WVU game just got a little easier

5,319 Views | 17 Replies | Last: 6 yr ago by GE
Serious Lee
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rumors starting to circulate that starting forward Esa Ahmad failed a drug test.

Also, their star recruit that was supposed to step in and start at PF/C is unlikely to qualify.
Pumpkinhead
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Uncle Gunnysack said:

rumors starting to circulate that starting forward Esa Ahmad failed a drug test.

Also, their star recruit that was supposed to step in and start at PF/C is unlikely to qualify.
Ahmad is a 6'8" PF. Junior and is an expected starter.

Last year versus Texas A&M, he played a really good game against us. 14 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks.

http://www.bluegoldsports.com/source-esa-ahmad-facing-lengthy-suspension/

Quote:

Multiple sources have told Blue Gold Sports that junior Esa Ahmad will be facing a lengthy suspension at the start of the 2017-2018 basketball season. The forward is looking at a the possibility of missing half the season, but will likely attempt to appeal the suspension.

Ahmad has been on the rise with the Mountaineers over the last two seasons. It has seemed that the forward was finally starting to develop into the player he was always supposed to be when recruited to the program. Ahmad played in 34 games last season, with 11.3 points per game, 72 turnovers, 147 rebounds and an average of 4.3 rebounds per game. It is evident that Ahmad was just beginning to hit his stride and would likely have continued this trend going into the 2017-2018 season.

Mike Elko
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I'm sure Huggins was thrilled about both pieces of news.
wacarnolds
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tough break
Method Man
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Hell be reinstated the day before we play them.
Serious Lee
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wouldnt count on it. WVU fans are saying it was an NCAA test that happened during the tourney. Elijah macon supposedly got popped as well and thats why he left school early despite not being on anyones radar.
Pumpkinhead
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Uncle Gunnysack said:

wouldnt count on it. WVU fans are saying it was an NCAA test that happened during the tourney. Elijah macon supposedly got popped as well and thats why he left school early despite not being on anyones radar.
Does look like an NCAA administered drug test that he failed, and he is now in the process of an appeal.
GE
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We are going to beat them.
Double Diamond
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Bobs still got a loaded roaster. Big 12 player of the year candidate in Carter. Has a monster big man who is a sophomore. And two top ten juco wings coming in.
GE
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We are going to beat them by double digits
Pumpkinhead
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Its official. WVU will be missing one of their projected starters when we play them in Game 1 of the season.

swc93
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Thuggins will find a way.
AggieTFA06
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so our chances of winning has increased by a percent?
To 1,000,000 touchdowns ...and beyond
Pumpkinhead
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swc93 said:

Thuggins will find a way.
Not for that specific kid he won't. Is official release from WVU. Will be out until January.

http://wvmetronews.com/2017/09/26/wvus-esa-ahmad-suspended-for-half-season-could-return-jan-13/

Quote:

West Virginia forward Esa Ahmad, for months rumored to be facing an NCAA suspension, is ineligible for the first half of the 2017-18 regular season, the school announced Tuesday.

The 6-foot-7 junior "did not meet NCAA eligibility requirements," according to a WVU news release. The penalty is consistent with testing positive for a "street drug" during an NCAA-administered test.

Based on the 31-game regular-season schedule, Ahmad would have to sit out at least 15 games and could return for the Jan. 9 game against Baylor.

Ahmad averaged 11.3 points and 4.3 rebounds last season for a team that finished 28-9 and lost to Gonzaga 61-58 in the Sweet 16.
Pumpkinhead
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Quote:

The Mountaineers have won a combined 79 games over the past three seasons thanks to Bob Huggins' shift to a relentless pressing attack, but it remains to be seen if West Virginia will boast the same quality depth it has enjoyed the past few years.

According to a school spokesman, starting small forward Esa Ahmad (11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds per game last season) will miss the first 17 games of the season for failing to meet NCAA eligibility requirements and freshman guard Brandon Knapper might miss the season with a knee injury.

That means that this team will be without Ahmad until Jan. 13 at Texas Tech and might not have Knapper who the Mountaineers were counting on to be a key reserve behind both Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles at all.

Huggins has always adapted as well as anyone, as evidenced by his willingness to change styles, but without Knapper the only guards he has to spell Carter and Miles are sophomores James Bolden and Chase Harler. Both averaged fewer than six minutes per game last season. Junior college transfer D'Angelo Hunter is another potential option at 6-6.

Developing a quality bench with newcomers and little-used returnees to spell Carter, Miles, Lamont West and Sagaba Konate is going to be arguably the critical element in West Virginia's season.
Given West Virginia's possible lack of quality depth at guard behind their starters, don't be surprised if Huggins changes up the defensive style and goes with a less aggressive press than we've seen them typically do the past few seasons.
Serious Lee
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the more i think about this game, the more i think we'll be fine without caldwell. not having hogg last year to help break the press was crucial
Pumpkinhead
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Uncle Gunnysack said:

the more i think about this game, the more i think we'll be fine without caldwell. not having hogg last year to help break the press was crucial
Things to possible look for regarding West Virginia in that game:

1) Due to the PG Knapper's injury and a lack of quality depth at lead guard, that may force Huggins to have to play Carter a bunch at point, rather than off the ball as he stated that he hoped to do more.

2) WVU will only have two players over 6'9". Both sophomores, neither one of them played much last season. As far as I can tell, Texas A&M will have a significant advantage in terms of experience/size/athleticism combinations in the paint. WVU was a mediocre rebounding team last season relying a bunch on the guards to get boards. In A&M's 4 point loss to WVU in Morgantown last January, the Aggies outrebounded WVU 40-31and got 15 offensive rebounds. Will Texas A&M dominate the glass in this game?

3) Huggins has already stated that they may do less pressing this year (perhaps out of necessity). Their strengths appear to be the two starting senior guards who are VERY good and good wings. But frontcourt is really thin and bench very suspect in general.

Texas A&M lost the turnover battle 23-14 in that game in Morgantown last January. And still only lost by 4 points. Between having better guards and Hogg in this game plus WVU maybe having to be a bit less aggressive pressing and making this more a half court game, hopefully the turnovers go down as definitely a main key will be for A&M to get that turnover stat down. I'm like 60-40 confidence that A&M wins this. Though I do love WVU's senior guards and wings, I think A&M's counter of Gilder/Wilson/Starks/Flagg/Hogg/Chandler can balance that out a bunch, and then A&M's excellent frontline becomes the difference maker.

TXAggie2011
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We should dominate the boards; and may be in some angst if we don't.
GE
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We're going to win by 20 points.
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