Mountaineers, Dukes to Battle in Charleston
November 15, 2015 12:21 PM | Men's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Bob Huggins is expecting a very difficult basketball game in Charleston on Monday night when 23rd-ranked West Virginia plays host to James Madison at the Charleston Civic Center.
The Dukes, coming off a 19-win season and a share of the Colonial regular season championship in 2015, have all five starters returning for this season.
James Madison’s impressive experience, talent and depth were all on display last Friday night at Richmond when the Dukes handled the Spiders, 87-75, on Richmond’s home floor.
The Dukes shot a sizzling 50.8 percent, including 45.8 percent from 3 (11 of 24 shooting), hammered the Spiders on the glass, 40-23, and handed out 16 assists in a tremendous all-around performance.
Six-six junior guard Shakir Brown came off the bench to score 20 points and grab 12 rebounds, 6-foot-3 senior guard Ron Curry had 19 points, 6-foot-7 senior forward Tom Vodanovich contributed 15 points and 6-foot-7-inch senior guard Jackson Kent added 11 for the Dukes.
James Madison pulled down 16 offensive rebounds in Friday’s victory and turned the ball over just 11 times.
“This team we’re playing is good,” said Huggins. “They’ve got five returning starters; they’re going to win their league and they’re going to be a top 100 team at the end of the year.”
West Virginia (1-0) wasn’t really tested during Friday night’s 107-61 victory over Northern Kentucky. The Mountaineers jumped on the Norse early and built a 30-point lead at halftime. In the second half it was more of the same.
The Mountaineers got 24 points from sophomore guard Jevon Carter, 19 points from sophomore guard Daxter Miles Jr. and 18 points and 15 rebounds from junior forward Devin Williams.
West Virginia shot 48.5 percent from the floor, had a plus-21 rebound advantage on the glass, and turned over the Norse 30 times for the game.
Huggins said afterward that he didn’t run any set plays against Northern Kentucky because he didn’t want James Madison to have them on tape, but also because he wants his guys to play off of each other.
“I’m trying to get them to learn how to play,” he pointed out.
On Monday, Huggins will do anything and everything he can to beat what appears to be a very good basketball team in the Dukes that could be right there at the end of the season when NCAA selections are announced.
“People (thinking) this is not going to be a good game, well, it’s going to be a heck of a game. We’re going to get tested,” said Huggins.
West Virginia used a starting lineup consisting of Carter, Miles and 6-foot-8 freshman Esa Ahmad in the backcourt, with Williams and 6-foot-7 senior forward Jonathan Holton in the front court.
Ten different players saw action for West Virginia in its season opener.
Tip off for Monday night’s game is set for 7 p.m. and the contest will be televised locally on ROOT Sports. The Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG’s pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m. on stations throughout West Virginia and also online through leanStream and the mobile app TuneIn.
Tickets are still available for Monday night’s game and can be purchased by calling (304) 345-1500 or by visiting the Civic Center Box Office on game day.
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