West Virginia Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Mountaineers
By Connor Hope
Seven months removed from a Sweet 16 appearance, how does the 2017-18 season look for Bob Huggins and West Virginia basketball?
Last season was an incredibly successful one for Bob Huggins and the West Virginia Mountaineers, who made the Sweet Sixteen before losing to Gonzaga. This season, West Virginia will be looking to build on their successes and compete for their first conference championship since they won the Atlantic 10 in 1989.
The team struggled in close games, going 4-6 in games decided by five points or less, and will need more of them to go their way if they want to compete for a Big 12 title. Let’s see how the Mountaineers are shaping up for this season, including their projected starters, key reserves, schedule and season expectations.
Projected Starting Five
Guard: Jevon Carter
To say Jevon Carter is the best player on this Mountaineers team would be an understatement. Carter was West Virginia’s best offensive weapon last season, and he is one of the best on-ball defenders in the country. While it will always be difficult to improve on an excellent 2.5 steal-per-game season defensively, Carter is in position to be one of the best defensive players in the country once again.
Guard: Daxter Miles
Joining Carter in the backcourt, Daxter Miles is the second piece in one of the most overwhelming defensive schemes in college basketball. Averaging 1.4 steals per game last season, Miles’ ability to pressure the ball-handler helped lead the Mountaineer to the Sweet 16 last season. Although not as consistent as Carter on the offensive end, when Miles gets hot, he can take over games.
Forward: Lamont West
Lamont West will need to step up in a big way for the Mountaineers. After averaging 11.9 minutes per game last season, West could see his minutes nearly triple, and his offense will be important to West Virginia’s success. Coach Huggins will look to West to be a stretch forward, and improve slightly on his 3-point shot. If West can hit the deep ball at a higher rate, there is no reason he can’t be the second or third-highest scorer on this team.
Forward: Esa Ahmad
The Mountaineers will be without their best forward and second option on offense for the first half of the season. After Ahmad becomes eligible to play, he should return to the West Virginia starting lineup and have an opportunity to make an immediate impact. With Nathan Adrian gone due to graduation, Ahmad will likely be asked to expand his role on the team, and his success could decide where West Virginia finishes the season.
Forward: Sagaba Konate
Like West, sophomore forward Sagaba Konate will be asked to hold a dramatically increased role from last season. As the team’s best rebounder and rim protector, Konate will be expected compete down low with opponent’s prototypical centers. Last season, in 10.9 minutes, Konate averaged 1.4 blocks and 2.8 rebounds. Now that Konate’s minutes are expected to double, the forward could put on one of the better defensive performances in the Big 12.