MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Last year’s Capital Classic was remembered more for Dan D’Antoni’s postgame comments (and Bob Huggins’ acerbic retorts) than the final score.
This time around, when asked Wednesday whether the West Virginia-Marshall series should continue, Huggins played coy.
“I don’t want to get caught up in all that BS,” he joked. “I want to try to stay above that. You’re trying to kill my image. I have this pristine image and you’re trying to kill it. So stop. Just stop.”
Marshall (3-6) wants to stop No. 20 West Virginia’s four-game winning streak in the series and cut into the Mountaineers 32-11 lead overall. Despite being outmanned, the Herd has managed second-half leads in each of the past two meetings, including an eight-point edge in the final 12 minutes last year before WVU recovered to win 69-66.
“You have to go in with the mindset that these guys are talented and they have a great coaching staff,” said forward Devin Williams, whose Mountaineers (8-1) are 21.5-point favorites tonight.
Huggins dismissed the notion WVU might not be hyped for the Classic considering Marshall enters at No. 248 in the RPI.
“We come in here and practice three hours every day so I would think the game is supposed to be fun,” he said. “It’s supposed to be refreshing after all the work you put in. Fruits of your labor, you know? Why wouldn’t you look forward to it?
“It’s not just another game. We went to Charleston and played a really good JMU team and had 8,000 there. This one’s sold out, so it’s not another game.”
While 12,000-plus are expected at the Charleston Civic Center, that number won’t include the TV broadcasters. ESPN’s Roy Philpott and Miles Simon are scheduled to call the play-by-play from Bristol, Conn.
Tipoff: Thursday 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Scouting Marshall: After an 0-6 start, the Herd has won three straight, the most notable of which was 96-72 over Eastern Kentucky in which Marshall sank 25-of-32 3-pointers. … The only common opponent so far is James Madison, whom WVU beat 86-73 in Charleston. The Dukes swept Marshall in a home-and-home 89-75 and 107-84. … Forwards James Kelly (16.4 points, 9.8 rebounds) and Ryan Taylor (16.2 points, 6.8 rebounds) are the top producers, with Taylor shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor. Guards Steve Browning, C.J. Burks and Austin Loop score in double figures. Loop made eight 3s against EKU. … But defense has been a problem, with opponents scoring 82.9 per game.
Quoting D’Antoni: ”I’m happy with where we are. The next big game is a big game, but it’s down at the end of the road that we’re aiming for and we’ve just got to keep getting better.”
WVU notes: Williams (17 points, 9.8 rebounds) is the primary post offense, while Jonathan Holton (9.4 poins, 7.2 rebounds) gets much of his on second-chance opportunities. … Daxter Miles (12.8 points), Jevon Carter (12.4 points) and sixth man Jaysean Paige (10.4 points) are the perimeter threats, though only Paige (42 percent) is currently making 3s at a decent clip.
Line: West Virginia favored by 21.5
Prediction: West Virginia 87-68