James Long talks to Best Virginia during a timeout in TBT. Photo by Mike Lawrence/TBT
Before he ever coached a game in The Basketball Tournament, James Long said he would be better off as a result of the experience.
Long, two seasons into his tenure as men’s basketball head coach at WVU Tech, reiterated that stance after helping guide Best Virginia to two wins in TBT. Although the West Virginia University alumni team bowed out last week with a loss to Team 23, Long was grateful for the opportunity to coach a team full of professional players over three games in five days, along with two weeks worth of practices leading up to the event.
Best Virginia set for TBT opener with WoCo Showtime By
July 16, 2021 - 6:23 pm
Guards Juwan Staten (left) and Chase Harler will be in action Saturday for Best Virginia against WoCo Showtime in a first-round TBT matchup. Photo by Greg Carey/WVMetroNews.com
CHARLESTON, W.Va. The opening round of The Basketball Tournament (TBT) presents a unique set of challenges.
With little to no film of an opponent and a large element of unfamiliarity, teams are likely to focus on themselves as they try to advance in the quest to ultimately win the $1 million prize rewarded to the tournament champion.
“It’s different from college or professional where you have film on these guys,” said Best Virginia guard Chase Harler. “Almost everyone plays on different teams now and they’re coming back and playing on one team. It’s about showing up, being professionals, doing your job and playing hard.”
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Sagaba Konate pushes the ball upcourt
As West Virginia’s entry in The Basketball Tournament, the Best Virginia squad is a versatile group that appears to have a number of different combinations it could use to meet the challenges of different opponents and styles in the winner-take-all event that begins on Saturday, July 17. As always, offensive firepower, and the ability to make shots consistently, likely loom as the barrier between the starting gate and a deep run for BV, which holds a No. 2 seed in the West Virginia Regional.
While Best Virginia isn’t overly tall, it does have what appears to be a solid inside game with veteran Kevin Jones and roster newcomers Logan Routt and Sagaba Konate. In the team’s exhibition win in Beckley, Routt showed some newly developed offensive skills, especially on the pick-and-roll, and seems primed to be a player who can contribute on the offensive end.