The Mountaineers dispatched the UNC Pembroke Braves in yesterday's exhibition game without much drama or fanfare. The Mountaineers didn't play particularly well, though they jumped out early and never looked back. In general, it was as most exhibition games go and lacked any sort of competitive fire - it was just an opportunity for the Mountaineers to get back on the court as a team.
↵Bob Huggins substituted five at a time in the first half, with Truck Bryant starting alongside Dalton Pepper for the first team backcourt and Joe Mazzulla, Jonnie West and Casey Mitchell leading the second team. Deniz Kilicli looks like he's slimmed down some, and played with more finesse and agility than I had remembered from last season. At one point in the first half he jumped a UNCP passing lane and took the ball the length of the court for a gilding 'and-one' lay-in. There was a moment early in the game with Kilicli on one block and Kevin Jones on the other where I had this notion that opposing teams might not get a rebound this season. Hyperbole for sure, but the starting frontcourt of Kilicli, Kevin Jones and John Flowers will be a force to be reckoned with on the boards this season.
↵Jonnie West came off of the bench to pour in fifteen points, an indicator that the redshirt senior may be called upon to play serious minutes this seaosn, for the first time in his career. Freshman big man Kevin Noreen made it onto the court a few times, but never managed to get involved in the action.
↵The Mountaineers play their first regular season game of the 2010-11 season this Friday against the Oakland Bears in Morgantown.