Huggins clings to Vegas

Maybe Bob Huggins wanted to coach at UNLV. Maybe he didn't. But one thing is undeniable: Huggins enjoys coaching in Las Vegas.

How else to explain why he has brought teams from three schools -- Cincinnati, Kansas State and now West Virginia -- to play in early-season tournaments here in this decade?

"I love Vegas. Always have," said Huggins, who is good friends with ex-UNLV coaches and Las Vegas residents Jerry Tarkanian and Charlie Spoonhour.

In 2001 and 2004, Huggins brought Cincinnati to town to play in the Las Vegas Classic. He came back for the 2006 Classic with Kansas State, and Friday he was on the sidelines coaching West Virginia in the Las Vegas Invitational at the Orleans Arena.

The Mountaineers routed Iowa 87-68 before an announced crowd of 5,000 to earn a spot against Kentucky in the final at 7:30 p.m. today.

"You learn a lot about yourselves (in the Las Vegas tournaments)," Huggins said. "I've always thought it was a great concept to play four games and have it count for one.

"In the past it has definitely helped us get ready for our league season. But we've got a young group here and we're still learning."

Cincinnati won the 2001 Las Vegas Classic at Valley High School, beating Purdue in the final. In 2004 it lost to Illinois, then ranked No. 1 in the nation. Huggins left Cincinnati in 2006 for Kansas State, and the Wildcats beat Southern California and New Mexico to win the Classic.

But the Huggins era in Manhattan, Kan., was brief. He stayed only one year, bolting for his alma mater after John Beilein left West Virginia to coach Michigan.

"It was the hardest thing I've done in coaching," Huggins said. "I loved Kansas State. I loved the people. I would tell them, 'You're like West Virginians.' They're good people.

"But coming back home, it's been phenomenal. I love being close to my family, having my sisters and brothers at each home game. I'm very happy."

The Mountaineers finished 26-11 in Huggins' first season. He lost three starters, including Joe Alexander, who became an NBA lottery pick in last June's draft, going 11th to the Milwaukee Bucks. But this year West Virginia is 4-0, led by Alex Ruoff (18.7 points per game), Da'Sean Butler (14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds) and freshman reserve Darryl Bryant (12.7 points).

Iowa was expected to be West Virginia's first true test of the season, and the Mountaineers responded well. Trailing 11-9 early, they went on a 25-2 run over a 7:21 span and to take control, 34-13.

The Mountaineers' superior quickness was too much for the Hawkeyes. Iowa committed 17 first-half turnovers, trailed 48-29 at the break and dropped to 3-1.

West Virginia had six scorers in double figures, led by John Flowers with 14 points. Despite the balanced effort, Huggins said he is still trying to determine his team's ultimate upside.

"I don't know how good we're going to be," he said. "We're really small and we have to bring so much energy to the table to compete.

"But they're buying in. We may be a top-25 team. We may be a top-20 team. I don't know. But we did some good things tonight against a team that can really shoot it."