MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — While sticking with the same starting lineup through three games, Bob Huggins’ substitution pattern has been flexible as ever.
Such is the experimental nature of the nonconference schedule, which West Virginia (3-0) has sailed through so far, winning by an average of 33 points. Another tuneup is anticipated Monday night when Bethune-Cookman (2-1) visits the WVU Coliseum as part of the Las Vegas Invitational.
Despite the comfortable margins, Huggins has found plenty to grouse about and contends his rotation needs to tighten up in several areas “before we start playing better teams in Las Vegas.” One of those teams is Richmond, which crushed Bethune-Cookman 89-64 on Saturday.
Depending on style and quality of play, Huggins has sampled a smaller lineup that features point guards Jevon Carter and Tarik Phillip with Daxter Miles. At other times he went big, using the 6-foot-9 Nate Adrian or 6-7 Esa Ahmad at the three.
“I think we can obviously rebound the ball a little better with the bigger group. I think we can play maybe a little bit more, sound and not take as many chances too with that group,” Huggins said. “With the smaller group, we can fly around, try to make plays and score with our defense. I don’t think the big group is as capable of scoring off our defense like the smaller guys, but it’s probably better defensively.”
Tipoff: 7 p.m. in Morgantown (Root Sports)
Scouting Bethune-Cookman: The Wildcats were picked 10th in the 13-team MEAC, a conference against which the Mountaineers own a 14-0 record all-time. … Sporting a small backcourt, Bethune-Cookman starts 5-10 Jordan Potts (19.7 ppg) and 5-9 Ricky Johnson (12.0 ppg).
Mountaineers trends: The 49-percent shooting overall speaks to a flurry of scoring at the rim, because WVU is making only 27 percent from 3-point range. … Through three games, the Mountaineers have attempted 106 free throws to their opponents’ 68. … Devin Williams leads the team in with 20 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.
Prediction: West Virginia 90-52