Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval  Watch |  Listen

Mountaineers picked 7th in Big 12

Slowed by a midseason back injury, Terry Henderson started 11 games for West Virginia as a freshman and shot 40 percent from 3-point range.

 

IRVING, Texas — West Virginia, its roster retooled following a 13-19 season, was picked seventh by coaches in the Big 12 preseason basketball poll.

Kansas and Oklahoma State were voted preseason co-champs, each receiving five first-place votes from the league’s 10 coaches.

West Virginia finished 6-12 in conference play last season before losing to Texas Tech in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. Bob Huggins figures to have a reconstituted rotation after losing three seniors and five undergraduate transfers, but two players from this year’s six-man signing class may not be eligible this season. Freshman power Elijah Macon apparently is going the partial qualifier route, and junior forward Jonathan Holton could be forced to redshirt as he navigates NCAA academic hurdles.

Top returnees for the Mountaineers include sophomore shooting guards Eron Harris (9.8 points, 2.3 rebounds) and Terry Henderson (8.0 points, 2.4 rebounds), who started 17 and 11 games respectively as freshmen. Point guards Juwan Staten (7.6 points, 3.1 assists) and Gary Browne (5.6 points, 1.5 assists) are seeking bounce-back seasons, while 18-game starter Kevin Noreen (3.0 points, 4.4 rebounds) is the only returning big man with experience.

Huggins will need immediate contributions from 6-foot-9 freshman power forward Devin Williams and lanky perimeter gunners Rémi Dibo and Nathan Adrian.

The complete coaches’ voting released Thursday:

1. tie-Kansas (5) 77

1. tie-Oklahoma State (5) 77

3. Baylor 63

4. Iowa State 56

5. tie-Kansas State 43

5. tie-Oklahoma 43

7. West Virginia 35

8. Texas 30

9. Texas Tech 14

10. TCU 12





More WVU Sports

Sports
Greene strives for improved accuracy through extra emphasis on fundamentals, mechanics
West Virginia quarterback Garett Greene felt he could've gotten more out of the 2023 season, and his completion percentage is a major reason why.
March 27, 2024 - 7:58 pm
Sports
Photo gallery: Mountaineers conduct second practice of spring football
West Virginia was outside Wednesday morning for its second practice during the first week of spring football.
March 27, 2024 - 2:54 pm
Sports
DeVries starts with $2.8 million salary over five-year deal
Compensation for new WVU men's basketball coach increases $100,000 on annual basis.
March 27, 2024 - 1:41 pm
Sports
Jamison steals home, sparks Mountaineers in 6-2 win against Akron
West Virginia claims third straight win, improves to 15-10.
March 27, 2024 - 12:31 am


Your Comments