Inside The Big East: West Virginia

Bob Huggins could be excluded from a best-dressed list, but don't count his West Virginia team out of Big East. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

After profiling Jamie Dixon and Pitt, the next topic of conversation is the Panthers' archrival.

West Virginia Mountaineers (2010-11 Record: 21-12, 11-7 Big East)

Head Coach: Bob Huggins (5th season at WV, 101-42; 691-253 overall)

Returning Starters: F Kevin Jones (6-8 Sr., 13.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 45% FG, 60% FT, 1.1 APG)
G Darryl "Truck" Bryant (6-2 Sr., 11.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 33% FG, 83% FT, 3.0 APG)
F Deniz Kilicli (6-9 Jr., 6.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 49% FG, 57% FT)
Other Key Returning Players: None

Key Losses: G Casey Mitchell (13.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 42% FG, 38% 3pt, 87% FT, 1.1 APG)
F John Flowers (9.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 47% FG, 76% FT, 1.7 APG, 2.2 BPG)
G Joe Mazzulla (7.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 46% FG, 67% FT, 4.2 APG)

One year removed from a run to the Final Four behind the late-game heroics of DaSean Butler, West Virginia struggled last season; finishing 21-12 and only reaching the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament after trying to replace both Butler and forward Devin Ebanks, who had been drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers following the 2009-10 campaign in which the Mountaineers reached the national semifinals. The good news in Morgantown is that coach Bob Huggins has three returning starters from each of the previous two teams coming into this season. The bad news, however, is that his bench is no longer as deep as it has historically been; meaning that West Virginia will need to rely on a combination of new faces and talent that has yet to prove itself if they are to be among the 68 programs to hear their names announced by Greg Gumbel on Selection Sunday.

Senior guard Darryl "Truck" Bryant, a local product by way of St. Raymond's in the Bronx, is the undisputed point guard now that Joe Mazzulla has graduated; and will be the primary option in the backcourt for Huggins as well. Up front, senior Kevin Jones and junior Deniz Kilicli will serve as the go-to guys inside. Last year, Jones and Kilicli averaged nearly 20 points and over 11 rebounds combined; and both could be double-double per night players under the right circumstances. Huggins' bench will be occupied by a number of incoming freshmen in a recruiting class highlighted by 5-11 guard Jabarie Hinds. Hinds comes to the Mountaineers from Mount Vernon High School and coach Bob Cimmino, the same program that produced Kevin Jones; and should make an impact immediately.

West Virginia opens the season on November 11th against Summit League favorite Oral Roberts before hosting Kent State four days later at 10AM as part of ESPN's 24 hours of college basketball. One last home game against Alcorn State awaits before a matchup with last year's NCAA Tournament darling Morehead State on a neutral court in Charleston, site of the Mountaineers' game with Marshall last season.

West Virginia returns home to face Huggins' former employer Akron before hitting the road to meet Mississippi State as part of the SEC/Big East Challenge. Next up is a clash with another former Huggins program, as Kansas State meets the Mountaineers in Wichita before three home games in Morgantown; the first of which comes against former Big East opponent Miami. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Tennessee Tech are next on West Virginia's ledger before the Mountaineers head to Las Vegas for showdowns with Missouri State and Baylor.

After opening Big East play in Morgantown against Villanova on December 28th, West Virginia closes 2011 two days later in Newark against Seton Hall, and plays its first contest of 2012 at the RAC against Mike Rice's Scarlet Knights four days later. A home meeting with Georgetown precedes a trip to the XL Center to face Jim Calhoun and reigning national champion Connecticut, with Rutgers invading the WVU Coliseum on January 14th to complete a home-and-home series. Four days later, West Virginia returns to Charleston to reprise their in-state rivalry with Marshall, who could be a contender in Conference USA under coach Tom Herrion.

A home game against yet another former Huggins school is next for the Mountaineers, as Mick Cronin and Cincinnati make their way into Morgantown on January 21st. Four days later, West Virginia heads into Madison Square Garden looking to avenge a bitter loss from last season when they take on Steve Lavin and the youngest team in St. John's history. Last season, the Red Storm opened conference play with a rather convincing win in Morgantown, a key in their 3-0 Big East start that set them up for their miraculous stretch run. The Mountaineers stay in New York to meet Syracuse at the Carrier Dome following their trip to the largest city in the United States, with Pitt closing out January on the 30th when the Mountaineers and Panthers play the first of two games in the Backyard Brawl.

A trip to Providence opens the month of February for West Virginia, with Notre Dame coming into Morgantown on February 8th for the front end of a home-and-home series. Three days later, Rick Pitino and Louisville are the next opponent the Mountaineers play host to, with Pittsburgh next on the schedule from the Petersen Center on February 16th. The back end of the Notre Dame home-and-home takes place next for West Virginia at the Joyce Center six days following the Pitt game; with Marquette and DePaul coming into Morgantown for the final homestand of the season, one that will take the Mountaineers through the month of February. West Virginia will play its final regular season game in St. Petersburg on March 3rd when they fly to the Sunshine State to face USF in their final tuneup before the Big East tournament.