MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Sunday will be the first opportunity for Mountaineer basketball fans to watch the nation’s No. 8 rated team in action.

West Virginia, ranked in the preseason Top 10 for the first time since 1963, will take on NAIA power Mountain State in a 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon exhibition game at the WVU Coliseum

Mountain State has already played four times, including a 107-74 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan earlier this week. In that game, 6-foot-5 Cincinnati transfer Alvin Mitchell scored 31 points, hitting 4 of 6 from 3-point range.

“They’ve been national champions, they’ve been national runners-up and they are top five in the country NAIA,” said West Virginia coach Bob Huggins. “They’ve given us really good games the last two years. I think it’s a great game for us. I think it gives our young guys a chance to play in front of hopefully a packed house and just get used to the environment.”

Mountain State has four players standing taller than 6-8 including 7-foot-8-inch center Paul Sturgess from Loughborough, England.

“They’ve got more than a big kid,” said Huggins. “Their leading scorer was all-conference at Western Carolina (6-7 forward Nick Aldridge). They’ve got Alvin Mitchell from Cincinnati. They’ve got Division I caliber players. Bobby (Bolen) does a great job of coaching them and they play really hard.”

Huggins said Thursday that junior guard Joe Mazzulla will likely be held out of Sunday’s game, meaning sophomore Truck Bryant should get the starting nod at point guard.

The rest of the lineup could include Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks at forward, Wellington Smith at center and junior college transfer Casey Mitchell at shooting guard.

Freshman center Deniz Kilicli will also be available for the exhibition game and Huggins said he should see action.

“All the experience he can get certainly helps him,” he said. “He probably hasn’t played in an environment like this.”

Sunday will provide an opportunity for Huggins to work in youngsters Danny Jennings and Dalton Pepper before the games start counting next Sunday against Loyola. Huggins may not be able to afford that luxury later on because of the tough early season schedule the Mountaineers are facing.

“There is a lot of stuff and particularly who we play early on,” Huggins said. “You talk about going out and playing Long Beach who is picked to win their league and then Clemson or (Texas) A&M and whoever comes out of the other bracket. We’ve got to get a lot of things in and we’re going to play against a lot of different styles. We’re going to play against man, we’re going to play against zone; we’re going to get pressed. It’s a lot of things to get in. They’re still thinking and not playing. I think our older guys are playing because they know what we want done.”

Huggins is hopeful of having a large, boisterous crowd on Sunday.

“I think what’s exciting is we’re somewhere between 7,500 and 8,000 season tickets. When you factor the students in that’s 10,000,” Huggins noted. “I’ve said a long time that the people of West Virginia ought to come see us play. They shouldn’t come because we’re playing Connecticut, Syracuse or whoever and come and enjoy this team because it’s been 50 years I think since we’ve been ranked Top 10 in the preseason.

“I know how proud this state is and it would be great to fill the arena for every game and watch us play.”

The game will air locally on WAJR. Fans can watch a live stream of the exhibition game by signing up for MountaineerTV through MSNsportsNET.com. Next Sunday’s regular season opener against Loyola can also be seen on MountaineerTV.

Following the men’s game Mountaineer fans can also get their first glimpse of Mike Carey’s women’s team when it faces Glenville State at 6 p.m. That game will also air on MountaineerTV.

Posted by ss on 11/6/09 at 12:45 PM Clearly they have been hitting the weight room. If the big guys can control the paint like they're supposed to and our perimeter guys can knock down a few shots, get some penetration, play some defense, I think we'll be alright. Maybe better than alright. Throw one up!

Posted by Colonel Forbin on 11/6/09 at 1:25 PM Can't wait for the season to start. I was one of the people that has never had season tickets before, but decided to do so for the first time this year.

Posted by bballwiz on 11/6/09 at 2:28 PM i think they will be lucky too finish in the top 25.number 8 is too high, isee a run too the sweet 16 but not a national championship

Posted by oncampuseer on 11/6/09 at 5:12 PM i cant believe the NCAA wont count our exhibition games as part of Kilicli's suspension which I still think is ludicrous especially after reading in the DA today that they plan to change that rule next year.. i find it odd they always seem to change the rules that are clearly outdated or unnecessary the year AFTER they cause a commotion.. what a joke.

Posted by ss on 11/6/09 at 7:5 PM Hey bballwiz, you're absolutely correct. 8th in the country is probably way too generous right now. But, we've got a solid mix of veterans and newbies that will make this team very interesting to watch. And, remember (everybody say it with me) "It ain't where you start, it's where you finish." And, Colonel Forbin, I am envious. I don't think you could have picked a better year to buy season tix. The house should be rockin.........................

Posted by Colonel Forbin on 11/6/09 at 11:4 PM Yes, ss, I will be there and I will be cheering loudly!!! I have been to several games before, including nearly all the home games of the 05-06 season. When we dedicated Jerry West's jersey, that was amazing, and one of my highlights. Even though we ended up losing that game against LSU in double overtime, it was so entertaining and a great day overall. Should be some similair electricity in the air for this year!!!

Posted by hammerbone on 11/7/09 at 9:55 AM bbwiz, You wouldn't know talent if it hit you in the face. Top ten is where we are at and will stay. We will either win the Big East or come in 2nd. How could we not be in the top 25 at years end. You are either an idiot or a PITT fan. Or a chokie!!!!!!

Posted by ZRegime on 11/7/09 at 11:41 AM The football team is OK this year, but the ballers are gonna rock. Proud WVU Dad, daughter graduated last December (with Pat White!). Coach Huggins is back home, and we will throw down on most of the Big East this year. I see Regional Final, and then with a few breaks, Final Four. It's gonna be an awesome year for WVU basketball! Definitely plan on driving up from Gaithersburg, MD for 2-3 games. Let's go-o-o-o, Mountaineers!!

Posted by Brett Ware on 11/8/09 at 4:19 PM nothin for nothin, but did anyone see the arms on Ebanks...these boy's have been hitting the weights hard !! let's go Mountaineer's...