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ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks new West Virginia team, Huggins Hall of Fame

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On Tuesday afternoon, ESPN’s Jay Bilas spoke with the media about the upcoming college basketball season.

Bilas was asked about his thoughts on the new-look West Virginia team this season.

“I have no doubt that they’ll be very good, very competitive,” Bilas said. “They have Gabe Osabuohien back, Taz Sherman, and a blend of new players. They’ll be good.”

How good does Bilas think they’ll be?

“Now will they be as good as they were last year? I can’t say that just yet because you lose players like [Derek] Culver and [Miles] McBride,” Bilas said. “Those are not easy losses to absorb but this isn’t an issue of first impression for Huggs, I think he’ll do just fine and they’ll do just fine.”

Bilas mentioned that the transfer portal played a huge factor in the new team that the Mountaineers will put out this season. West Virginia brings three grad transfers in Malik Curry, Dimon Carrigan and Pauly Paulicap for one season of eligibility.

The former player under Mike Krzyzewski during the mid-80s mentioned that the transfer portal is apart of the game and how the extra COVID year is making it even more chaotic. The extra COVID season is the reason why Curry, Carrigan and Paulicap would be allowed to play for the Mountaineers this season.

Bilas doesn’t think it’ll be a problem for Bob Huggins.

“He’s dealt with it [the transfer portal] before, this is not the first time. He dealt with it at Cincinnati, he dealt with it at Kansas State,” Bilas said.

Bilas was then asked if he thinks Huggins will make the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame one day.

“He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever watched. It’s a no brainer,” Bilas said. “He will ultimately get into the Hall of Fame, I’m certain of that.”

Bilas mentioned that he thinks it comes down to numbers, as in how many people enter each class. The ESPN analyst doesn’t know what the exact reason is but he knows he’s going to get in one day.

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