DeVries Not Willing to Sacrifice Culture for Immediate Success

Darian DeVries' primary focus is getting the right people in the building.

Wins and losses are important. This is a results-oriented business and if you don't produce winning results consistently, you'll find yourself out of a job.

New West Virginia men's head basketball coach Darian DeVries is very aware of that, but he also understands that you have to have the right people in your building and on your roster to have sustained success. Making the NCAA Tournament in year one would be a great start, but if you don't get the culture right, it doesn't mean much for the years that lie ahead.

"From a wins and losses standpoint, I don't think you can go into it and say we're going to do this or that," DeVries said at his introductory press conference. "I think the wins and losses, we want them to be more on the win side this upcoming year, but it still has to be about the process and making sure that we don't sacrifice that to bring in players that don't fit us or don't match what we want to build this program.

"If it plays out that way that we can be as successful as possible and competing at the top, then great. But we will not sacrifice anything from a culture standpoint in any way shape or form in terms of just filling a roster. We're going to find the right guys that want to be here, want to be at West Virginia, want to be a part of a winning culture, a team culture. At the end of the day, I believe those wins will come. I hope they come sooner than later."

What does this mean exactly?

Well, the roster is going to undergo a massive overhaul and if the scenario plays out to where they have 10-11 guys on scholarship and feel good about the core of that group, they're not going to just go sign people for number's sake. It has to make sense both on and off the court.

Given that West Virginia has just one player (G Carmelo Adkins) signed from the high school ranks, this is going to be a roster made up mostly of transfers. DeVries and his staff have to be careful with how they piece this year one roster together because whoever they land in the portal will be a part of what high school recruits view as the culture. Is it a group made up of tough, gritty, unselfish gym rats who buy into the vision? If so, that in and of itself is a major win for DeVries. That will help make the pitch to recruits even easier.

"There's unbelievable tradition here. There's a great history here. There's a lot to sell. Unbelievable fan base, passion. There's so much about this program that sells itself. It's an easy sell. People are interested, they want to be a part of it and they love our style of play."