's the scouting report On brigham right? Now from
the coaching staff from your perch and from those that
you interact with there At West.
Speaker 3: Virginia, yeah just a lot of respect from both me
and this coaching staff on what they can. Do and,
again you look AT, aj And i'm not telling you
anything you don't. Know i'm just blown away by his
skill set and his abilities each night WHEN i watch.
Him so you obviously start, there and what can you
do with? Him is this a? Guy can you hold
him to twenty two and be excited about? That it's
certainly a guy you don't want to get up near
his average and above in the thirty point. Range and
THEN i have a ton of respect For Robert. Wright
we watched him last year when he was At baylor
run up and down the, floor AND i think he's
just a fantastic point. Guard and if he's not the
best point guard in this, league he's certainly right in that.
Conversation so we've seen THIS byu team a. Bunch i'd
much prefer to get them at home in the coliseum
rather than be at your place like we were last.
YEAR i thought your home environment out there In provo
was one of the best in this. League so glad
The cougar's coming here To, morgantown which which generally gives
a better effort From West. Virginia BUT i think THIS
byu team is tremendous even Without, saunders AND i know
that was a massive, loss and certainly they're not the
same team without, Him but, again you got a guy
like aj you just give him the ball and get
out of the way at. TIMES i think he's. Tremendous
So West virginia knows it's got a hands full coming
up On. Saturday indeed it.
Speaker 2: Could it could have as hands full depending on WHICH
byu basketball team shows. Up The jaquelin hyde is WHAT
byu fans are concerned, about as they they kind of
instorts the regular season finish line and no game is,
Given no dubs are easy in The Big. Twelve how
would you describe The Big twelve thus far this?
Speaker 3: SEASON i just think it's. FANTASTIC i, think you, know
every year That West virginia has been in this, league
it's been one of the best, leagues if not the
best league In, america AND i think that's that's absolutely
true this. YEAR i think the influx of freshman talent
is just off the charts when you talk about each,
night when you go into these, games the talent is
so incredibly. Good And West virginia has seen that all
throughout the. Season so this will be our first look
AT Aj BUT i think this is as good a
league as there is In, america AND i think this
is one of the best years that The Big twelve
has had talent wise over the last few.
Speaker 2: Years, yeah it's been fun to watch a lot of
stars in this in this. League As Brett yormark likes
to stay the celebritization of The Big. TWELVE i, mean
it's a it's player and the entertainment that he's bringing
in to The Big twelve for The Big twelve.
Speaker 3: Tournament, Right, YEAH i can't wait for that. Tournament can
you imagine how good that's going to be with all
these teams up and down the. LIST i, mean you
just talked about A ucf comes on the road and
gets that win over OVER. Byu you look at the
last three. Games West virginia's just had last Place utah
roles in here and Beat West virginia at. Home SO
i think those are there's a lot of coin flip
games and then there's a lot of heavyweights going at.
It SO i think the Tournament Kansas city is going
to be.
Speaker 2: Awesome give me a little a breakdown of what you
think THIS Byu West virginia game will look like coming
up here On.
Speaker 3: Saturday, Well i'm hopeful it's, Close. BEN i hope we
get to see a good college basketball, game and if we,
DO i think you can tell. EARLY i think it's
one of those we saw this Against Oklahoma state In West.
Virginia if it comes out and there's a lot of
points being. SCORED i think that's ADVANTAGE. Byu if it
comes out and it's clunky and it's, ugly and it looks,
junkie and there's some turnovers and it's a slow pace,
GAME i think that bodes well For West. Virginia ross
often tells this team that it's okay if it gets
in the, mud that we're comfortable playing in the. Mud
AND i think that's that's part of Why West virginia
or How West virginia has to. Win SO i think
you'll be able to see early what the pace looks.
Like we Know BYU's gonna want to get out and
get up and down the. Floor West virginia's going to
want to be the exact. Opposite so whichever team can
control that pace and impose its will on the, other
that's who's ultimately going to win this. Game so if
You're West, virginia if you're A West virginia, fan you're
looking for an.
Speaker 2: Game believe it or, not then, hey beautifully, UGLY i
can still win you basketball. Games it can still win
a lot of sporting events for a respective. Team so
hopefully it's a good. One we appreciate you hopping on
to let us get to know the.
Speaker 3: Foe.
Speaker 2: Brad what's the best way to support you what you,
do how you do it for all of our.
Speaker 3: Listeners, yeah, THANKS i appreciate you. Asking probably the easiest
way you can keep up with me ON x At
brad How howe zero seven and we put all our
stuff there podcast nightly show all the informations THERE byu
fans ever want to learn more About West virginia and
we do the basketball, stuff we do the football, Stuff
we cover it, all so would welcome them.
Speaker 2: ANYTIME a couple last things before we let you. Go
who's the big twelve player that? Year do you think
who you put your money on right?
Speaker 3: Now that's a great, question ask me After saturday AFTER
i take a look AT, aj BUT i don't know
how it's not going to be him and that discussion
and you, know super unfortunate THAT Jt topping went down
like he, did But i'm going into. IT i look
at those numbers every week AND i just don't know
how it can be anybody BUT. Aj right, NOW i
think he's had a fantastic.
Speaker 2: Season, yeah we'll see how it plays.
Speaker 3: Out.
Speaker 2: Brad we salute, You we appreciate you. Man thanks for
hopping on.
Speaker 3: Today, okay, Anytime thanks for having.
Speaker 2: Me that's Another folks segment brought to you By Central, Garage,
Utah Central Garage utah dot. Com, uh hop on a,
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