Ahmad improving, feeling more comfortable for WVU
One of the positives that has come out of West Virginia’s recent slump is the emergence of a player who missed half the season.
Junior forward Esa Ahmad was suspended for the first 16 games of the season due to not meeting NCAA eligibility requirements, but early on in his return to game action, the Cleveland, Ohio native saw his performance decline.
Ahmad averaged 16.5 points per game in first two games back against Texas Tech and Kansas, but scored just eight points over the next three games and was held scoreless in two of those games, shooting 0-of-12 from the field. In each of his first five games back, Ahmad was coming off the bench and wasn’t in the starting lineup.
That changed however against Iowa State and Ahmad was in the starting lineup for the first time since last season.
Ahmad has been in the starting lineup ever since that game and has been more effective for the Mountaineers, averaging close to 14 points per game and shooting 63.3 percent from the field in four starts this season.
The reason for Ahmad’s recent emergence and success can be attributed to discomfort from coming off the bench rather than being into the starting lineup which he seems to be more used to.
“I think it was a matter of feeling comfortable,” West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins said. “It’s a lot harder than I thought it would be for him.”
Prior to his return, West Virginia had won 15 straight games and Huggins believes two potential scenarios leading up to Ahmad’s return played a factor into how he performed early on.
“I think you either, one, feel a lot of pressure because everybody’s saying, ‘wait until Esa gets back,’ and the flip side of it was, ‘we’re doing pretty good why do we need him?’” Huggins said. “I think all that stuff went through his head. I think that’s natural. I don’t know how you change it though.”
Ahmad said he has felt more comfortable, but he is still working on improving his game and getting back to being in full game shape.
“Yeah I do,” Ahmad said when asked if he was more comfortable being in the starting lineup rather than coming off the bench. “I feel like I still have some things to work on, but I feel good out there.”
For Huggins, Ahmad’s size, length, ability to adapt and growing confidence have given him another option in his lineup. His presence down low has allowed him to haul in an average of 4.6 rebounds per game.
“The biggest thing it does is give us a small forward who can rebound. Instead of playing small, now we can play big,” Huggins said. “He has the best understanding of how to play on our team. He picks things up pretty quickly.”
However, one of the key things that’s missing according to Ahmad is wins.
West Virginia has dropped six out of its last nine games and have struggled to maintain a high level of play in second halves. As the Mountaineers look to regain their edge, Ahmad will play a significant role in how the team responds as he seeks improvement in his play as well.
“It’s getting there, but I don’t feel like I’m the player that I can be,” Ahmad said. “I just wish we got these wins."
