MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Before leaving chilly Morgantown for the Yucatan Peninsula, Devin Williams spoke of the business-or-pleasure conundrum a holiday tournament like the Cancun Challenge presents.
“I’ve got my swim trunks and my sandals and stuff—I’m ready to stick my feet in the sand,” said West Virginia’s freshman forward. “I’m going to take my little pictures and stuff for memories, but I’m more excited to be there and take care of business. Keep the roll going.”
After winning its last three games by an average of 26 points, WVU (4-1) begins a two-game stretch in Mexico where Williams said the goal is to “get that ‘chip (championship) and them dubs (W’s).” Tonight’s pairing against Old Dominion (4-1) tips at 6 p.m. and precedes the Wednesday night matchup against either No. 10 Wisconsin (6-0) or St. Louis (5-0).
“It’s going to be our first real competition,” said Williams, who averages 11.6 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds. “Whoever we play, I’m pumped. Showing the new look of West Virginia is going to be big.”
Mountaineers point guard Juwan Staten has played lights out in every game this season save for an 87-82 loss at Virginia Tech in which WVU blew a 17-point lead. “We’re excited to get out of the country, but we’re definitely going down there to win,” he said. “This will definitely let us know where we stand.”
Said guard Terry Henderson of the five-day excursion to Cancun: “The sunshine’s good, but at the end of the day we want to win.”