West Virginia Mountaineers 2010 Final Four Predictions: Unlike their tournament semi-final's opponent, the Duke Blue Devils, the West Virginia University Mountaineers men's basketball team is in unknown territory as participants in the 2010 NCAA Tournament Final Four. When the Mountaineers tip off against the Blue Devils this Saturday (April 3) around 9 p.m. Eastern at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, it will only be the second time the school has progressed this far, the last time, over half a century ago in 1959.
SPORTSBETTING.com doesn't have West Virginia as favorite to win this years championship, that honor has been bestowed to Duke, but the Mounties are close, installed at +175 odds to cut down the nets. Being the underdog hasn't seemed to bother the WVU team so far, winning the East Regional as a two-seed at +200.
The Mountaineers are currently on a hot streak having won 10 straight games SU and the last four covering the betting point spread. If you like to wager on game totals, the UNDER is trending in Mountaineer games having gone below the posted total in seven straight games and nine of the last 11 played.
Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins has directed his alma mater to 80 victories and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA tournament during his first three seasons in Morgantown. Huggins, 56, has compiled a 670-240 (.736) record now in his 28 seasons as head coach, which includes stints at Cincinnati and Kansas State. He rankes fourth in total victories and 12th in winning percentage among active Division-1 head coaches. Huggins is making his second Final Four appearance where his 1992 Cincinnati team fell to Michigan 76-72.
Da'Sean Butler is West Virginia's on court leader. Butler, an All-BIg East selection this season, earned Most Outstanding Player hornors in the BIG EAST Championship after leading the Mountaineers to three victories. The Newark N.J. native was named to the East Region All-Tournament team.
Butler is complimented on the court with the presence of sophomore Kevin JOnes who has been one of West Virginia's most consistent players this season. The forward has started every game, averaging 13.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He is averaging 15.3 points and 8.3 boards in the NCAA Tournament. Like Butler, he was named to the East Region All-Tournament team.
It's the opinion of many pundits that West Virginia is an excellent pick to win the 2010 championship. Huggins has the team in the right frame of mind to take on Duke and any team left , Michigan State or Butler. If West Virginia can slip past Duke, and this scribe believes it will, then Huggins' boys will be cutting down the nets on Tuesday
