WVU Basketball Needs Javon Small to Play Big for Continued Success

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Javon Small had a big night on Wednesday, leading WVU basketball to a blowout win, 86-43, over Iona inside the WVU Coliseum.

Small, a senior transfer from Oklahoma State, scored a game-high 23 points to go with five rebounds, five assists and four steals.

“That’s the type of stat line I think he can do consistently,” WVU coach Darian DeVries said. “He’s that type of player and there are a lot of winning numbers on that stat sheet for him. Part of our focus these last few days was we need him to be more assertive.”

Small said he thought it was his best game of the season so far, but not because of the season-high points, assists or three-pointers (five), but rather a season-low one turnover.

“I’ve been struggling with turnovers the first few games, so five assists and one turnover is a pretty good stat,” Small said. “This week in practice I’ve been trying to be more aggressive and see the ball go through the hoop a lot more.”

As the team’s starting point guard, Small’s play is naturally important to WVU’s offense, but his defensive ability makes him just as valuable on the other end of the floor as well.

“Javon is the guy on both ends of the floor,” DeVries said. “He’s either one of the guys defensively guarding the ball and dictating talk, or getting us started into whatever action we’re trying to do (on offense).”

The performance was a breath of fresh air for Small and the Mountaineers, coming off of a disappointing performance in the Backyard Brawl last week.

In that game, Pitt specifically game planned to take Small and fellow senior Tucker DeVries out of the game, to much success as the pair combined for just 18 points.

Like Small, DeVries also enjoyed a bounce-back night, going for 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks.

“We need (Small) to be more aggressive, we need Tucker to be more aggressive,” DeVries said. “Not just to score, but as facilitators.”

WVU basketball will need more strong performances out of Small and DeVries as the team heads south to the Bahamas to compete in next week’s Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. The Mountaineers will take on No. 3 Gonzaga in the first game Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.

For a related story, WVU basketball fans react to the Mountaineers taking care of business against Iona.