Top 347 countdown No. 9 West Virginia

OVERVIEW

West Virginia fans figured Bob Huggins eventually would put the Mountaineers in a position to contend for the Big East title. Most people, though, probably wouldn't have guessed it would happen this fast. In just his third season, Huggins already has assembled what looks to be one of the better West Virginia teams in recent memory. Along with a potential NBA lottery pick in Devin Ebanks, the Mountaineers tout one of the country's top senior leaders in Da'Sean Butler and the National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year in Casey Mitchell. While most other Big East teams are dealing with massive personnel losses, WVU appears to have one of the most talented teams in the conference and also one of the deepest.

Devin Ebanks is one of the Big East's top players.

PROJECTED STARTERS

F Da'Sean Butler, 6-7/230, Sr.

F Devin Ebanks, 6-9/215, Soph.

F Wellington Smith, 6-7/245, Jr.

G Darryl Bryant, 6-2/200, Soph.

G Casey Mitchell, 6-4/225, Jr.

KEY RESERVES

F John Flowers, 6-7/215, Jr.

F Danny Jennings, 6-8/260, Fr.

F Kevin Jones, 6-8/250, Soph.

F Cam Thoroughman, 6-7/240, Jr.

G Joe Mazzulla, 6-2/200, Jr.

G Dalton Pepper, 6-5/215, Fr.

FRONTCOURT

The Mountaineers might not be one of the league's biggest teams in the paint, but they're definitely one of the most athletic. West Virginia features two of the nation's top swingmen in Butler and Ebanks. The duo combined to average 27.6 points per game last season and should be even better in 2009-10. The 6-foot-9 Ebanks - who averaged a team-high 7.8 rebounds as a freshman - might be the top pro prospect in the Big East. Butler, though, is the more seasoned of the two, having averaged more than 10 points in each of his three seasons in Morgantown. Throw in players such as senior Wellington Smith and sophomore Kevin Jones, and West Virginia's frontcourt should be in good shape.

BACKCOURT

Huggins' recruiting efforts came up huge in the spring when he signed Mitchell, who averaged 21 points last season at Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla. Mitchell is expected to fill the void left by the graduation of 3-point specialist Alex Ruoff. Freshman Dalton Pepper also will contend for time on the wing. At point guard, Darryl "Truck" Bryant averaged 9.8 points last season, and Joe Mazzulla played in 68 games as a freshman and sophomore before his junior season was cut short by an injury. Both had offseason issues, but have been reinstated.

OUTLOOK

Villanova is the favorite in the Big East, but West Virginia isn't far behind. The biggest keys will be how quickly Mitchell adapts in his first season of Division I ball and how Huggins handles his point guards. If everything goes smoothly in those areas, the Mountaineers - who always are good defensively - should be in for a fun season.

- JASON KING

More Rivals.com 2009-10 Preseason 347 Countdown

Preseason rankings were compiled by basketball writers David Fox, Mike Huguenin, Jason King and Steve Megargee.