2000-01 record: 17-12; 8-8 in Big East (5th in West) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: Lost to Richmond 79-56 in first round of NIT. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Armstead 14.3 ppg | Rebounds: Moss 7.9 rpg | Assists: Lyles 5.4 apg | FG %: Moss 50.9% | 3pt %: Armstead 39.2% | FT %: Armstead 82.1% 00-01 Stats: West Virginia | Big East

		Monday, Oct. 29 Four starters return from an NIT team. The Mountaineers possess a tough backcourt in Tim Lyles and Lionel Armistead. The key will be 6-foot-8 Chris Moss and whether he becomes a go-to guy in tough situations like his predecessors.

Outlook
After a 17-8 start put them on the NCAA tournament bubble, the Mountaineers did a slow fade down the stretch last season, losing their last two regular-season games, their Big East tourney first rounder, then their NIT first rounder.

To the rescue: Jonathan Hargett!

The sparkplug-built Hargett, a 6-foot point guard, is one of the most acclaimed players ever to sign with 24-year West Virginia coach Gale Catlett, and that's a good thing because Catlett is in dire need of a starting point guard with the summer injury to incumbent Tim Lyles. Look for Hargett to start and maybe even win Big East Rookie of the Year -- he's that good -- and look for the Mountaineers to make even more noise this season.

Only one starter is gone, and while he was their best player -- forward Calvin Bowman (17.6 ppg, 9.7 rpg) -- the Mountaineers have two intruiging newcomers with potential: 6-10, 260-pound Eastern Kentucky transfer Chris Garnett, and 6-7 freshman Tyrone Sally. Meanwhile, shooting guard Lionel Armstead returns after scoring at a 14.3-point clip last season, and small forward Josh Yeager (8.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) will start again if he can hold off Sally. Power forward Chris Moss (10.7 ppg, 7.9 rpg) will bear the brunt of most teams' interior defense, a role Bowman took on last season.

What we like: Hargett is sensational, a player who considered entering the NBA draft out of high school and might be gone after this season, if he plays like he thinks he will. Armstead, Moss, Yeager and Sally are a solid supporting cast, and another freshman, 6-3 guard Drew Schifino, might prove to be a capable supplemental scorer.

What we don't like: Bowman's gone, and the team's psyche could still sting from last season's roller-coaster finish that saw a four-game winning streak lead to a four-game losing streak to close the year.

The bottom line: If Hargett, Sally, Schifino and Garnett are as good as advertised, the Mountaineers could finish ahead of some bigger Big East names (like St. John's and Syracuse). And we think they will be that good.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Lionel Armstead	Sr.	G	5-11/170	PTS: 14.3 | REB: 3.2 | AST: 2.3
Tim Lyles	Jr.	G	5-11/190	PTS: 11.5 | REB: 3.6 | AST: 5.4
Chris Moss	Sr.	F	6-8/221	PTS: 10.7 | REB: 7.9 | AST: 0.9
Josh Yeager	Jr.	F	6-6/180	PTS: 8.1 | REB: 3.8 | AST: 2.0

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Calvin Bowman	F	6-9/211	PTS: 17.6 | REB: 9.7 | AST: 1.1

West Virginia Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Jonathan Hargett	G	6-0	Prince George County, Va./National Christian Academy
Tyrone Salley	F	6-7	Meadowbrook/Richmond, Va.
Drew Schifino	G	6-3	North Bridgton/Bridgton Academy/Penn Hills, Pa.