Tony's Take is a monthly Mountaineer sports column written by veteran West Virginia University play-by-play man Tony Caridi.

This is the 110th season of West Virginia University basketball and depending how the next two weeks play out, this year's team may go down in history as the most unique of all. 
 
A team that already tied the school record for losses in a season could also end the year with a championship.  What a journey it's been, from nationally ranked to unwatchable and back to pretty again. 
 
It's kind of like the basketball version of the ugly duckling.  Only this one began attractive, grew ugly and is morphing into something quite pleasant once again.
 
The change has not been purely aesthetic as a deep-dive into the statistics illustrates the transformation. Since the roster was trimmed due to disciplinary measures on Feb. 11, the Mountaineers have played 11 games. 
 
The "New Mountaineers" have proceeded to improve performance in almost every team statistical category and some individual player totals have skyrocketed. 
 
WVU's overall winning percentage has increased from 41 percent to just 45 percent.  However, over the last nine games, that winning percentage has jumped 14 percent.  WVU is 5-4 over its last nine games. 
 
The team's overall scoring has increased from 72 to 76 points per game.  A more significant bounce has taken place over the last nine games; the Mountaineers are averaging 81 points per contest compared to the 72 points averaged in the first 24 games.
 
Shooting accuracy has remained the same at 41 percent, and interestingly, WVU's defense has gotten worse - the Mountaineers are allowing four more points per game.  A reduced roster leading to more minutes per player could be impacting this category. 
 
WVU is taking more shots (+8/game), grabbing more rebounds (+2/game), dishing more assists (+2/game), and committing fewer turnovers (-2/game) since the roster was revamped. 
 
Individual performances are even more striking. 
 
Guard Jermaine Haley has increased his per-game scoring average from four to 14.  He's doubled his rebounding from three to six and increased his accuracy eight percent from the field and 3-point range.  The junior has also doubled his assist total from two to four while increasing his minutes per game from 21 to 35. 
 
Similar improvements can be found by freshmen Jordan McCabe and Emmitt Matthews Jr.
 
McCabe's scoring has improved by nine points per game, from three to 12.  His field goal accuracy is up 12 percent and his assists have tripled from one to four. 
 
Matthews is also flourishing.  He's gone from averaging three to nine points per game.  His rebounds have more than doubled from two to five and his long-range shooting from behind the line has increased by 15 percent from 13 to 28. Matthews' minutes have nearly tripled from 10 to 27.  
 
Derek Culver, now a focus of opposing double-teams, has seen his stats actually decrease slightly in four categories.  Most significant is his shooting accuracy, which has fallen from 50 to 39 percent. The Youngstown, Ohio, freshman's rebounding is on the rise (+3/game).  And he's slightly improved his free throw percentage from 56 to 59. 
 
Perhaps even more important than those statistics is the team's newfound sense of chemistry and purpose. It's quite obvious this group is enjoying its evolution. Everyone holding an oar is now paddling it in the same direction.  
 
What a difference it has made.  
 
The final chapter of the "New Mountaineers" will be completed shortly.  Winning the CBI championship wasn't their goal when the season began, but winning it now would be an ideal ending for a team that will go down as one of the most resilient in school history.  
 
And, there's a great deal to be said about resiliency.