Players continue to determine playing time under Huggins
Hard work can take a player anywhere.
Look at West Virginia guard Jevon Carter for example. The senior has accomplished a long list of achievements and milestones throughout his college career and has earned high praise from coaches and teammates.
“He has put in an enormous amount of work, and I know I keep saying that, but he has put in an enormous amount of work,” West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins said. “It’s really good to see a guy who works that hard to be rewarded for it.”
Huggins has said himself that he doesn’t determine playing time, his players do. If someone is working hard, they earn more playing time and vice versa. This concept has been put on display numerous times this season and Saturday night was no different.
Junior D’Angelo Hunter, who had not played any minutes in West Virginia’s previous five games entering Saturday, played 12 minutes off the bench, the most he’s played since he saw 15 minutes off the bench on Dec. 20 against Coppin State.
Hunter’s work ethic is what allowed him to see more playing time against Iowa State as he finished with two rebounds and one assist.
“I played D’Angelo Hunter as much as I played him, because he deserves it,” Huggins said. “He’s worked really hard. He deserves to get playing time.”
Hunter brings more size to the Mountaineers and is a player who has shown the ability to defend well and shoot from long range.
While Hunter saw more playing time, there were some players who saw a noticeable drop in minutes during the win.
“We had a couple guys pouting today for whatever reason and a couple guys didn’t want to take coaching very well today, Huggins said. “So, let them get a chance to sit over there and see what it’s like to be the coach on the bench.”
Huggins didn’t name names, but it’s very possible this statement could’ve been directed at sophomore guard James “Beetle” Bolden.
Bolden, who had been averaging 22 minutes per game in West Virginia’s previous five games entering Saturday night, played just four seconds in the first half and six total minutes, finishing with two points. The sophomore also fouled out for the first time in his college career.
His six minutes on the floor are the least he’s seen since he played just four minutes against Texas Tech on Jan. 13.
The statement from Huggins may or may not have been aimed directly at Bolden, but regardless, the fact that he didn't play him much in the first half is not a new tactic from the longtime coach.
Throughout the years and especially this season, Huggins has emphasized the importance of having a positive attitude and being a team player. If someone is not in line, he punishes players by not playing them. Players like Juwan Staten, Lamont West and Elijah Macon have had to learn this lesson the hard way, but became better players from it.
Sophomore Sagaba Konate and freshman Teddy Allen have most recently had to shape up and learn this lesson.
“My responsibility is to try to help them not just be better players but grow up as people,” Huggins said earlier this season. “That’s how I grew up. I grew up the son of a coach, I grew up watching my dad try to help us grow up.”
Bolden has served as an offensive spark for West Virginia this season and although it’s unclear whether or not Huggins was specifically referring to him, his attitude and presence on the floor will be critical in terms of depth behind seniors and starters Jevon carter and Daxter Miles come tournament time.
The senior duo average the most minutes on the team. Carter averages 35.1 minutes per game while Miles averages 28.6 minutes.
“I don’t have a lot of options,” Huggins said in terms of depth behind Carter and Miles.
