MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — He was the last to rise from the scrum of bodies in the lane, extending his left arm to a teammate for a pull-up while his right arm hung motionless. He checked out of the game, did Deniz Kilicli, walked to the end of the WVU bench and gingerly sank into a seat beside the team trainer, Randy “Doc” Meador.
Grimacing into a towel, Kilicli began taking Ibuprofen, but as the Turkish forward noted after the game, “Ibuprofen doesn’t do anything anyway.” At least not enough to make him forget about the shoulder that “popped out” during Friday’s practice.
Too sore to complete Friday’s five-on-five drill, but too driven to miss Saturday’s must-win game against Texas Tech, Kilicli played through the pain and brought some to the Red Raiders: 25 points and eight rebounds’ worth. And every bit of that proved necessary as West Virginia beat Tech 66-64, dodging an upset by the length of the whiskers on Kilicli’s beard.
Joe Sadlek/All-Pro Photography
For these arduous past three months, Kilicli has been the bushy-faced poster boy for West Virginia’s underachievement, carrying the weight of a failed season on those burly shoulders. His scoring, field-goal percentage, free-throw shooting, rebounding and minutes all down from his junior year, Kilicli seemed as good a blame bearer as any, especially when coach Bob Huggins repeatedly explained that the difference in this season from previous successful ones was that “my seniors have always stepped up.”
But for all the press conference pokes that required reading between the lines — and the courtside chewing that require dlip-reading censors — Huggins adores the player. For certain, he wishes Kilicli was a better finisher around the basket and a meaner go-getter where 50-50 balls are concerned, but stats and wins aside, the emotions this coach has invested in his only four-year senior will last a lifetime.
“Deniz and I have always had a really good relationship,” Huggins said. “I mean, we had a good relationship even when he didn’t speak English. I didn’t know what the hell he was saying, but he’d always hug me so I thought that was all right.”
Now Kilicli comprehends English just fine, which isn’t always a positive when message boards are jammed with critics blasting him for what is on pace to be WVU’s worst season in a decade.
Huggins, recognizing Kilicli’s need to vent and discuss, said the two have talked for hours on the coach’s back porch, and during those late-night return flights from Big 12 country, the two are known to pow wow in confidence while other players recline and sleep. It was during a recent charter flight that Huggins apparently offered some of his most reassuring counsel at 30,000 feet.
“A lot of people tried to get me down, more than tried to get me up, but Huggs helped me out a lot,” Kilicli said. “I trust him, and I don’t trust anybody else. Once he trusts me, I don’t care what whoever else thinks.
“I talked to him, he told me some stuff, and then I start playing better because mentally I was in better shape.”
His head clear, and his coach clearly in his corner, Kilicli has averaged nearly 14 points during a five-game stretch of which WVU has won four. After watching the banged-up Kilicli make 9-of-11 shots from the floor against Texas Tech, Huggins felt validated for sticking with the 6-9 senior when some fans clamored for his benching.
“I’ve been very tempted to save all these letters I get from the guys who coach better than I do and know more about Deniz than I know,” Huggins said. “Maybe I should just take a month and go evaluate their place of work and send them a letter about what kind of job they’re doing, and what kind of job their employees are doing.
“If they have employees. In some of these cases, it might be how well they’re cooking the French fries at McDonald’s. You can overcook those.”
Yet before Huggins takes a victory lap around the drive-thru, let’s not forget the frustration he emitted after limiting Kilicli to only eight minutes in December’s 15-point loss to Michigan.
“I’m sick of it,” Huggins steamed that night in Brooklyn. “I’m sick of watching guys stand around. I’m sick of watching guys not compete. I’m sick of guys missing shot after shot after shot but never coming in early (to practice), never staying late, don’t even think about coming in on an off day. And then telling me they care?”
That, of course, was post-loss Huggins, grappling with the depth of his team’s flaws. By comparison, Saturday’s two-point escape at home against conference weakling Texas Tech seemed sweet relief.
And Kilicli emerging as the day’s MVP? That was just salt on the fries for the big guy’s naysayers.
Gold and Blue Now Friday, May 24 
Gold and Blue Now Thursday, May 23 
Sportsline: Randy Mazey and Kyle Wiggs 
Sportsline: Dana Holgerson 
Randy Mazey 5-20-2013 
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Comments
tony
alan..i dont anyone was rooting against deniz or our team (ok maybe william)... everyone says what they say cause they are a buncha spolied fans who dont like to lose...i am very very happy for him..he played like a wild paul bunyan on sat and I hope he keeps it up...he is a force in there for sure.
February 17, 2013 at 7:10 am | Report comment
Larry
This touching story about a coach and his player kinda brings a tear to yer eye now don't it?
February 17, 2013 at 7:25 am | Report comment
Bill Carter
I don't think Deniz has gotten any better, TT didn't have anyone his size inside to compete with him, Murray would have had the same results if given a chance to play, but with this team, a win is a win,"Lets go Mountaineers."
February 17, 2013 at 8:14 am | Report comment
shawn
I love the EERS and I love this state! I've said it over and over...if they would get Deniz the ball when he's open this would be an every game thing.
February 17, 2013 at 8:18 am | Report comment
protechcpa
This game was a good barometer of where WVU is as a team. We were playing at home. Against one of the lesser teams in the conference. Three of their best players fouled out and we still had our entire team in tact. Our center has a career game and scores an unthinkable 25 points. And even with all of those advantages, we still came within a whisker of losing. I should say, handing the game to Tech. Sad.
February 17, 2013 at 8:38 am | Report comment
graywv
Deniz-has become a Mountaineer, he loves the state and the people, but he doesn't like and is disappointed in all the hate mail he gets, constantly blameing him, for the failures of the team. I have watched all season-him fighting for a position underneath the basket, and no one trying to get him the ball, its difficult and rugged and you only have an instance to get it to him-the guards are not paying attention-get the ball to him when he breaks-not after he plants his self, bythen he is double covered>I personally love this team and I still see disorder, but it is coming around slowly but surely. Huggs needs to com down and remember your also being watched by future potential players( and Parents) who may be turned off by this display. Some players just need the arm around the shoulder and a show of "Your my son and I love You"
February 17, 2013 at 8:42 am | Report comment
Hoffy
“I’ve been very tempted to save all these letters I get from the guys who coach better than I do and know more about Deniz than I know,” Huggins said. “Maybe I should just take a month and go evaluate their place of work and send them a letter about what kind of job they’re doing, and what kind of job their employees are doing.
Whoops! There it is!
Glad to hear Coach Huggins fire back at the critics and know-it-alls.
I still believe he's up to the task of leading this team, and I'm not about to throw him under the bus because of this lousy season.
February 17, 2013 at 10:16 am | Report comment
Greg
When are these kids going to learn the first rule of basketball? GUARD THE SHORT GOOFY LOOKING WHITE GUY! There's only two reasons he's on the court. To shoot or to mop the sweat off the court. If he's dressed in a uni and carrying a basketball instead of a mop, odds are he's a sharpshooter. How many times this year have they let some stiff beat them with the 3-ball? Almost happened again yesterday.
February 17, 2013 at 10:39 am | Report comment
john
Allan, I am one of those guys who never played and sent him a letter. There are many days I wish I could get rid of my business and cook fries. I've NEVER had a problem with the players on this team. I have had a problem with Huggs throwing his players under the bus. I have had a problem with Huggs not reckognizing that his recruiting classes have stunk since he came back home. Most of all I have a problem with Huggs not coming out and blaming himself for the steady decline his teams have been on once John Belien's Players graduated.
He can come to my business anytime he wants. I'm far from a perfect business owner. But I put the things that go wrong on me. Also I make donations that total several thousand dollars each year to WVU threw the 1100 Club and Mac Club. I think I am entitled to voice my concern when a guy who makes several million dollars per year is producing an average team.
February 17, 2013 at 10:43 am | Report comment
LETSGOOOOMTNEERS
Reminds me what Huggs did with JAlex a few years ago. He ended his career at WVU with a bang, too. Gotta love the team effort in 4.5 of the last 5. Seems like Huggs' Mountaineer tuffness is rubbing off on his Team, seein' it all over the court and the 10 deep could really help us down the stretch.
Naysayers be damned! Let's get salty and take out the Big Guns that are comin' up.
February 17, 2013 at 11:03 am | Report comment
big tom
don't look not but the stretch is now, and we're struggling to beat a bottom feeder on our own court with three of their starters out of the game...does that give you a clue as to how the remaining games are going to turn out?
February 17, 2013 at 12:11 pm | Report comment
big tom
i always sad, that if the people working for me, fail, then i have failed. I do agree huggs has to take some fault for this bad team.
as he said, he recruited them, he will fix it. well, i am waiting...
last year, Miles was the star in waiting, and started most all the games,, this past game, he played 1 minute.
for nearly 3 and one half years, kilicili has been a slacker, now within 7 games of ending his career, he plays a pretty good game. Is that reason to celebrate?
If it takes huggs that long to develop talent ,we're in for many more down yrs.
we should hire beilein to advise us on who to recruit and then huggs can coach them..
I hope we have hit rock bottom with huggs and we start to improve, but i don't really see that.. Something is bad wrong at wvu BB.
February 17, 2013 at 12:08 pm | Report comment
Jethro
This team is tough to watch. They make a lot of dumb mistakes but at least they are making less dumb mistakes than they have been. Its just a bad year for wvu athletics. Maybe the travel is getting to them...i don't know
February 17, 2013 at 12:17 pm | Report comment
Larry
Jethro,
What amazes me is that people actually "pay"
to watch this team play. Go figure...
February 17, 2013 at 1:04 pm | Report comment
Hoffy
Jethro, check out Bob Hertzel's article in the Fairmont Times about the travel issue. It provides some insight.
February 17, 2013 at 1:50 pm | Report comment
bruisershields
Coach Huggins was a great coach. He has not beeen a great coach for last 2 or 3 years. He may be a great coach in future years. I hope so because we are stuck with him because of a long term lucrative contract. . He has not recrutited well recently and run off half of those he has recruited .If he does not get better in those two areas we will not be successful. This suggestion that if they would just play like they are coached everything would be all right is self serving and absurd. Winners win and losers explain.
February 17, 2013 at 1:18 pm | Report comment
Jethro
Saw it. That has to take its toll.
Pretty incredulous
February 17, 2013 at 2:11 pm | Report comment
harvey Lantz
I am amused by all the comments about the team,and the coach..I have been a long time fan and supporter and will remain a supporter.
Living now in the Pittsburgh area we wittnessed the rough year Pitt had last year..There were all kinds of reasons given for their demise,,last time I looked ,,they are doing just fine this year.
You can put the blame on Huggs,,you can point the finger at the players,,you can use all the excuses you want,,Bottom line is ,,like Kentucky,,like N.C This team is experiencing some rough sledding..Put your BIG BOY pants on folks,,keep the faith,,Bob Huggins didn't all of a sudden forget how to coach,,the players we have now are a talented bunch,,they didn't just forget how to play..sometimes things just don't mesh,you don't quit ,you don't slam them,you support them..
Hey,it's a breeze to "be a fan"when the record is good,,,,,,a whole different story when the going gets tough.So yes,,count me as one of those who will "pay" to see them play,,,and be proud of it.Big Harv
February 17, 2013 at 2:14 pm | Report comment