MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The NCAA tournament begins in earnest today, and it does so without West Virginia in the bracket for the first time since 2007.
After a dismal 13-19 campaign that marked the low point in Bob Huggins’ esteemed coaching career, here are a few reflections on what went wrong and what can be done to make sure next season doesn’t repeat. Each player was assigned a season-long grade based upon his projected impact:
Joe Sadlek/All-Pro Photography
OFF-TARGET TRANSFERS
LaSalle transfer Aaric Murray was projected to be a 6-foot-10 inside-outside force who could defend the rim with his length. Instead, he started only 11 games, fouled out of four and was suspended for the Michigan game.
Though he provided flashes of his all-around potential late in the season, those moments came sporadically and too often he was chided for unsustained effort. Take the final seconds of WVU’s season for example: Murray swatted away a Texas Tech shot in the closing seconds only to be one of three Mountaineers who never made a move to box out as Tech’s Dejan Kravic stepped in for the uncontested putback.
After the season-ending loss, the junior said he wanted to return to WVU for his senior year if Huggins would allow it. Murray stated a similar desire after the Jan. 28 loss to Kansas, and Huggins public response at that point was, at best, noncommittal. Given the up-and-down efforts Murray exhibited, it’s unlikely Huggins will sign up for another year of trying to coax effort from the transfer.
Murray’s grade: D
Point guard Juwan Staten, the sophomore who previously played at Dayton, was billed all preseason as a reliable floor leader. But that distinction was shattered during the Jan. 9 game at Texas, when an incident involving him and Huggins led to Staten’s benching in the second half. WVU rallied from 13 down to win that game 57-53 in overtime. Staten remained on the bench the next game, WVU’s 65-64 home loss to Kansas State. He started only seven of the Mountaineers’ final 16 games.
Staten’s grade: C
Matt Humphrey experience a setback before the season started, suffering a shoulder injury during summer game. It required surgery and intermittently bothered him throughout the season. A one-year senior transfer Huggins brought in to help with perimeter shooting, Humphrey averaged 4.5 points but appeared in only 19 games.
Humphrey’s grade: D-
Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
SOPHOMORE SLUMPS
The assumption that guards Jabarie Hinds, Gary Browne and Aaron Browne, and forwards Keaton Miles and Kevin Noreen would make noticeable improvements as sophomores proved erroneous.
Hinds started 26 games, second-most on the team, and led the squad in shot attempts despite making only 35 percent. He struggled from 3-point range, making only 27 percent, and made tough drives into the lane when WVU’s halfcourt offense broke down. He averaged 7.4 points per game, and there is some sentiment he might make a better point guard. But then again, his 55 turnovers to 52 assists don’t necessarily support that.
Hinds’ grade: C-
Gray Browne played in 32 games and started 12, not atypical as Huggins juggled his playing rotation all season in search of the right combination. Browne shot 20 percent on 3s, and though his 48-to-42 assist-to-turnover ratio is nothing to brag about, he was one of only four Mountaineers with a positive figure in that category.
Browne’s grade: D
The 6-foot-10 Noreen, who can be a functional big man in limited minutes, earned 18 starts because of his grit and willingness to set screens, fight for rebounds and scrap for loose balls. He showed development as a passer and, despite limited athleticism, he figures to be a hardnosed component of WVU’s lineup the next two seasons.
Noreen’s grade: B-
The 6-foot-7 Miles regressed from 32 starts as a freshman to just two as a sophomore, averaging only 11.5 minutes. His length and athleticism give him value on the defensive end, but he remains a nonfactor offensively. With WVU already one scholarship over next year’s limit and Huggins seeking to sign another player or two this spring, Miles’ return is in question.
Miles’ grade: D
Aaron Brown scored 4.2 points in 32 games as a freshman, but became an afterthought this season, appearing in only 17 games and scoring 1.6 per contest. He’s another strong candidate for roster attrition.
Brown’s grade: D
Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
FRESHMAN FORAY
The team’s leading scorer, Eron Harris, wasn’t particularly heralded in the preseason. But the guard helped shoot WVU out of a 17-point hole at Iowa State and wound up starting the final 17 games. He put up other big-time performances — 25 points in a 65-62 home loss to Baylor and 23 to help WVU stay competitive in an 83-70 loss at Oklahoma, but Harris admitted to being frustrated upon failing to counter the defense thrown at him by Kansas, K-State and Oklahoma State late in the season.
Harris’ grade: B+
Terry Henderson looked like the breakout freshman after scoring 23 points against Michigan in December, and he followed that with a 20-point outburst in the Big 12 opener against OU. A back injury, however, interrupted that momentum as well as defensive lapses. Looking ahead to next season, WVU would benefit from pairing Henderson and Harris on the floor — provided they can guard adequately and feed the post when opportunities arise.
Henderson’s grade: B-
The 6-10 Volodymyr Gerun wasn’t technically a freshman, thanks to a year spent at a Ukrainian university, but he signed in August amid speculation from the coaches he could help WVU as a pick-and-pop big man this season. That estimation was overblown as Gerun played a total of 33 minutes during seven games. His offensive skills translate to Division I but it remains to be seen whether he can defend well enough to earn minutes in the Big 12.
Gerun’s grade: D-
SAYONARA SENIORS
As a go-to guy, Deniz Kilicli turned out to be a pretty good role player. He averaged 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds and shot only 47 percent from the floor — a critically low figure considering the bulk of his attempts came at close-range. To be fair, he endured a season’s worth of hacking in the low post, rarely getting the benefit of foul calls from officials.
Kilicli’s grade: C+
Though Dominique Rutledge was never much of an offensive threat during his two seasons at WVU, he’ll always have the memories of his lone double-digit game, a 17-point outburst at historic Allen Fieldhouse. Granted, Kansas took West Virginia to the woodshed 91-65, but at least Rutledge’s afternoon provided an anomaly to remember.
Rutledge’s grade: C-
COACH’S CORNER
Huggins admitted that opening the season at Gonzaga turned out to be a mistake, and that 34-point loss was awfully convincing, but let’s not fault a coach for building a challenging nonconference schedule when the NCAA selection committee openly rewards such. Next season’s nonleague slate doesn’t project to be as daunting, though Gonzaga and Purdue visit the Coliseum and WVU travels to the Cancun Challenge for potential games against Wisconsin and Saint Louis. There’s also a road game at Virginia Tech, where the country’s top scorer, Erick Green, will have graduated.
Huggins took a chance on transfers with less-than-stellar backgrounds and the team chemistry suffered for it. Now it’s up to him and the staff to meld the leftover components into a more cohesive unit next season. With four high school forwards signed, WVU is reportedly seeking at least one guard prospect.
It’s not often that one of Division I’s winningest coaches suffers through such a foul season, but this most recent one revealed rather brutally that the program and its iconic frontman aren’t infallible.
Huggins’ grade: D
Gold and Blue Now Wednesday, June 19 
Gold and Blue Now Monday, June 17 
Gold and Blue Now: Friday, June 14 
Sportsline: Jed Drenning 
Sportsline: Morgantown's Amanii Brown 
Sportsline: John Bowers 
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Comments
Allan
Spot on Allan! It also seems to be a down year for college basketball in the sense that there are no teams that appear to be dominating the field.
Kentucky, for example, showed moments of brilliance and then moments that Calapari would like to forget. Maybe the kids coming out of high school have changed, they don't seem to have that work ethic.
March 21, 2013 at 9:25 am | Report comment
Jay
Fair article. Fair for this team to share the blame. There will be brighter days. There is too much pride on the coaching staff and at the university.
March 21, 2013 at 10:34 am | Report comment
jfk
This was a disappointed season at best and though they did underachieve maybe we all expected to much from the 2013 mens basketball team. Just a thought, I remember back in 2003/2004 I believe the WVU b-ball team struggling with underclassmen finishing below 500. Then getting transfer Mike Ganzey and going to the elite 8 had a 20 point lead and a half away from the final 4, then the next year going to the sweet 16 only to get beat at the buzzer keeping them from another elite 8 trip. I know it might be apples to oranges, Different coach and players but lets not count out the remaining players just yet.
March 21, 2013 at 9:30 am | Report comment
smeer
maybe we all drank the koolaid, but Huggs thought this team would be better than last year's. why? Murray was to a bigger- more athletic version of KJ and EVERYBODY ELSE WAS BACK. Even Staten was touted as a true point guard/playmaker. We were regaled with stories of how these two, on the practice squad, lit it up versus last year's starters. Team chemistry is a fragile thing. We discovered that Murray might be more athletic but he was NO KJ - in either his desire, selflessness, passion, basketball IQ or work ethic. He's a waste of God-given talent. Does he really want to improve? because so far, he hasn't shown it. But my guess is Huggs will have him stick around in hopes he does change as a Senior - that he finally grows up.
March 22, 2013 at 12:35 pm | Report comment
Allan
Looking at the list, there are at least four that I would send packing: Murray, Staten, Aaron Browne and Volod and please Huggs...no more transfers. It may work for football, but basketball it seems to be troubled players transferring.
March 21, 2013 at 9:31 am | Report comment
Wemakerain
I think I would keep Staten, he atleast keeps Gary Brown off the floor which usually helps stop the bleeding
March 21, 2013 at 10:24 am | Report comment
chad
Your grades are pretty much spot on. I hope Murray is able to figure "it" out and understand this is no longer high schoold basketball. If Henderson stays, Murray gets his head on straight and Harris continue to develope his shot I think we'll be back in the tourney next year.
March 21, 2013 at 9:33 am | Report comment
TBone
What tourney is that Chaddy??? The CIB??? LMFAO !!!! Talk about not having a clue. I've got $100 that says that WVU mens basketball team does NOT make the NCAA tournament next year. Put yo money where yo mouth is, Chaddy. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid.
March 22, 2013 at 9:46 am | Report comment
Jethro
Why Didnt we recruit the Parkersburg player that had a hell of a game from Florida gulf coast. He played great against villanova in the dance last night
March 23, 2013 at 7:16 am | Report comment
Jethro
Sorry that was Georgetown. Not villanova
March 23, 2013 at 7:19 am | Report comment
Jethro
Chase fieler
March 23, 2013 at 7:22 am | Report comment
Big Larry
Allan,
A very good assessment with the exception of the last one. I disagree...and you were very generous giving coach Bob Huggins a D.
It was without question the worse display of coaching that WVU fans have ever witnessed. He only won 13 games and finished the season losing 7 straight. How do you justify a D?
Its a good thing there was no post season otherwise it would have been 8 straight losses.
And please Allan one more thing...Can we not hear any more about Huggins until the new basketball season starts? Tennis, Golf, baseball, rifle team...anything but Huggins.
March 21, 2013 at 9:55 am | Report comment
Jay
Big Larry,
I respect your opinion. I merely think that it would be a difficult job for anyone to lead a group of men not giving their all. All the preaching and leadership in the world sometimes falls on deaf ears. It's that way in basketball, our places of work, and in life. Special are those who are willing to push themselves to be great (our 2010 team). These kids had major trouble doing that, and one could tell Huggins was frustrated. Could he have reacted differently? Perhaps. It's tough to lead men who care far less than you, though.
March 21, 2013 at 10:38 am | Report comment
JT
Fair enough, but who recruited these guys who could care less about playing as a team and playing for the name on the back of the jersey
March 22, 2013 at 11:20 pm | Report comment
Rich
I'd boot Murray & Gerun, that would free up a scholarship (Grantham?) Unlike most people though, I would send Staten and Miles on their way. Staten was a nightmare(no 3s?) Hinds is a mini Allen Iverson. I'd keep Miles and A. Brown, they both have lenth and I actually think Miles' offense was better than last year and he excels at defense
March 21, 2013 at 10:54 am | Report comment
Scott S
I wish Hinds played like A. I. or at least scored like him. Murray is the guy with length that could really help if he stayed out of foul trouble.
March 21, 2013 at 6:10 pm | Report comment
Chad
I think Huggs is the real issue..There is no doubt he is one of the bext X's and O's coaches but his style doesnt work with the kids of today. Bobby Knight is a prime example he again was one of the best when it came to drawing up plays or even just knowing the game of basketball. Today these kids need a father figure that can get them to respond and produce and i am not sure ripping their head off is the right approach..Might have worked in the old days but not now..So i think if you make a change its Huggins...
March 21, 2013 at 11:04 am | Report comment
cutty77
Get Rid of Arron Brown,Murray will leave on His own.They rest of the guys might be worth saving.I watched Grantham 3 games in Charleston.He can play right now,he's better than Noreen,and Miles.Huggs also needs a Check up from the Neck up Himself.LOL
March 21, 2013 at 11:20 am | Report comment
The Wisetalker
What about the Johnson kid from Beckley? He's a tough kid who can handle the ball and shoot the three. He is as good as what WVU has at the present. Grantham could run circles around Noreen who is afraid to shoot the ball. Huggs will never again get the top recruits so why not give the West Virginia Boys a chance? Passing over Pierria Henry from South Charleston last year was another mistake of Huggins. That kid is a player...
March 21, 2013 at 12:33 pm | Report comment
cutty77
Huggs tired to get Henry,kid didn't want to come.The Johnson kid might be ok,who else has Offered Him? The Kid from Morgantown might be Ok in 2 years too.He needs some Kids that can Move.
March 21, 2013 at 12:49 pm | Report comment
jake123
i think coach huggins choked on the big contract ,, seemed like as the season progressed they (the coaching staff)and the team all got tighter and tighter.ya cant play tight!!!i think travel and how wv answered that was wrong. We tried to play too many players ,too big of a rotation ,not enough reps for the core group.no leadership.. its way easier when you have upperclassmen to help teach the younger players.wv didnt have that. would drive me crazy when wv was on defense....you cant play help defense and not talk to each other...coach talks all the time about how many foul shots they shoot, he needs to remember what use to be said not practice make perfect but perfect practice makes perfect..keep it simple stu....
March 21, 2013 at 11:31 am | Report comment
tony
i dont see enough about huggins and what he did or didnt do to deserve a d. maybe his staff as a whole a d, but him personally..i didnt see him make wrong moves..i didnt see him not play someone who deserved to play.. i thought maybe the shifting starting lineup was a problem ..but what do you do when no-one defends... its very odd when no-one but a couple of freshmen step up to make an effort, especially guards..so for the picks, a D is ok, but day to day management and coaching, i dont know what he could do this year.
if huggs wants to make an impression, then keep sweat, decide if you want one of the guards back and cut the rest loose. lets start over with even jucos if needed but start over indeed.
March 21, 2013 at 11:34 am | Report comment
cutty77
Huggs had 15 different starting line-ups.I have never heard of that before.If you have 15 starting line-ups. You have nothing,and thats what showed.
March 21, 2013 at 3:54 pm | Report comment
mountainmover
Really bothers me that we couldn't parlay winning the Big East championship and going to the Final Four into recruiting top players. There's something really wrong there, very troubling.
March 21, 2013 at 12:04 pm | Report comment
TBone
I think WVU will be forced to keep Murray. they have no inside presence for next year, only Noreen. Gerun is a project at best.
Huggs will show his ineptness if he does not offer Grantham a scholarship. Just like Holgorsen, ignore the in-state prospects with talent for risks, bozos and projects from out of state.
Huggins and his staff's recruiting leave a lot to be desired. The grade on their recruiting, Alan, if you had bothered would have been a big fat F-. Next years class might bring that up to a D-. Maybe.
March 21, 2013 at 12:05 pm | Report comment
chad
Anyone who identifies themself as "TBone" is clearly cluless
March 21, 2013 at 1:07 pm | Report comment
TBone
When you have no clue, you attack the messenger instead of the message. Here's your sign.
March 22, 2013 at 9:40 am | Report comment
Wemakerain
After watching all the instate kids play over the last few seasons I think Grantham is just ahead of where QJ from Hedgesville was. He went to VMI and rode the bench. Like the guy just not sure he is high major D-1 ready
March 24, 2013 at 3:12 pm | Report comment
big tom
i really think huggins received a generous score.
In my mind, it's a huge "F". Why,, he didn't improve the team one bit from the gonzaga game on.
But it happens, look at kentucky, beat in the first round of the NIT.
But what is bad, we don't look to improve one bit next year. Huggs says he recruited the wrong type people,, i find that very hard to believe...seems huggs just keeps coming out with these far fitched excuses. So if he did recruit wrongly, that what about the next class coming in? I say they are wrong also.
the past three yrs have shown us a trend, so was all those recruits wrong also.
Big Tom isn't so sure huggie bear is spending his precious time coaching and not his other main passtime.
wvu 's athletic dept. is in bad shape moneywise. BAD. Over paying coaches,, both football and especially BB..
We have put ourselves in a bind, ticket sales are down, people are losing interest, our inability to compete has be really worried,, Big TOm
March 21, 2013 at 12:06 pm | Report comment
justbeingmecb1
I would not get rid of gerun, he didn't understand too much English, and your not gonna learn much when deniz is your teacher, as for hinds and Browne they didn't try as hard since we weren't BIG EAST, besides the coach can only do so much from the sidelines, its up to the players on the floor to do there job, if they don't show up for practice huggs can only do so much
March 21, 2013 at 2:00 pm | Report comment
big tom
huggs could have figured this out in mid season, and benched the non so called players...
send the message,, he just didn't react in a manner needed to show the team that winning was important and attitude dictated as to who was going to play.
again, i am really afraid huggins has his attentions on things other than the game and our team. For the good of WVU, he should give back at least half of his salary, BUT HE WON'T , HE WON'T GIVE BACK A PENNY, AND IN A NUSHELL , THAT SHOWS IT'S ALL TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH HE LOVES WV AND WVU.
March 21, 2013 at 3:14 pm | Report comment
tony
you know, tom, yer right..and he should also give it to you for how much you must have labored over your post. Im sure that where you work if things go wrong you dont get paid either, right..oh no , sorry, thats the owners.
March 22, 2013 at 9:55 am | Report comment