WVU Basketball Players Reflect on Season-Opening Win Over Robert Morris
By Joe Antenucci started out their 2024-2025 basketball advertising marketing campaign with a dominant 87-59 victory over Robert Morris on Tuesday night time time on the WVU Coliseum. After a quick-paced and commanding overall performance, 3 key game enthusiasts—Amani Hansberry, Javon Small, and Tucker DeVries—spoke to the media approximately the group’s win, their person performances, and what no matter the reality that wants to be advanced due to the fact the Mountaineers look earlier to their next matchup towards UMass on Friday.
Fast Start Sets the Tone for Mountaineers
The Mountaineers wasted no time affirming manage over Robert Morris of their season opener. WVU sprinted out to a commanding 21-0 lead earlier than the Colonials even managed to obtain. That initial stretch of play highlighted what has grow to be a trademark of head teach Bob Huggins’ teams: aggressive safety, fast ball motion, and an emphasis on scoring early and often.
Amani Hansberry, one of the institution’s standout performers in the game, contemplated at the Mountaineers’ heat start, acknowledging every the achievement and the areas in which they could beautify. “A lot of things to easy up,” Hansberry said, speakme on the general general overall performance. “You understand, we’ll hit that the next day and the subsequent few days to put together for Friday, however for the most trouble, I suppose we did an top notch interest.”
Despite a robust taking off, the game wasn’t with out its lulls. As Hansberry stated, the Mountaineers misplaced some of their early momentum as the game advanced, a style that is probably traced once more to final season’s struggles at instances. But irrespective of that dip, the Mountaineers had been capable of regroup and end robust.
DeVries and the Early Surge
Tucker DeVries, who transferred to WVU from Drake University, had a number one impact inside the first half of of, contributing every offensively and defensively. DeVries spoke approximately the institution’s rapid begin and the manner it pondered their functionality to execute within the ones establishing mins. “I anticipate the primary 10 minutes, we did precisely what we’re able to,” DeVries stated. “There modified into a chunk little bit of a lull, form of much like Charleston final 12 months, but I assume there had been though bits and quantities after the primary 10 mins that seemed high-quality.”
DeVries’ contemplated photo on the institution’s rapid start changed right into a reminder of what need to grow to be an indicator of this three hundred and sixty 5 days’s team: their capacity to weigh down combatants early. The Mountaineers scored in a flurry finally of the primary ten mins, showcasing a immoderate-octane offense that capitalized on Robert Morris’ errors. Whether it come to be a brief destroy or a nicely-completed set play, WVU regarded every bit the part of a group that may be a serious contender within the Big 12 this season.
However, DeVries additionally referred to the institution’s potential to self-determine. The occasional dip in intensity became some thing that desired addressing. “It’s all approximately staying targeted, staying on top of the information and not letting up,” he said. “When we hold that depth up, we’re hard to stop.”
Small’s Defensive Mindset
Javon Small, who transferred from Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State, had a enormous function in both the offense and protection for the Mountaineers. Small has grow to be regarded for his potential to manipulate the game on each ends of the floor, and his protective attempt modified into obtrusive in the corporation’s normal shielding performance in the course of Robert Morris.
When asked about the vital component to the Mountaineers’ safety, Small stated the similarity among this 365 days’s company and beyond corporations, but he have turn out to be brief to emphasise one critical distinction: the Mountaineers are more provided into the machine this season. “No, I count on it become similar [to past teams],” Small stated at the same time as requested about the difference in closing out on safety. “I expect guys are simplest a touch bit greater provided into what we need to do, and we definitely play hard on each ends.”
Small’s assessment speaks to the growing experience of brotherly love that has developed most of the institution’s inexperienced humans and returning gamers. His presence within the backcourt helped stress Robert Morris’ ball handlers, forcing turnovers and placing the tone for the Mountaineers’ protecting dominance. Small’s transition from Oklahoma State to WVU has been clean, and his management on protection is already making an effect.
His ability to shut out on shooters and contest snap shots changed into key inside the Mountaineers keeping manipulate over the sport. By staying disciplined and executing their protective schemes, WVU modified into able to restrict Robert Morris’ offensive possibilities and hold the sport in hand eventually of the contest.
Solid Contributions Across the Board
While Hansberry, Small, and DeVries all highlighted areas for improvement, their contributions had been critical within the group’s decisive victory. All 3 game enthusiasts showcased their all-around endeavor, which bodes well for the group moving forward.
Amani Hansberry completed with lovely numbers, collectively with depth to each the offense and safety. The freshman in advance appeared poised and confident in his first legit recreation as a Mountaineer, making his presence felt on the glass and inside the paint. Hansberry’s ordinary performance has raised expectations for his development at some point of the season, as he have to grow to be a key piece of the organization’s indoors protection and rebounding.
Javon Small, who has already earned a popularity for his control and potential to create opportunities for his teammates, supplied ordinary play on the aspect guard role. His poise underneath stress and capacity to make performs every in transition and inside the half of-court docket docket offense has made him one of the maximum essential game enthusiasts on the roster. His shielding contributions had been moreover vital in making sure Robert Morris become in no way able to make a important run at the Mountaineers.
Tucker DeVries, who transferred from Drake, has quick tailored to the speed and depth of Power Five basketball. His capturing and offensive versatility make him a unstable weapon on the floor. Whether as a gap-up shooter or as a secondary ball handler, DeVries has shown the ability to effect the sport in multiple strategies. His shooting contact modified into on display inside the first half, and he’s predicted to be a key a part of WVU’s offense due to the fact the season progresses.
Looking Ahead to UMass
Despite the dominant victory, all 3 game enthusiasts mentioned that there can be nonetheless paintings to be completed in advance than the organization faces UMass on Friday. “We recognize we’re able to extra,” DeVries said. “We’re actually going to hold running on the little matters, tightening up our rotations, and constructing at the positives from this night.”
Coach Huggins will probable use the subsequent couple of days to deal with the team’s occasional lapses in focus and consistency. With a greater difficult slate of video video games ahead, together with matchups in competition to tough Big 12 warring parties, the Mountaineers will want to enhance their execution and depth on every ends of the ground.
However, the win in opposition to Robert Morris showed that WVU has the capacity to be a sturdy, balanced crew this season. With gamers like Hansberry, Small, and DeVries contributing in lots of ways, the Mountaineers may be looking to assemble on this regular performance as they prepare for a tough matchup in competition to UMass on Friday night time.
While there can be nevertheless an entire lot artwork to do, the Mountaineers’ season opener changed into a promising begin, and the institution’s leaders seem confident that the first-class is but to return lower back.