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Sunday, November 6, 2016
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2016 IOWA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
ISU MEN’S BASKETBALL
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Ames Tribune
2016 IOWA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW TABLE OF CONTENTS Travis Hines Page 2 Iowa State’s seniors Page 3 Meet the freshmen Page 4 Deonte Burton Page 5 Schedule Page 6-7 Holden and Bowie Page 8 Full roster Page 9 Big 12 worstand best-cases Page 10-11
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Sunday, November 6, 2016
Unexpected roster keeps expectations high G
eorges Niang is gone. So are Abdel Nader and Jameel McKay. But a whole lot of Iowa State’s 2016 Sweet 16 team is back, and so are the high level of expectations. The Cyclones went into last season thinking it would be the last time Naz Mitrou-Long and Monte Morris would wear the cardinal-and-gold. Lingering hip issues and a desire to see a career through brought both of them back, however, and the Cyclones
TRAVIS HINES Ames Tribune
now have one of the country’s best backcourts with that pair and fellow senior Matt Thomas. They’ve also got Deonte Burton back for one more goround. The 6-foot-4, 250pound power forward has been
as inconsistent as he is unique during his career, but his teammates and coaches can only sing his praises currently as a changed, more mature man. If that can translate to consistent production, Burton could be in for a huge year. The questions for ISU are largely centered around, well, that center position, which the Cyclones hope can be filled by graduate transfer reinforcements Darrell Bowie and Merrill Holden. If that pair can be
impactful in the frontcourt, it’ll allow ISU’s talented guards to thrive. This is a roster that wasn’t expected from Iowa State, but it’s one that should allow the Cyclones to continue the momentum started by former coach Fred Hoiberg and continued by coach Steve Prohm and Niang. It’s a likely NCAA tournament team for the sixth-straight year. A dip was expected in Year 2 under Prohm, but the Cyclones look to be as strong as ever.
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TRIFORCE Iowa State’s senior backcourt
to power Cyclones this season By Travis Hines
Sports Editor thines@amestrib.com
It was never supposed to materialize like this. The clock and circumstances weren’t supposed to allow for it. Yet there they are, Monte Morris, Naz Mitrou-Long and Matt Thomas, together in Iowa State uniforms, forming one of the best and most dynamic backcourts in college basketball. “To have these three guys is big,” ISU coach Steve Prohm told the Ames Tribune. “I didn’t think Naz and Monte would be back this year, but they are. Now we’ve got to max them out.” Morris is a potential first-team All-American while Mitrou-Long and Thomas figure to be among the best guards in the Big 12. They’ve spent years playing together, but are now getting one no one figured they would.
Mitrou-Long is a year older than Morris and Thomas, but a slower-than-hoped recovery from off-season hip surgery in 2015 caused him to delay his senior season by a year via medical redshirt. Morris was predominantly expected to leave ISU after his junior year for the NBA, but surprised all by not even conditionally putting his name into draft consideration. This should have been a rebuilding year for Prohm and ISU. Instead, the Cyclones are expected to extend their program-record NCAA tournament streak to six and could have enough firepower to mount a March offensive. All thanks to a backcourt that shouldn’t have been. “We’re very seasoned, have a lot of experience,” Thomas said. “Played a lot of games. Won a lot of games, and we’re going to use that to our advantage. “Us three with our chemistry
that we’ve built, it’s going to be a fun year. It’s going to be fun playing basketball.”
THE PIECES
Mitrou-Long long couldn’t get off the bench for the Cyclones during his freshman season of 2012-13. By his sophomore season, he was indispensable, shooting 40 percent from 3-point range, hitting clutch shots and developing into the heart of the program. His presence was so integral to the emotional and mental makeup of the Cyclones that Prohm made sure Mitrou-Long was on every road trip last year even as he sat out as a medical redshirt, an unorthodox choice. “One of the best leaders and most charismatic people I’ve been around,” Prohm said. “Really embodies what being as studentathlete here at Iowa State is all about.
“Really looking forward to him having an unbelievable senior year.” That’s what makes MitrouLong so important and so valuable beyond his considerable contributions to the box score. When healthy, he’s one of the best shooters in the Big 12, a solid defender and a willing participant in doing any dirty work that needs doing. But it’s the intangible spirit he brings and the respect he commands that makes him a critical component. “I’ve never played with a better teammate than Naz,” Thomas said, “a better leader than Naz. He just brings out the best with everyone he’s playing with.” •
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Heralded as the second-coming of the most popular player in program history, Thomas lost the expectation game before he ever arrived in Ames. Too many people believed he could be Fred Hoiberg, 2.0, an outlandish proposition for any high schooler to be saddled with given Hoiberg’s All-American collegiate career and 10-year run as a player in the NBA. Given the fact that Hoiberg was wildly popular and that he was the coach that recruited Thomas to ISU, Thomas never had a chance to live up to the hype. So maybe it shouldn’t have been as surprising to see that when those expectations were
lifted last year — by virtue of Hoiberg leaving for the NBA and what was expected to be a diminished role — Thomas found his potential. Initially coming off the bench and then taking over a starting spot for Mitrou-Long, Thomas shot 43.2 percent from 3-point range (a career high by 10 points) and doubled his scoring average. “His work ethic is second to none,” Prohm said. “He’s in (the gym) religiously working on his craft. Expecting a big year from him.” •
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Perhaps the most surprising piece of the Cyclone backcourt is Morris. He committed to the Cyclones as a fringe top-100 player coming out of Flint (Mich.) Beecher High School and was overshadowed in Hoiberg’ 2013 recruiting class by Thomas. It didn’t take long, though, for Morris to move into the starting lineup as a freshman, and he’s been hard to take off the floor ever since, setting records for assist-to-turnover ratio and establishing himself as one of the best point guards in the country. That success was what was expected to take him away from Ames early. Morris was not coy after his sophomore season stating that his preference would be to turn professional if his junior year made that a possibility. Continued on page 4
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Continued from page 3 Morris averaged career highs in scoring (13.8), assists (6.9) and rebounds (3.9) and could have been a first-round NBA draft selection. New NCAA legislation would have allowed him to declare for the draft, attend a combine and work out for teams and still return to school if he did not hire an agent. Instead of exploring that path, Morris simply announced he’d be returning for his senior season. “He’s the best point guard in the nation,” Thomas said with a smile, “and I’m unbiased when I say that. It’s just so easy to play with a guy like him because whenever I’m open, I feel like the ball is right in my shooting pocket. “He’s going to get it to me and he makes everyone around him better.”
THE FIT
Each piece of the Cyclone backcourt is individually impressive, but what makes them among the best groups in the country is the way they fit together. “We just have a lot of chemistry that we’ve built together,” Thomas said. “We know where each other are on the court. We know how to play off each other. We all have one common goal, and that’s just to win. “Being able to play so well together and the chemistry we built is going to pay big dividends this year.” With shooters at his sides, it’s Morris’ job to power the offense from the point guard position. “I feel like these two, it can be a game where they have six or seven threes separately,” he said. “These guys can shoot the basketball. It’s going to be a great year. They’re going to make me look good by making shots. I’m going to make them look good by getting them the ball and me being aggressive. “I think we’re going to feed off each other well.” It’s also a group that, coming up under Hoiberg, that knows how to play with pace, which allows a backcourt to exert greater control over a game as opposed to playing a half-court style that favors bigs. “When it’s Monte, me and Naz
Iowa State returns seniors, from left, Monte Morris, Matt Thomas and Naz Mitrou-Long for the 2016-17 season.
PHOTO BY NIRMALENDU MAJUMDAR/AMES
TRIBUNE
in the game, (Prohm) just wants Monte to call for the outlet,” Thomas said, “Matt and Naz run the floor. He wants to try to advance the ball as fast as possibly, hopefully get me or Naz a quick look in transition. “I think playing fast is definitely a strength and we have so many guys that can make plays and hit shots. It’s in our favor to play fast and try to speed up the tempo.” Playing fast means making quick decisions. “They all have really good IQs,” Prohm said. “They understand how to play.” They also understand each other. “It’s a big deal because it’s one thing to be teammates,” MitrouLong said, “but it’s one thing to actually be brothers and actually do things outside of basketball. know things about each other
that no one else knows. That bond creates such a great connection that it comes on to the court. That’s what we have. “It’s big, and it puts a lot of trust into one another.”
TALENTED TRIO
For the Cyclones to replicate the success they’ve enjoyed in recent years such as Big 12 tournament titles and Sweet 16 appearances, they’re going to need contributions from enigmatic but hugely talented power forward Deonte Burton and graduate-transfer bigs Merrill Holden and Darrell Bowie. Nick Weiler-Babb and Donovan Jackson will have to emerge as strong bench options. Freshman Solomon Young could help in the frontcourt. But the team’s fate will likely be determined by its best players in the backcourt. Monte Morris. Naz
MEET THE FRESHMEN Jakolby Long, G, 6’5”, 208 lbs (Mustang, Okla.) A top-150 recruit, Long will likely serve as an understudy this season for the Cyclones, who have extensive experienced guard depth on the roster. He averaged 24.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game en route to being named Class 6A Player of the Year in Oklahoma as a senior.
Solomon Young, F, 6’8”, 240 lbs (Sacramento, Calif.) Young will likely be called on to contribute immediately as the Cyclones look to develop frontcourt depth. ISU will likely deploy a number of smaller lineups this season, but the Cyclones will still need some size and strength up front. That’s what Young can provide as he already has a Big 12-ready body and has drawn rave reviews for his motor.
Mitrou-Long. Matt Thomas. It’s a group that can score and defend. A trio that can lead by example and by command. A
triumvirate capable of big things. “It’s experienced, it’s talented,” Mitrou-Long said. “We’re hungry, man. We’re really, really hungry.”
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Meeting sparks maturity, growth from Burton By Travis Hines
Sports Editor thines@amestrib.com
Deonte Burton and Steve Prohm sat down to talk, in what later would be described as a pivotal conversation. They talked about the importance of habits. Of work ethic. About making a senior season count. And about socks. Well, maybe not that last one, but it has come up between those two, but more on that later. The end result, though, is a player who his coaches and teammates say seems to be transformed. “He’s leading people, pushing people through the line, leading others,” All-American point guard Monte Morris said. “Deonte was never doing that. Now he sees it himself. His game has grown. “I think when he matured mentally off the court, he just grew on the court.” After a season in which Burton was the Cyclones’ sixth man, he entered his name into the NBA draft this past spring, but did not hire an agent. Not long after, he decided to return to ISU for his senior season. That’s when he and Prohm got together. “We had a heart to heart of here’s what I expect,” Prohm said. “I’ll give you your freedom in these areas, but this is what I need from you as a senior in this program going forward.” For Burton, it was a meaningful moment. “It was an eye-opener conversation,” Burton said, “where he told me the truth about really how everything translates. So if I practice bad, I play bad. If I’m not giving my full off the court, I’m not giving my full on the court.” The changes, according to those around him, have been dramatic. “Been unbelievable,” Prohm said. “Been great in the classroom. Going to graduate in the spring, but his work ethic has been exceptional. He spent basically every day in the gym in the spring, in the summer. I think our relationship’s grown. I think we’ve got
Iowa State’s Deonte Burton entered his name into the NBA draft this past spring, but decided to return to ISU for his senior se ason. PHOTO BY NIRMALENDU MAJUMDAR/AMES TRIBUNE
great trust with one another and I’m really looking forward to him having a great year.” Said Morris, “He’s been watching a lot of film. There was a time (recently) in practice he said, Hey Monte, just do this and this, I’ll be open on this.’ Deonte never did that (before). “He was more so just natural out there playing. But with him doing that, it’s just elevating him as a person.” Added Matt Thomas, “He has changed since last year, and I think he’s the first one to say that for himself. His work ethic, his day to day, the way he attacks every day has changed and he’s been working really hard. Expecting him to break out this year and have a great year for us. Burton averaged 9.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game as a junior, flashing his superior athleticism
and skill that makes him a major matchup problem. “(Georges) Niang is Niang,” Prohm said of his former AllAmerican forward. “That’s end of discussion but (there’s a comparison) just from a versatility standpoint where fours are going to have to guard him, and he’s a tough cover. Fives may have to guard him, and he’ll be a tough cover to where he can drive.” Harnessing all that ability consistently is what’s been the issue for Burton. He believes his new, more patient mindset could help him do just that. “Trusting my teammates,” Burton said. “The more trust I know they have in me and the more trust I have in them, I would trust what they’re saying to me no matter how they say it. “So if someone tells me, ‘You’re not playing hard,’ it’s not going to
be, ‘Wow I thought I was playing hard.’ It’s, ‘OK I have to play harder because he’s telling me this because he sees something that I don’t.’” By moving into a starting role, Burton now will have consistency in big minutes. “Last year, coming in as sixth man and we had Georges,” Thomas said. “He just didn’t play as much. It’s just a completely different role when he’s in there and being able to play with freedom and play in a rhythm as a starter. “When you’ve got someone like Georges playing ahead of him as he did last year, it’s just a tough role because you just can’t get into a rhythm. He played 15, 20 minutes a game. This year those minutes are going to go up and he’s going to be able to go out there and get in a rhythm, play his game and
not worry about looking over his shoulder and wondering, ‘When’s Georges coming back in for me?’ Little things like that are going to play a big factor, I think.” He’ll be free to play through mistakes. Not to mention wear whatever he wants on his feet during practice. “When I talk about the freedom,” Prohm said, “I’m talking about the socks at practice and little things like that two years ago would have drove me out my mind. “So I give and take a little bit in the transition. Not anything more than the little things like that. He’s been terrific.” All of it fueled by a simple fact. “I’ve matured as a player and as a person over the summer and into now,” Burton said. “That’s where I think my biggest stride was.”
Nov. 11 Savannah State Nov. 14 Mount St. Mary’s Nov. 20 The Citadel Nov. 24-27 Advocate Invitational (Orlando, Fla.) Dec. 1 Cincinnati Dec. 5 Omaha Dec. 8 at Iowa
Dec. 17 Drake (Wells Fargo Arena) Dec. 20 Mississippi Valley State Dec. 30 Texas Tech Jan. 4 at Baylor Jan. 7 Texas Jan. 11 at Oklahoma State Jan. 14 at TCU Jan. 16 Kansas
Jan. 21 at Oklahoma Jan. 24 Kansas State Jan. 28 at Vanderbilt (SEC/Big 12 Challenge) Jan. 31 West Virginia Feb. 4 at Kansas Feb. 7 at Texas Feb. 11 Oklahoma
Feb. 15 at Kansas State Feb. 18 TCU Feb. 20 at Texas Tech Feb. 25 Baylor Feb. 28 Oklahoma State March 3 at West Virginia March 8-11 Big 12 tournament (Kansas City, Mo.)
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Sunday, November 6, 2016
Grad transfer duo key for Cyclones By Travis Hines
Sports Editor thines@amestrib.com
With the graduation of its starting frontcourt of two NBA draft picks and a Big 12 defensive player of the year, Iowa State essentially had a “Help Wanted” sign hanging outside the Sukup Basketball Complex. It got a couple of college basketball veterans to fill the positions. The Cyclones will be counting on a pair of graduate transfers, Merrill Holden and Darrell Bowie, to provide production and stability along the front line. “Merrill and Darrell up front, we need their energy,” ISU coach Steve Prohm said. “We need their activity, we need their presence running the floor. They both bring a lot of versatility.” With a talented and productive backcourt of All-American Monte Morris, Naz MitrouLong and Matt Thomas and a veteran, Deonte Burton, starting in the four-spot, the Cyclones aren’t looking for a superstar as that fifth starter or first forward reserve off the bench. They need grinders. They need grit and toughness. “Energy and activity,” Prohm said. “Defend, rebound. Set good ballscreens. Finish around the basket. Do the simple, tough things that this team needs. I’ve said it 100 times in practice. Whoever can do that is going to play.” Holden and Bowie are both up-transfers, coming from Louisiana Tech and Northern Illinois, respectively, looking to play their final collegiate seasons at the sport’s highest level. “Me and Merrill, we developed a nice relationship,” Bowie said. “We hang out every day, talk every day. With us both being in grad school, even doing our homework together every day. As far as the closest guys on the team…I feel like I’m closest to him more than anybody because we’re doing the same thing. Have the same workout times.
Iowa State got transfers Darrell Bowie and Merrill Holden to help in the frontcourt.
“I’m happy here’s with me.” The Cyclones are certainly glad both are in Ames as they look to run their NCAA tournament streak to six years. “WIth both of them being fifth-year seniors,” Thomas said, “they have a ton of experience. They’ve played a lot of basketball. But still, they have to learn our system, our offense, our defensive schemes. They’re learning every day and growing every day.” Bowie averaged 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Huskies in 2014-15 before missing
all of last season with a shoulder injury. “I feel like I can do a lot of things,” he said. “Shoot from three, go to the hole, take big guys off the dribble, just even be a playmaker and set other guys up for shots. On the defensive end, coach Prohm talks a lot about how I can switch and guard perimeter offensive players and also go into the post and guard post players.” That versatility will likely translate to minutes for an ISU team that could use a Swiss Army Knife in the post.
PHOTO BY NIRMALENDU MAJUMDAR/AMES TRIBUNE
“Whatever needs to get done on the court,” Bowie said “I feel like I can do it. “It’s doing the little things because little things add up to big things.” Holden is also embracing the little-things-matter philosophy. “My spot in the offense is to be an energetic guy, run the floor,” he said. “Make dirty (work) plays. Make open plays. “Our backcourt guys, they do a really good job of scoring the ball and getting us open looks. Making energetic plays, rebounding.”
While the pair has plenty of college hoops experience, they’re still adjusting to a new level and new team. “We have to get them in the gym before practice,” Prohm said. “We have to stay after. We’ve got to get them in the film room, and we’ve got to catch them up to speed as best as possible. “But whoever can play at that position, if they can defend and rebound, if they get rim-run, if they can sprint to ballscreens, if they can do those core things, that’s who’s going to play for us.”
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CYCLONE MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER
00 Simeon Carter 6 foot 8, 227 pounds
1 Nick Weiler-Babb 6 foot 5 200 pounds
3 Ray Kasongo 6 foot 9 230 pounds
4 Donovan Jackson 6 foot 2, 175 pounds
5 Merrill Holden 6 foot 8, 224 pounds
10 Darrell Bowie 6 foot 8, 218 pounds
11 Monte Morris 6 foot 3, 175 pounds
13 Jakolby Long 6 foot 5, 208 pounds
15 Naz Mitrou-Long 6 foot 4, 203 pounds
21 Matt Thomas 6 foot 4, 193 pounds
23 Wes Greder 6 foot 5, 189 pounds
24 Stuart Nezlek 30 Deonte Burton 6 foot 10, 245 pounds 6 foot 4, 250 pounds
33 Solomon Young 6 foot 8, 240 pounds
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BIG 12 MEN’S BASKETBALL: BEST
BAYLOR
IOWA STATE
KANSAS
KANSAS STATE
OKLAHOMA
RECORD: 22-12 (10-8) POSTSEASON: NCAA tournament Round 1 BEST CASE: Johnathan Motley delivers on his potential and is a first-team all-Big 12 player and All-American candidate. The Bears develop a consistent point guard and depth around Motley in the frontcourt to finish in the top-half of the Big 12. WORST CASE: Motley shrinks in the spotlight of being a go-to player, and the Bears’ losses from graduation prove to be too much to overcome as they slump out of NCAA tournament consideration by February.
RECORD: 21-10 (10-8) POSTSEASON: Sweet 16 BEST CASE: Monte Morris develops into a go-to scorer and is a first-team All-American while the rest of the Cyclone backcourt continues to be sharpshooters and the frontcourt finds its footing behind the uniqueness of Deonte Burton and grittiness of the graduate transfers of Merrill Holden and Darrell Bowie. WORST CASE: The Cyclones’ backcourt can’t score enough to make up for the team’s defensive shortcomings and the rebounding of small lineups isn’t sustainable to playing big minutes as ISU misses the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011.
RECORD: 33-5 (15-3) POSTSEASON: Elite Eight BEST CASE: The Jayhawks capture their 13th-straight Big 12 title and Bill Self’s second national title as freshman Josh Jackson proves himself worthy of being the No. 1 pick in June’s NBA draft playing alongside one of the nation’s best backcourts in Frank Mason III and Devonte Graham. WORST CASE: Jackson becomes the latest highly-touted Kansas freshman to struggle out of the gate while the Jayhawks’ frontcourt proves to be a liability. The conference championship streak ends as one of the league’s other teams emerges as stronger than predicted.
RECORD: 17-16 (5-13) POSTSEASON: None BEST CASE: Wesley Iwundu steps into a senior leadership role and thrives, giving the Wildcats the all-conference performer they need to move into the middle of the league standings and save Bruce Weber’s job. WORST CASE: The roster proves not talented enough to compete against a Big 12 that’s even down this season as the Wildcats slump toward the cellar, forcing Kansas State into making a coaching change.
RECORD: 29-8 (12-6) POSTSEASON: Final Four BEST CASE: Jordan Woodard and Khadeem Lattin take their increased roles and run with it, becoming one of the more formidable duos in the Big 12. Christian James emerges as an all-Big 12 caliber player. WORST CASE: The losses of national player of the year Buddy Hield along with impactful seniors Isaiah Cousins and Ryan Spangler prove too much to overcome even for Lon Kruger as the Sooners take a step back.
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T CASE/WORST CASE SCENARIOS
OKLAHOMA STATE
TCU
TEXAS
TEXAS TECH
WEST VIRGINIA
RECORD: 12-20 (3-15) POSTSEASON: None BEST CASE: Brad Underwood’s first year in Stillwater features Phil Forte and Jawun Evans becoming a monster backcourt pair that puts the Cowboys above .500 and into the NIT. WORST CASE: The roster proves to be too thin to compete in the Big 12 as Underwood works to fill in the gaps left by former coach Travis Ford, and the Cowboys finish last in the league.
RECORD: 12-21 (2-16) POSTSEASON: None BEST CASE: Karviar Shepherd delivers on the potential that made him a four-star prospect coming out of high school while Jaylen Fisher is capable of running the point as a freshman to help the Horned Frogs reach postseason play in coach Jamie Dixon’s first season for the first time since 2012 WORST CASE: The talent disparity between the Frogs and much of the league gets exposed and the rebuilding job Dixon is in for becomes clear as TCU once more finishes in the basement of the Big 12.
RECORD: 20-13 (11-7) POSTSEASON: NCAA tournament Round 1 BEST CASE: McDonald’s All-American Jarrett Allen delivers on all his potential, Kerwin Roach takes the reins at point and Texas’ other McDonald’s All-American freshman, Andrew Jones, is able to contribute immediately to help the Longhorns to a second-place Big 12 finish and NCAA tournament run. WORST CASE: Isaiah Taylor’s early defection to the NBA leaves Texas without a point guard, which causes the roster to crumble in on itself without direction and the Longhorns to miss the NCAA tournament in Shaka Smart’s second season.
RECORD: 19-13 (9-9) POSTSEASON: NCAA tournament Round 1 BEST CASE: First-year coach Chris Beard is able to sustain the momentum generated by Tubby Smith’s NCAA tournament berth last year and keep the Red Raiders in the postseason, albeit the NIT. WORST CASE: Texas Tech can’t handle graduations of Devaugntah Williams and Toddrick Gotcher as well as a coaching change, pushing them down the Big 12 leader board and out of postseason consideration.
RECORD: 26-9 (13-5) POSTSEASON: NCAA tournament Round 1 BEST CASE: Coach Bob Huggins finds himself a star in sophomore Esa Ahmad while the likes of Tarik Phillip, Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles help keep Press Virginia among the best in the Big 12 and a lot to handle in the NCAA tournament. WORST CASE: The losses of Devin Williams and Jaysean Paige loom large as the Mountaineers lose their physicality and scoring, causing them toward the middle of the Big 12 pack and on to the NCAA tournament bubble.
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Sunday, November 6, 2016