Bob Huggins is Trying to Motivate Mountaineers at Crucial Time

When Bob Huggins sits up in his office, he’s anxious to hear a basketball bounce on the floor. Huggins’ office is placed right above the practice facility court, so he can see who’s practicing.

Once Huggins hears a basketball make contact with the hardwood, he knows his team is putting in the work outside of games and practices. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce.

Huggins looks down and it’s former All-American Kevin Jones. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. He looks down again and it’s Devin Williams. None of this season’s Mountaineer roster.

“We’ve got to be more committed than what we are. Back to the last game, I said it would be really good if you guys got in the practice facility,” Huggins said following his current team’s 13-point loss to Texas Tech. “The practice facility is open 24/7.”

West Virginia is currently on a three-game losing streak, taking losses to all top-20 teams in the country. With the gauntlet schedule that the Big 12 is this season, there’s no time to pout and complain. The Mountaineers have a big week ahead of them with a home game against Oklahoma and travel to Fayetteville, Ar. to take on Arkansas for the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

Huggins is doing everything he can to verbally motivate his team.

“I mean the reality of it is, it’s like any other line of work that anybody would ever be in. If you continue not to do what you’re asked to do, you’re probably asked to leave,” Huggins said.