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Huggins has West Virginia poised to contend

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Jeff Goodman

Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. Check out his Yardbarker blog. MORE>>
 
Updated Nov 8, 2009 1:02 PM ET
     
 
We're not going with a typical, run-of-the-mill top 25 rundown each day. Instead, we'll cut to the chase and tell you who will be left standing at the end of the year in the Elite Eight. We'll hit on one each over an eight day span — in no particular order. Then we'll unveil my complete bracket just prior to the start of the season on Nov. 9. I had the championship game right last year, but incorrectly picked Michigan State to beat North Carolina.

2009-10 preview

Roy Halladay Can't wait for the college hoops season to start? We get you ready for 2009-10 with our preseason guide.
I have a good feeling about my bracket this time around.

WEST VIRGINIA

In his third year back home, Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins has a chance to win the Big East. Huggins inherited guys like Da'Sean Butler, Wellington Smith and Joe Mazzulla — all recruited to play a completely different system for ex-coach John Beilein — and has added plenty of talent to the fold with Devin Ebanks, Kevin Jones, Darryl Bryant and newcomers Dan Jennings, Casey Mitchell and Deniz Kilicli. There are solid point guards, talented forwards and finally some size and toughness up front. There are numerous options and enough different pieces to make an Elite Eight and perhaps even a Final Four run.

Why

1. Forward duo: It's difficult to imagine a more talented and productive forward duo than Butler and Ebanks. Butler averaged 17.1 points and 5.9 boards last season, and Ebanks was a double-figure guy as a freshman. And more importantly, he defended and rebounded. 2. Defense: The Mountaineers were stingy a year ago, allowing 61.8 points per game, and they have a chance to be even better on the defensive end this season now that guys like Ebanks and Jones have a year of experience. 3. Size: Huggins has a few options up front. Kevin Jones has a year under his belt, and his role should expand. Freshman Dan Jennings is a strong 6-foot-8, 250-pounder who can rebound and bring a big body to the fold, and Smith gives West Virginia another solid guy he can go with. 4. Two solid floor leaders: It's difficult to make a deep tournament run without a quality point guard. Huggins and the Mountaineers actually have a pair of starting floor leaders. Joe Mazzulla, who started two years ago, was injured nearly all of last season, and that allowed freshman Darryl "Truck" Bryant a chance to step in and run the club. Now, both are back and should share the load.

Why not

1. Point guards: While it should be a strength, there are certainly questions about both Mazzulla and Bryant. Both were suspended in the offseason and both need to stay out of off-the-court trouble this season.
2. Quality depth: The Mountaineers have some depth, but not to the extent of numerous other teams expected to contend for a Final Four berth. Huggins will have to ride Butler and Ebanks. 3. Kilicli Suspension: The NCAA hit Kilicli, who is a skilled frontcourt guy, with a 20-game suspension because he played on an overseas team that featured pro players. Kilicli would have gotten plenty of time this season, but now it'll be difficult for him to get tossed into the fray since he won't be eligible until February.

Key player:

Kevin Jones: Wellington Smith started all 35 games a year ago, but there's a good chance that Jones could move into the starting lineup because he's a perfect Huggins-type player. He plays hard and brings a level of toughness to the table that Smith doesn't possess.

Don't sleep on...

Casey Mitchell: The former junior college standout will give the Mountaineers a dead-eye shooter from long distance. Don't be shocked if Mitchell starts from Day One at the shooting guard spot.
Tagged: Michigan State, North Carolina, Butler, Virginia, Bradley, West Virginia

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