MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Speaking on the weekly Big 12 media call Thursday, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins added no clarification to the situation that forced forwards Esa Ahmad and Wesley Harris off the team.
Ahmad and Harris were dismissed Monday for a “violation of athletic department policies,” according to the one-sentence press release from the school.
“No, I’m not able to talk about it,” Huggins said.
The senior Ahmad finished his career with 1,039 points in 112 games.
He missed the first 16 games of his junior season after being suspended by the NCAA, a penalty consistent with testing positive for street drugs at a championship event.
Harris was considered one of the team’s top defenders. He averaged 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds this season.
The school confirmed both players remained enrolled at the university. Harris has one season of eligibility remaining and could look to transfer down to a Division II or D-III school next season.
As for the Mountaineers (10-14, 2-9 Big 12), they have a date with No. 14 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday. They are 0-6 all-time in Lawrence but own a 65-64 victory over the Jayhawks from earlier this season.
“I think it is a completely different roster,” Huggins said of his team without Ahmad and Harris. “Esa made two 3s and a two when we got back in the [first game against Kansas]. Obviously he’s not going to be there. We’re just going to have to have some other people step up that really haven’t stepped up yet this year.
“We lost the guys who were really the leaders of the team, so those other guys are going to have to step up.”
Huggins was asked if there was any update on the playing status of center Sagaba Konate and guard Beetle Bolden. Konate has missed 16 straight games with a right knee injury and Bolden has missed the last four with a high ankle sprain.
The coach wasn’t talkative about that subject, either.
“I don’t know the answer to that,” Huggins said.