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.