West Virginia Last season: 28-9, lost to Gonzaga in West Regional semifinals Nickname: Mountaineers Coach: Bob Huggins Conference: Big 12 Who’s gone: F Nathan Adrian, G Tarik Phillip, F Elijah Macon. Who’s back: G Jevon Carter, the reigning Big 12
West Virginia
Last season: 28-9, lost to Gonzaga in West Regional semifinals
Nickname: Mountaineers
Coach: Bob Huggins
Conference: Big 12
Who’s gone: F Nathan Adrian, G Tarik Phillip, F Elijah Macon.
Who’s back: G Jevon Carter, the reigning Big 12 defensive player of the year, averaged 13.5 points, five rebounds, 2.5 steals and was the team’s top 3-pointer shooter last season; G Daxter Miles Jr. averaged 8.8 points; F Lamont West; F Sagaba Konate; G James Bolden, F Maciej Bender.
Who’s new: 6-8 Wesley Harris averaged 18.2 points and 8.4 rebounds and 6-6 D’Angelo Hunter averaging 15.8 points and four rebounds in junior college; freshman F Teddy Allen was the top prep scorer in Nebraska, averaging 31.7 points at Boys Town.
The Skinny: West Virginia has finished second in the Big 12 the past two seasons and has been picked runner-up again to perennial power Kansas. But the Mountaineers will be without second-leading scorer Esa Ahmad for the first half of the season after he failed to meet NCAA eligibility requirements. That will put pressure on a group of forwards with one combined start to produce until he gets back.
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