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The eighth-ranked West Virginia men’s basketball team begins regular-season play at the WVU Coliseum against Loyola (Md.) Sunday at 4 p.m.
The Mountaineers are ranked in the Associated Press’ preseason poll for just the third time in school history, but they seem to be embracing the large expectations.
"(The high ranking) is what you work for. You work to have a chance to be the best and beat the best. I think we’ve worked hard at it," said WVU head coach Bob Huggins. "I want every year to be like this. I don’t want this to be a one-time thing."
Forwards Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks are West Virginia’s top two returning leading scorers.
Butler averaged 17.1 points per game last season and nailed 62 three-pointers. Ebanks proved to be very versatile throughout his freshman campaign, averaging 10.5 points and 7.8 rebounds, while also handling the ball more than normal forwards.
Sunday will also mark the first time many West Virginia fans get to see 2009 National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year, Casey Mitchell. Mitchell will likely be Huggins’ choice to start at shooting guard.
He scored 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting in West Virginia’s 104-82 exhibition win over Mountain State last Sunday.
Point guard Joe Mazzulla is expected to make his season debut after missing 28 games last year with a shoulder injury.
"I’m kind of anxious to get back out there and work off the rust," Mazzulla said.
Mazzulla was held out of the exhibition game for precautionary reasons but practiced for the first time since then Thursday. While Truck Bryant will likely be the starting point guard, Mazzulla has no problem coming off the bench.
"Truck is a great starting point guard, and I think my role is kind of back to what it was sophomore year – to kind of come in and be a game changer and just bring energy," Mazzula said.
"I’m fine with that, so I think coming into the season, I’ll come off the bench and just try to give a different look."
Loyola was 12-20 last season under head coach Jimmy Patsos. Patsos is in his fifth year with the Greyhounds and served as one of Gary Williams’ top assistants at Maryland, as did current WVU assistant coach Billy Hahn.
The Greyhounds are led by senior guard Brett Harvey. Harvey averaged 12.4 points last season.
Loyola also features 6-foot-11 Maryland transfer Shane Walker. Walker was forced to sit out last season because of NCAA transfer rules, but he provides the Greyhounds with an inside presence.
With several former Terrapins scattered throughout the program, it should not come as much of a surprise that Loyola plays a similar style to Maryland.
"If you’ve seen Maryland play, they play a lot like that. They’re going to pressure full court, play some man, some 2-3 zone and run that modified flex (offense)," Huggins said. Loyola opens its regular season against Vermont tonight.
GAME NOTES
Sunday will mark the unveiling of West Virginia’s new student seating arrangement.
The change is designed to put more students closer to the floor and open more upper level seats to the general public.
"I think it’s going to be terrific. It’s what the students wanted, and it gets more students in a concentrated area where they can enjoy the game more. I think the enthusiasm will be tremendous," Huggins said.
West Virginia got its first signed national letter of intent for 2010-11 from guard Noah Cottrill. Cottrill is playing his senior season at Logan High School in Logan, W.Va.
The 6-foot-3 guard had been committed to West Virginia since his sophomore year.
"We needed another guy with ball skills, and I think Noah gives us pretty much the whole package. He’s got a good understanding of the game, and I think it’s a big bonus when you’ve got a guy who shoots it as well as he shoots it. I think he fills a lot of needs for us," Huggins said.
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