Huggins Deserves Plaudits

[swg]

Huggins has a unique coaching style. He has developed a reputation as a yeller and a screamer, a younger Bobby Knight if you will. While that isn't necessarily false -- I don't know if there are five people in this profession better at berating an official or a player -- Huggins is actually very calm on the sideline 90 percent of the time.

"I just stand over there," Huggins said. "I can't sit, so I stand. If I could sit I would probably sit."

That said, there may not be a more demanding coach in the country than Huggins. Simply put, he expects the best from each and every one of his players.

And whether it is great coaching, an ability to motivate, or intimidation -- is it possible he scares his players into playing their best to avoid a screaming session? -- Huggins always seems to get the most out of the guys that come through his program.

I mean, this isn't exactly a team chock full of all-americans and lottery picks. West Virginia just won the toughest conference tournament in the country, and they did it with just one five-star (Devin Ebanks) and one four-star (Kevin Jones) recruit. Butler and Wellington Smith were three-star recruits, as was Truck Bryant. Joe Mazzulla and Cam Thoroughman were two-star recruits.


http://beyondthearc.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/03/14/2227652.aspx

 

[ralph1950]

Huggins has a unique coaching style. He has developed a reputation as a yeller and a screamer, a younger Bobby Knight if you will. While that isn't necessarily false -- I don't know if there are five people in this profession better at berating an official or a player -- Huggins is actually very calm on the sideline 90 percent of the time.

"I just stand over there," Huggins said. "I can't sit, so I stand. If I could sit I would probably sit."

That said, there may not be a more demanding coach in the country than Huggins. Simply put, he expects the best from each and every one of his players.

And whether it is great coaching, an ability to motivate, or intimidation -- is it possible he scares his players into playing their best to avoid a screaming session? -- Huggins always seems to get the most out of the guys that come through his program.

I mean, this isn't exactly a team chock full of all-americans and lottery picks. West Virginia just won the toughest conference tournament in the country, and they did it with just one five-star (Devin Ebanks) and one four-star (Kevin Jones) recruit. Butler and Wellington Smith were three-star recruits, as was Truck Bryant. Joe Mazzulla and Cam Thoroughman were two-star recruits.


http://beyondthearc.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/03/14/2227652.aspx

It was John Belien who recruitied D'Sean Butler, Wellington Smith, Joe Mazzulzo to WVU, not Huggins. He merely got the benefit from Belien's recruiting. Without Butler and Smith WVU is 20-13 and on the bubble. Wait till next year when he has to play with guys he recruited. Ebanks will probably declare for the NBA, WVU will be middle of the Big East pack next year.

 

[ready2go]

It was John Belien who recruitied D'Sean Butler, Wellington Smith, Joe Mazzulzo to WVU, not Huggins. He merely got the benefit from Belien's recruiting. Without Butler and Smith WVU is 20-13 and on the bubble. Wait till next year when he has to play with guys he recruited. Ebanks will probably declare for the NBA, WVU will be middle of the Big East pack next year.

3 of the top four scorers and rebounders are sophomores. Those are Huggins recruits.

Look at Pitt even. They lost everyone from last year and didn't miss a beat.

Oh and Mazzula only avg about 14 min. a game. And Wellington Smith's pts and rebounds are less than Rashad Bishop. Not exactly a big time recruit for Belien. Nice try Ralphy.

 

[ucgrad94]

It was John Belien who recruitied D'Sean Butler, Wellington Smith, Joe Mazzulzo to WVU, not Huggins. He merely got the benefit from Belien's recruiting. Without Butler and Smith WVU is 20-13 and on the bubble. Wait till next year when he has to play with guys he recruited. Ebanks will probably declare for the NBA, WVU will be middle of the Big East pack next year.

This doesn't make sense to me. Mazzulla doesn't even play, plus he has 1 more year of eligibility left and the team is led by mostly sophmores, all of whom Huggins recruited. WVU is not good because of what Belien did. I don't understand why people can't give Huggins credit for what he has done, not only at WVU, but Kansas State and UC. He is a winner that built UC, he built Kansas State in just 1 year. But lets focus on UC and not worry about anybody else. An NIT Championship would be a great step forward for us.

 

[ralph1950]

This doesn't make sense to me. Mazzulla doesn't even play, plus he has 1 more year of eligibility left and the team is led by mostly sophmores, all of whom Huggins recruited. WVU is not good because of what Belien did. I don't understand why people can't give Huggins credit for what he has done, not only at WVU, but Kansas State and UC. He is a winner that built UC, he built Kansas State in just 1 year. But lets focus on UC and not worry about anybody else. An NIT Championship would be a great step forward for us.

Without Butler winning 6 games they would be 21-13.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

Without Butler winning 6 games they would be 21-13.

One, thats not the case so its irrelevant.
Two, 21-13 is still better than our record.
Three, stop posting dumb comments based on your dislike for Bob Huggins, they are not logical or reasonable in any way.

 

[ready2go]

Without Butler winning 6 games they would be 21-13.

And without Butler that means Huggins gets one more recruit. Who is to say that guy wouldn't be better than what he has now? Speak factualy Ralph, not out of frustration.

 

[Thegreatone]

And without Butler that means Huggins gets one more recruit. Who is to say that guy wouldn't be better than what he has now? Speak factualy Ralph, not out of frustration.

Without Huggins throwing up on himself and embarressing the university we would be 25-6 with a Big East Championship.

Sorry. This is old. I am rooting for Huggs to do well but im sorry you can't argue he dug his own grave.

 

[ready2go]

Without Huggins throwing up on himself and embarressing the university we would be 25-6 with a Big East Championship.

Sorry. This is old. I am rooting for Huggs to do well but im sorry you can't argue he dug his own grave.

I'm certain that is not the argument here. We are all over the Huggins cituation. But to say that he didn't make WVU who they are, is false.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

Without Huggins throwing up on himself and embarressing the university we would be 25-6 with a Big East Championship.

Sorry. This is old. I am rooting for Huggs to do well but im sorry you can't argue he dug his own grave.

Your turning into Ralphy, a Huggins bashing blowhard... weak.

 

[Thegreatone]

Your turning into Ralphy, a Huggins bashing blowhard... weak.

No no. I want WVU to do well. Huggins was at K state for a year and that place turned into a Top 25 program.

I respect him.

Fact is he has as much to do with our program crashing than anybody. IF he conducted himself like a normal person he wouldnt be at WVU right now.

 

[ucgrad94]

Without Huggins throwing up on himself and embarressing the university we would be 25-6 with a Big East Championship.

Sorry. This is old. I am rooting for Huggs to do well but im sorry you can't argue he dug his own grave.

When did that DUI occur? When did he "resign" from UC? Over a year later, so no, that DUI is not the reason he was fired. It was because he was bigger than that witch that ran the school. And as far as WVU, if Butler doesn't take those shots, somebody else will, plus pretty sure we were tied, so even if he missed that doesn't mean they were gonna lose, as is the same with about 3 of the other games he made shots in. But again, lets just win the NIT.

 

[swg]

I respected Huggs as a basketball coach, and I see both sides as to his departure. One thing I didn't care for, was how UC treated Kennedy. Should've kept him on, IMO.

 

[lumberjack]

It was John Belien who recruitied D'Sean Butler, Wellington Smith, Joe Mazzulzo to WVU, not Huggins. He merely got the benefit from Belien's recruiting. Without Butler and Smith WVU is 20-13 and on the bubble. Wait till next year when he has to play with guys he recruited. Ebanks will probably declare for the NBA, WVU will be middle of the Big East pack next year.

crack smoker!

 

[lumberjack]

Without Butler winning 6 games they would be 21-13.

Butler does not coach the team, design the plays or make the decisions. He is told what to do and coached. Stop the crack!

 

[Thegreatone]

When did that DUI occur? When did he "resign" from UC? Over a year later, so no, that DUI is not the reason he was fired. It was because he was bigger than that witch that ran the school. And as far as WVU, if Butler doesn't take those shots, somebody else will, plus pretty sure we were tied, so even if he missed that doesn't mean they were gonna lose, as is the same with about 3 of the other games he made shots in. But again, lets just win the NIT.

Your right. I am saying that without the DUI he would not have been forced to resign. Also the lack of graduating hurt his chances too. The big dogs thought he was hurting our image. Not sure if I agree but he did a lot that gave the university that chance to fire him.

 

[ready2go]

Your right. I am saying that without the DUI he would not have been forced to resign. Also the lack of graduating hurt his chances too. The big dogs thought he was hurting our image. Not sure if I agree but he did a lot that gave the university that chance to fire him.

We all know the graduating statistics were skewed.

Also it was not the big dogs. It was the chi wow wow.

 

[ralph1950]

Huggins was a total embarrassment to the University. He had to go.

 

[ralph1950]

Butler does not coach the team, design the plays or make the decisions. He is told what to do and coached. Stop the crack!

Butler made the shots. If he misses 6 more losses. When filling out your NCAA Tourney brackets do not pick WVU to get past the second round.

 

[ready2go]

Huggins was a total embarrassment to the University. He had to go.

What is embarrassing is playing in the Not In Tournament. You know the one we used to rip on X for playing in??