West Virginia University
By George Von Benko

Coach John Beilein has made great strides as he enters his third season at West Virginia. He took over a program in shambles in 2002, posted 14 wins in 2003 and 17 wins a year ago. The question is, can the Mountaineers move forward in the rugged Big East Conference?

'We finished ninth last year,' Beilein explained. 'We were a game out of finishing seventh or sixth and now we have everybody back plus some really good new players and we're picked 10th. Somehow that doesn't lineup. In other conferences that I've been in if you had everybody back and you were in the middle of the pack you were picked for the top three or four, but this conference isn't as cyclical as some of the other conferences I've been in.'

WVU returns all five starters from a team that posted a 17-14 overall record, a 7-9 Big East mark and advanced to the round of 16 in the NIT.

D'or Fischer, a 6-11, 240 pound senior center returns and big things are expected of him. Tyrone Sally, a 6-7 senior and 6-10 center/ forward Kevin Pittsnogle round out the front court. Getting a rotation that can bring out the best in Fischer and Pittsnogle is a must.

Junior J.D. Collins, a 5-10 floor leader, returns at point guard along with 6-6 junior Joe Herber at the other guard spot. Junior guard Patrick Beilein will also contribute in the backcourt, along with St. Bonaventure transfer Mike Gansey. Two freshman, 6-11 Luke Bonner and 6-2 Darris Nichols, will see action.

'We took a trip to Europe in August and we played six games over there,' Beilein said. 'Four of the games were against high quality teams and we were 2-2 with a chance to go 4-0. We feel good about what that brought to us. It gave time for Gansey to play, I do like this team and their attitude; it is a low maintenance group.'