Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — When he referenced “bitty basketball” Saturday afternoon, Bob Huggins wasn’t alluding to the small, four-guard lineup he deployed for tipoff. Rather, he was reminiscing on the elementary schoolkids his father once asked him to help coach.
“I couldn’t do that third- and fourth-grade stuff very long,” recalled Huggins. “I had to get the fifth- and sixth-graders — at least someone who could dribble and have a chance to make a pass.”
Having endured WVU’s 79-52 humiliation at Purdue, Huggins lamented, “I’m having flashbacks to that.”
He may feel like confiscating his players’ juice boxes — or perhaps their scholarships — after a Mackey Arena outing marked by lapses and lethargy. West Virginia showed none of the spunk that at least made its last three losses palatable. This was a complete regression, an unraveling of fundamentals and the squad’s most inglorious result since the Duquesne debacle of early December.
The Boilermakers had topped 73 points only once in regulation all season (against five-win Hofstra) and in no games had they made better than 50 percent of their 3-pointers (until hitting 8-of-11 against WVU).
Huggins’ summation of why Purdue chose Saturday to begin blistering the nets: “We let ‘em do whatever they wanted to do. We let ‘em throw it where they wanted to throw it. We let ‘em drive it where they wanted to drive it.”
No excuse-making can account for the wimp-out WVU perpetrated here, a quitters’ clinic that made the gap in the final score far wider than the teams’ gap in talent.
If Huggins’ disgruntlement can be measured by how long it took him to emerge from the postgame locker room, consider that he required a season-long half-hour. As for the talking points of the coach’s extended lecture?
“That we don’t play hard enough,” reported point guard Juwan Staten. “The reputation that coach has built over the years, the teams that he’s had, they always played hard and competed. That’s something that we don’t do.”
If Huggins’ frustration can be gauged by the number of times he questioned his players’ intelligence, digest these three digs:
— “I’ve done this a long time and I haven’t seen the stupid stuff that we do.”
— “I just don’t know if we know how to play basketball.”
— “We used to give guys quizzes after scouting reports to see what they actually learned. I’m not sure if I don’t do it now for them or for me, because when you have guys who never get anything right …”
Wasn’t much right about the spiritless two hours WVU delivered in this one. The Mountaineers had more fouls (20) than baskets (17), and way more turnovers (17) than assists (six).
Dismiss the inevitable grousing about West Virginia’s travel fatigue and upset biorhythms. Yes, Wednesday’s 9 p.m. game at Iowa State put the team returning to Morgantown around 4 a.m. Thursday. No, that inconvenience wasn’t worth the 32 points by which WVU found itself trailing Purdue with 9:29 left. The Mountaineers shouldn’t sweat the loss of sleep — there will be ample time to snooze come March.
(The Boilermakers, for what it’s worth, also played a road game that evening, tipping off only one hour earlier in Lincoln, Neb.)
No excuse-making can account for the wimp-out WVU perpetrated here, a quitters’ clinic that made the gap in the final score far wider than the teams’ gap in talent.
Gold and Blue Now Wednesday, May 22 
Gold and Blue Now 5-21-2013 
Gold and Blue Now Monday, May 20 
Randy Mazey 5-20-2013 
Oliver Luck Q&A at WVU faculty senate meeting 
Randy Mazey on losing series to TCU 
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Comments
Larry
If you've ever read my comments here before you know that I usually don’t tend to lean toward optimism… and this isn't the day that it changes.
I personally think that WVU has been hurting in recruiting for a few years now (5) and this season you are seeing the results of those poor recruiting classes.
You can't judge a recruiting class until a few years down the road. In Huggins case however, it is 5 years down the road. This year’s class has yielded one or two promising players but it could take 4 tears for them to develop in Huggins system…as it did Kevin Jones.
WVU has a rich basketball history and if this is all Huggins can bring to the table maybe it is better to just accept mediocrity rather than to wish for a Big 12 championship. A National Championship anytime in the near or unforeseen future is just foolish wishful thinking.
If I could coach and recruit, I'd apply for the job. But since I can’t, I'll continue to lobby for WVU to send Huggins into retirement and hire an aspiring young coach with vision and enthusiasm...Not one living off of a past reputation.
Instead of paying Huggins his millions, why not consider hiring some energetic young coach like Bobby Bolen the former Mountain State University coach? He is worth a lot more but $200,000 would probably bring him to Morgantown.
He has 487 career wins after his team finished 26-9 last season, and over the last 12 years, MSU’s .865 winning percentage is the highest of any NCAA Division I, Division II or NAIA program.
He is a home grown West Virginia native and couldn’t possibly do any worse than Huggins.
It’s time to cut our losses and move on…Otherwise we are stuck in this “Vicious Cycle of Mediocrity” until 2017.
January 20, 2013 at 12:15 am | Report comment
shawn
Are you kidding me? Bob Bolen? There the most entertaining thing i've heard on here in a long time.
January 20, 2013 at 8:42 am | Report comment
Mac
Larry, 2 years ago we lost an entire recruiting class. It's really hard to judge talent when you have nothing to judge. This team is comprised of Freshman, Sophmores and transfers...
January 20, 2013 at 8:46 am | Report comment
Roy
Sorry Mac, that is a poor excuse, I realize we can't go undefeated with younger players, but this bunch can't shoot or play defense, youth should have nothing to do with not playing, especially over half way in the season.
After all, we should not be rebuilding but reloading.
January 20, 2013 at 2:35 pm | Report comment
Pghmountaineer
No question about it, Huggs has no clue what to do with this team. But can we be honest here, they don't have the talent. Not even close. Please don't tell me they are young. There are a lot of freshmen playing in college division I and they are not nearly as bad as our guys. Also, the seniors on this team should give up what's left of there scholarship. I guess to sum it up, Huggs has lost this team and there's no way he's getting them back. They have no pride in their game.
January 20, 2013 at 12:21 am | Report comment
68&71WVUgrad
I think Huggins is right, these guys don't know how to play basketball. If you have ever watched an AAU game or even a local HS game you will see that today's players tend to be selfish one on one guys who constantly dribble drive no matter what type of defense is being played because they can't shoot from any distance. And if they get to the foul line, most either shoot the ball so flat or so off line that it has little chance of going in. Some of them are athletic, but that doesn't make up for having no fundamentals.
In transition, without exception Browne, Hinds, and Staten always are out of control and force the ball to the rim, where they don't finish. In their selfishness, they run away from their teammates and thus have no one to pass to or to follow up their misses. Why the coaching staff allows that to continue is beyond me. Even Jay Jacobs was complaining about it on the Huggins show.
And defense? These guys with a couple of exceptions couldn't guard your grandmother in a phone booth.
January 20, 2013 at 1:14 am | Report comment
Big Tom
i really get tired of listening to huggins throw his players under the bus,, not once did he accept any responsibility for the bad play on sat. at purdue. over and over he bad mouthed the players, never admiting to not coaching them up.
i used to really respect huggins, but now, i do think he might need to gently edge into retirement. Look at his record at wvu, once beilein's boys were gone, we got worse and worse, and now we're pathetic, yes pathetic and certainly are disrespecting WVU.
Shame on you huggins, i don't know your problem , hope you aren't still drinking but whatever it is, get your act together.
quit bad mouthing your players, quit going wild on the sidelines, show some respect for your players, remember, you recruited them.. if i played for you, i would walk off thecourt ..shame on you
January 20, 2013 at 2:33 am | Report comment
Big Tom
between you and dana, you two have almost destroyed our athletic program in one year..wow, i can't remember when we have been this bad in both football and BB.
January 20, 2013 at 2:37 am | Report comment
Greg
My four years in Morgantown, 1975 to 78-79 seasons. Losing football in 3 of those seasons and .500 basketball. Not exactly playing against the top echelon programs back in those days either. Try living through the Frank Cignetti/Jodey Gardner era of WVU sports. Today doesn't even come close.
January 20, 2013 at 11:30 am | Report comment
WILLIAM
BOB "IT'S MY FAULT, I'LL FIX IT" HUGGINS is one of the worst coaches in WVU history. FIRE BOB HUGGINS.THE ONLY TIME HUGGINS HAS WON AT WVU, WAS WITH BEILEIN'S PLAYERS!
January 20, 2013 at 5:15 am | Report comment
Roy
A sad time for Eer fans both in football and basketball. It's been many years since I've seen us be so pathetic in both sports. We are doormats in both football and basketball in the Big 12.
January 20, 2013 at 6:39 am | Report comment
Jeff
Yesterday after my workout I saw 3 excellent games with 6 excellent coaches..Syr/Lville,MSU/OSU, and Gonzaga/Butler.......hope are coach was open to watch great B-BALL......
January 20, 2013 at 7:53 am | Report comment
Tim C
In respect to Larry, Big Tom, and others who are calling for Huggs head on a platter, it is obvious to me that calling out a hall of fame coach is ludicrous. The problem is we have no leader on this team. KJ was our leader last year and he forced others to step their game up. Our transfer players were trouble makers at their previous schools and they have continued that behavior here. DK is an absolute bomb and will never get any better. Our 2 freshman have talent but need further development. Noreen has been our most consistent player but lacks total confidence in shooting the ball. Browne and Hinds have excellent ball skills but are terrible shooters and continue to make terrible decisions in handling the PG position. In short, we have no floor general, plain and simple. I do think Huggs needs to shake up his coaching staff after the season and get some people in here that are top I notch recruiters. We need players, plain and simple. If these boys would listen to Huggs and play hard they could become players. Right now, they play "street ball" and that might be good enough down at the rec. center but in D1 BBall it is not even close. Huggs will fix it but we may have to wait another year.
January 20, 2013 at 8:43 am | Report comment
Scott
Tim i think you got it right.
January 20, 2013 at 9:49 am | Report comment
shawn
Well said sir!
January 20, 2013 at 10:32 am | Report comment
Charleston, WV
Amen brother! That last part sorta falls into the old saying, " You can lead a horse to the water, but you can't force him to drink it". You know what else I've come to realize is how shallow our fanbase is, yet alone alot of our society. It seems to me that most people have come to expect us to win win win, never lose a game, and always be flawless. I don't believe people understand what it takes to build a winning program, especially in our little state of WV (and yes I am native of 31 years and counting). Trust me, I too would love for things to be better with our program, but too know better that it takes time. Most people when making these negetive comments about our team have failed to realize alot of unexpected comeabouts our recruiting and dropouts our program has taken (Dan Jennings, Pat Forsythe, Dalton Peppers, Noah Cottrill (wv native), Tommie MCcune) to name a few. If your a disgruntled fan who's a ticket holder, then speak with your billfold and stop paying. If your disgruntled tv spectator then turn the channel. If your a true Mountaineer Fan then you will stick it through the tough times and growing pains until we get better, it's that simple!
January 20, 2013 at 11:13 am | Report comment
Alum
Tim, I agree with Scott, you got it right.
January 20, 2013 at 6:17 pm | Report comment
Uncle Fester
Who recruited this group of dead wood????
Huggins and his assistants. Time for Ollie Luck to step up and FIRE Huggins and Holgorsen for that matter.
January 22, 2013 at 11:28 am | Report comment
shawn
All you guys must know each other and sit around in the local barbershop and complain about things you know nothing about! I guess winning over 700 games in your career doesn't mean anything? This team is still fairly young in that they haven't really played together. They are still learning and need to gel. And do you understand how hard it is on these kids to travel like they have been? Going to the Big 12 will take a few years to adjust to. The game style is different and look how much traveling they do. Give it time people!
January 20, 2013 at 8:51 am | Report comment
Big Tom
travel,,, you make it out that this team has to walk to every game, no they get on a jet and fly, they set on their butts, maybe another hour,, wow,,, and they're probably asleep..
don't give me this travel excuse, they are kids full of hormones blasting off every second.
that's just an excuse. they have a practice facility seond to none,and they aren't using it or they are just terrible players.
you have to put in the time and apparently they'd rather be on high street soaking up the suds.
January 20, 2013 at 11:53 am | Report comment
shawn
Well you just ruined your whole argument. Now you're saying it is the kids! You finally got it right...these kids are immature and think they can party and play! They have no work ethic and Huggs sees it now. If he could go back he wouldn't recruit these guys. Hell fix things...it will take this year to do that though. Give him a break..he deserves an off year every once in a while.
January 20, 2013 at 12:41 pm | Report comment
Alum
+1
January 20, 2013 at 6:19 pm | Report comment
cutty77
Huggs Needs Some Coaching Himself.Only one Coach on His Staff might say something to Him.Huggs Needs a Time-Out from Himself.
January 20, 2013 at 9:45 am | Report comment
Jethro
Huggs has enough cred to be allowed a couple of bad years. U guys are worse than this upcoming generation 's love of instant gratification. Smh
January 20, 2013 at 9:50 am | Report comment
WILLIAM
WHY WOULD ANY BASKETBALL PLAYER EVER COME TO WVU TO PLAY FOR THIS COACH! ANY BASKETBLL RECRUITS OUT THERE, STAY AWAY FROM WVU BECAUSE THIS COACH THROWS HIS PLAYERS WAY UNDER THE BUS!
January 20, 2013 at 11:10 am | Report comment
Jethro
Huggs is simply speaking the truth. I bet u have a mantle full of participation trophies at your house
January 20, 2013 at 11:19 am | Report comment
Alum
Can you SHOUT a little LOUDER there William.
January 20, 2013 at 6:16 pm | Report comment
WILLIAM
BOB HUGGINS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED LAST YEAR AFTER HIS SPEAKING APPEARANCE AT THE NIKE CLINIC AT ROBERT MORRIS COLLEGE! WHAT A PIECE OF WORK HE IS. (GOOGLE IT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED)
January 20, 2013 at 11:12 am | Report comment
richard
LMBO........there are some stupid people on this site. and i'm not one of them. just reading some of these comments make me sick. when i read them-i know the authors of these stupid put together words are ignorant. saying to fire huggins????? LMBO
January 20, 2013 at 11:27 am | Report comment
Hoffy
This site is not exclusive for the kind of people you refer to, Richard. Check out other sites and other subjects. It's the 1st Amendment in action. My only hope is our discourse can remain civil. And to be honest, I find some of the rantings amusing!
January 20, 2013 at 2:28 pm | Report comment