Following the Mountaineers’ trip to Spain, head coach Bob Huggins showed some excitement and satisfaction with his team. Huggins noted how this team is different and shows a “togetherness” characteristic that his last team did not. While he discussed the positives that he saw with his new group, he also made a point to mention that the Mountaineers were still not playing at the defensive level that he would like, but they are improving. West Virginia left Spain with three wins in its three exhibition games.

Newcomer Oscar Tshiebwe was not able to make the trip because of visa restrictions. His absence gave Logan Routt an opportunity to shine and he took advantage of it, leading the team with 51 total points in the three games. Fellow big man Derek Culver also stood out in Europe, averaging a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Miles McBride also played well in the exhibitions. Coach Huggins noted that McBride is a versatile defender.

With all of these Mountaineers playing well in Spain, Huggins also made a point that he is excited to see how the team will look in the future, especially when Tshiebwe is added to the group. The Mountaineers also made sure to add some fun to their trip, including a day on the beach.

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The West Virginia football team is making some changes on the offensive line. After the first scrimmage of the preseason, the WVU coaching staff deciding to move All-Big 12 lineman Josh Sills to center, in place of Chase Behrndt. Junior college transfer John Hughes has appeared to take Sills’ place at right guard, but it is still possible that Behrndt could start at that position when the season begins. Although changes have been made, Neal Brown and the WVU coaching staff showed confidence in their top four offensive linemen: Colton McKivitz, Josh Sills, Kelby Wickline, and Mike Brown.

It’s no secret the Mountaineer fans are excited about their new head football coach Neal Brown. As a result of this enthusiasm, Brown took to Twitter this week to answer questions that Mountaineer fans tweeted at him. Check out some of the highlights from Coach Brown’s responses. Mountaineer fans should also listen to the first portion of “Marty Smith’s America The Podcast.” During this episode, Marty discusses Neal Brown’s recent trip with the Mountaineers to a local coal mine and how WVU athletics embodies the people and spirit of West Virginia.

After a humbling start in junior college, WVU defensive lineman Quondarius Qualls is ready shine in his final college football season. Qualls has been forced to deal with injuries and position changes while at WVU, but new defensive coordinator Vic Koenning has found a position that is a fit for Qualls. In this bandit spot, Qualls will be able to use his speed to help the WVU pass rushing scheme and create issues for opposing quarterbacks this season.

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