Bahamas Trip More Business Than Pleasure for WVU Basketball

WVU basketball is in paradise this week, but the Mountaineers are more concerned about winning games at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament than enjoying the Bahamas.

“We’re here to play basketball. We’re here to compete and try to win games,” WVU coach Darian DeVries said during his pre-tournament press conference Tuesday. “We certainly want our guys to try and take in the scenery and enjoy where they’re at, but this is about us putting ourselves in the best position to go play basketball and try to win a game. Our guys are all about that too.”

DeVries and the Mountaineers made the flight to the Bahamas on Monday and are preparing on Tuesday to play three games in three days Wednesday through Friday. Any time for fun will have to be squeezed in between that busy schedule.

“We’re trying to stay focused,” senior forward Tucker DeVries said. “You can enjoy the scenery a little bit, but really we’re here to play basketball and focus on that.”

The quality of opponents the Mountaineers will face in the Bahamas certainly demands their focus. WVU opens the Battle 4 Atlantis bracket against No. 3 Gonzaga on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. 

“It’s definitely more of a business trip than us being on vacation,” senior point guard Javon Small said.

Wednesday’s game will be WVU’s first against a ranked opponent this season and be broadcast on ESPN.

On Thursday, WVU will face either No. 14 Indiana or Louisville. On Friday, the team could see either No. 24 Arizona, Oklahoma, Providence or Davidson. Those games will be broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN2.

While Gonzaga is the favorite, it’s not absurd to think that every team is good enough to win the tournament, including West Virginia.

“It’s certainly a great experience and a great tournament, but we’re here to play games and try to win games,” Coach DeVries said.

For a related story, WVU basketball needs Javon Small to play big for continued success.