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This West Virginia team might be worst Bob Huggins has ever had

By Brad Berreman

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 04: Head coach Bob Huggins of the West Virginia Mountaineers paces the sidelines during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on February 04, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 04: Head coach Bob Huggins of the West Virginia Mountaineers paces the sidelines during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on February 04, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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With another blowout loss on Saturday, this year’s West Virginia team is building a case to be the worst team Bob Huggins has ever had.

With a depleted lineup, thinned further by the recent dismissals of forwards Esa Ahmad and Wesley Harris, it wasn’t too surprising West Virginia lost 78-53 to No. 14 Kansas on the road Saturday. But Bob Huggins’ team set a season-low with 16 points at halftime, as they didn’t even reach double-digits until there was less than six minutes to go in the first half. Huggins’ starting lineup on Saturday featured three freshman, and a fourth player (Jermaine Haley) who’s in his first year in the program.

The Mountaineers shot less than 34 percent from the field on Saturday, including 3-for-23 from 3-point range. They also turned it over 24 times, as they lost for the 11th time in 13 games to fall to 10-15 on the season and 2-10 in Big 12 play (tied for last in the conference).

In their last seven losses, the Mountaineers have been beaten by an average of over 23 points per game. In their last four setbacks, they’ve lost by 25 (Iowa State), 31 (Texas Tech), 22 (Texas) and 25 (Kansas on Saturday). They’ve also not scored more than 53 points in any of the last three games.

West Virginia has not finished outside the top-five in the Big 12 since 2013-14, when they were tied for sixth. That’s also the last year they missed the NCAA Tournament, but they did go to the NIT and finish above .500 (17-16). With six regular season games to go, there’s a faint chance at an above .500 mark heading into the conference tournament.

In 37 seasons as a head coach, including in the NAIA at Walsh, Huggins has finished below .500 in a season three times and worse than two games below .500 just once. That 13-19 in 2012-13 is the only time Huggins has finished below .500 since 1984-85, his first season at Akron.

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It’s largely due to circumstances beyond his control, with injuries (Sagaba Konate, Beetle Bolden) and apparent poor judgement (Ahmad and Harris) taking good players off the floor. But barring a sudden turnaround, with win-loss record as the most meaningful measure, this year’s West Virginia squad is on its way to being the worst team Huggins has ever coached.