Quit Hits: TRO, Possibility of Battle and Farrakhan Debuts and More.

The West Virginia Mountaineers (4-5) meet the UMass Minutemen in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic Saturday evening at 6:30.

The Mountaineers week off before the matchup with UMass

It was a good break that we've had this week in terms of getting our legs under is and focusing on our studies and get through finals so, since last Saturday, we had Sunday off practiced hard Monday, Tuesday. Yesterday we had another off day. It was a loaded day with finals. So, got those things knocked out and Thursday, today, I guess so we go back to work and focus on UMass tomorrow. We'll travel at Springfield. Practice out there and have a shoot around as well on Saturday. So, we still got two days to prep for UMass and a friendly foe so to speak. You know, some someone I really look up to and someone I've worked with and Frank Martin, a person that I value a lot and his friendship and loyalty over the years and someone I've learned from as a young GA working at Kansas State with him and our staff there at Kansas State. So, looking forward to that matchup and excited to see him and some friendly faces there.

WVU guards RaeQuan Battle and Noah Farrakhan's eligibility

As concerning yesterday, everyone saw the ruling came out of the US District Court, really happy for Rae and the courage that it took for him to pursue his eligibility status and stand up there and testify. So, you heard me say all along that Rae should be playing basketball, and I truly believe that it's very important to him and his mental health. I think he's met the criteria for immediate eligibility, and like the statement we put out yesterday said, we're consulting with our counsel and outside counsel before making a determination on the eligibility status of our student athletes that are affected as part of this decision. So, we’re trying to get some of those questions answered, but unfortunately, I don't have much to add outside of what we put out as a statement, and I know I saw it last night that several schools and played their affected student athletes in some had sat them out. So, we're still in limbo and I think there's low schools out there still in limbo trying to figure out what those answers get those, those questions they have answered. So fortunately, we don't play till Saturday evening. We're hoping to get those answers sooner than later

Battle and Farrakhan's transition with the team

They've been practicing together. It's not like they've been sitting down, so they practice each other each and every day. I switch up those rosters whenever I can to make it as competitive as possible. So it's not like they've been sitting out have been all practice. I don't see that as a huge issue. From every indication I've had with all the rest of the guys they’re ultra excited. Those guys are really close. It’s a close knit locker room. So, everybody cheers each other on and wants to be a part of a winning program. They know having depth, having our weapons at our disposal is certainly going to help us do that. So, I don't see any issue trying to get everybody on the same page and clicking on all cylinders. Now, in terms of getting that game day rust, I mean, it could be an issue because they’ve missed nine games. Kerr got a chance to play a couple with our closed scrimmage and George Mason but Noah and Rae, if they're eligible to play, they haven't got that gametime experience for quite some time, so that would be the only issue that I see. Those guys. Like I said they compete each and every day in practice and they’ve been ultra-competitive and ultra locked in every single day. It's not like they're going through the motions by any means. So, excited for their opportunity presents itself.

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