WVU a different team, but always the same goal
Every team is different. Every season can say the same.
The goal, however, is not.
“You try to fix what you’re not doing very well and extenuate what you are and that’s different with every team,” head coach Bob Huggins said.
With tournament play approaching the goal is always to win but preparing a team is different depending on the situation. For some teams it’s getting healthy down the stretch by holding players out of the hardest parts of practice, others it’s about putting them in those situations.
If you’re not shooting the ball well, work is designated there and other times it’s a focus on defense.
“You talk to them all the time and we show them film. It’s not like somebody is standing up there lecturing them, we show them film, we show them what people can do and hopefully some things people can’t do that we can take advantage of,” Huggins said.
There is no secret formula to address issues because typically they entail several variables and often at different times of the year. For West Virginia, at times they shot free throws well at times, others not. Weren’t fouling people, then started sending people to the line at an alarming rate.
Then of course there was a period where the shots weren’t dropping.
“That’s why it’s so important you rebound the ball and guard because it keeps you in games,” Huggins said. “It’s a combination of a lot of things.”
But ultimately the goal is always the same. You want to win. Not just win games, but significant ones and add banners and hardware to the trophy case. West Virginia has had success in the Big 12 Conference but has yet to win a league regular season or tournament crown.
It’s hard to maintain though, even at this time of the year. Take for example the West Virginia team that lost to Stephen F. Austin in the first round after securing a three seed. That club advanced all the way to the Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship game but fell flat a few days later.
“I really thought we were ready to go and then we lay an egg,” Huggins said.
It’s different for every player, every team but if everybody had the answer it would be easy.
“It’s hard to tell,” Huggins said.
