Give Him A Break Huggs
by 5th Year Senior on Feb 26, 2009 9:51 AM EST
in Mountaineer Basketball
Email
Print
Mazzulla’s injury sucks but it could be a blessing in disguise. It has thrust Truck into the starting role and started a season of trial by fire. He has struggled at times but has also shown glimpses of his extreme potential.
There has not been a game this year in which CBH has not quickly pulled Truck from the game for an out of control drive to the hoop or for being out of position on defense. I’m all for teaching the kid a lesson but making him sit in "time-out" moves our two best scorers into unfamiliar positions. This short leash has hurt our team more than it has helped us this year.
The most recent example of my disdain for this strategy is the Rutgers game. In both the first and second half Huggs pulled Truck after he allowed Rosario an easy lane to the basket. Immediately after this Rutgers goes on a run to cut our lead.
Coincidence?
When Bryant is reinserted into the game our team steadies and we make a run of our own. Huggs has a great basketball mind but I think he is wrong to keep Truck on such short leash, especially with no back-up point guard. Bryant may dribble himself into trouble at times but he is a freshman. He would learn more from being in the game and getting yelled at during timeouts and stoppages in play. Rather than, plopping him on the bench beside Billy Hahn.
Just give him a chance to make up for his mistakes on the court, rather than making him pay for his mistakes on the bench.
11 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I'm sure there's a method to Huggins's madness
There could be more going on than what we see. Bryant was a highly touted recruit and due to Mazzulla’s injury is now a starter. I think this is Huggs’s way of keeping Bryant’s ego in check. “I am the coach…you will play the way I want you to play.” Now I’m not saying that Bryant has that problem but Huggs has been around long enough and coached enough players to know how to most effectively coach his players’ personalities. I won’t start questioning Huggs until we go on a 4-year losing streak.
So…question Huggs again, and I’m telling….
2001-2002 = 2008-2009
In 2002, we brought in one of Catlett’s most acclaimed recruiting classes. Freshmen Hargett, Schifino, Sally and JUCO Chaz Briggs. We also returned starting F Chris Moss, starting G Lionel Armstead, and starting PG Tim Lyles. However, Lyles tore his ACL preseason and Hargett was forced into the starting PG role as a freshman.
Even with the injury, expectations were high. Coming off an NIT season and a good mix of verterans and heralded freshmen, many people expected an NCAA berth.
In 2009, we brought in Huggs best class here. Freshmen Bryant, Ebanks, Jones and JUCO Proby. We also returned starting G Ruoff, starting F Butler and backup PG Joe Mazzula. However Mazulla broke his shoulder very early in the year and Truck was forced into the starting PG role as a freshman.
Even with the injury though, expectations were high. Coming off a Sweet 16 and a mix of verterans and heralded freshman, many people expect an NCAA berth.
I would argue that a major difference in the fortunes of the two teams is how the coach dealt with the freshman PG. Catlett rolled the ball out to Hargett and let him have free range. Hargett excelled at first, but after an injury, crashed and burned. Immature teamates took offense to Hargett’s selfish play and Catlett lost the team and most of the games.
Huggins has shown that he will not tolerate Truck playing outside of the system. There were rumblings early in the year that made you think there might be some anymosity in the locker room. (Ruoff’s comments about how maybe not everyone cared enough, that was thinly vailed criticism of Truck.) But Huggins has had such a short leash on Truck, Truck hasn’t been able to be selfish.
well put
I’d forgotten the optimism about the Mountaineers after that Hargett fiasco and eventual crash and burn (and crash some more) of the team.
Tyrone Sally was a darn good player, and seemed really smart out there (like D. Nichols), with minimal unforced, or even forced, errors.
even so
sally didn’t really round into form until beilein gave shifino the boot, sending a message the team comes first.
So……you are going to suck HCBS’s shlong all year and now question Bob Huggins’ expertise. Bob Huggins is a proven coach, HCBS is not. Are you not a True Mountaineer 5th Year. I could’ve swore you questioned others while we criticized HCBS.
SIGHHHHHHHH
How many times do I have to explain my position? Seriously, some of you only see what you want to see and not what is actually written. Did I ever say you are not a “true Mountaineer fan” if you criticize a coach?
NO. I never said that.
I just disagreed with most of you on whether HCBS should be fired or not. I criticized the man for some of his stupid decisions during games. I even called for Mullen to be fired until I reconsidered that position. Do you have that short of a memory?
by 5th Year Senior on Feb 26, 2009 5:00 PM EST up reply actions
Bill Stewart
should have never been hired by WVU. He was a mistake and it will be proven when many, including those on this blog, will be calling for his head after WVU has a losing record next year. You can’t win in college football w/o a solid QB, and we are seriously lacking in that dept. And no the slow backup that filled in for White, and which Stewart inexplicably had try Wildcat type plays last year, can’t play. If Eugene Davis can develop quickly, ala White, then we should do better and perhaps go 7-5 w/ outside shot at 8-4, but I don’t look for that to happen.
blah blah blah...
blah blah blah wrong name blah blah blah. Way to go and try to hijack another thread there bud.
Uff Mierda
The king of doom and gloom is back. You have been lying dormant until the mention of HCBS. You are a like a shark that senses blood in the water.
If Gino Smith develops as fast a Patrick White then he won’t see the field until the 2010 season. Second, JB is not slow and is undefeated as a starter (Play to win the game). Finally, I am not afraid to be wrong and there is no way we have a losing record next year. NO WAY
by 5th Year Senior on Feb 26, 2009 9:20 PM EST up reply actions
Good points
All good points but Truck cannot look the wrong way on the court before getting benched. I just think CBH needs to put him on a little longer leash.
Making Ruoff and Butler handle the ball at times is fine. However, when we face the marquee teams in the league we cannot have them bring the ball up a majority of the game. We need them away from the ball able to cut and move freely.
I think Truck can do it if Huggs would just leave him out there a little longer.
by 5th Year Senior on Feb 26, 2009 5:07 PM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
