Deniz Kilicli had been dying for his first taste of game action as a West Virginia Mountaineer and although it came in Saturday night’s exhibition game against Charleston, it still made his day. Kilicli, serving an NCAA imposed 20-game suspension for playing on a team in Istanbul, Turkey that featured a professional player, was inserted into the starting lineup and made the most of his early season opportunity. The 6-foot-9, 265-pound freshman forward netted 18 points, five assists and four rebounds, leading the Mountaineers to an 81-48 win over Charleston.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Kilicli said of getting the start. “When the game started, me coming out on that carpet, it just makes me feel great. Today was like all my teammates played for me.”
Last week, No. 7 WVU (5-0) won the 76 Classic tournament in Anaheim, but did so without Kilicli, who is also not allowed to travel with the team.
“We appealed to see if he could travel,” WVU coach Bob Huggins said. “They turned down the appeal. I guess they figured he’d just fly back over to Istanbul for Thanksgiving.”
Having to stay back in Morgantown took its toll on Kilicli, who couldn’t bare to watch the team play without being there live and in person.
“They went to California, I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to watch the game because I’m a player and I should know what’s going on,’” said Kilicli. “The first game I tried. I couldn’t do it, so I just quit.”
So instead, Kilicli went on the internet and followed the action on a with a web site scoreboard that was giving play-by-play updates. “I want to be with the team. If I’m on the bench, that’s a little bit all right,” he said. “I can yell and curse sometimes. I can be like, ‘Do that. Do this.’”
Not being able to effect the games Kilicli followed online was frustrating for the freshman forward. “You can’t do anything. You’re powerless,” Kilicli said.
Huggins was charged the task of keeping Kilicli’s spirits upbeat during the suspension. “We keep talking to him. I keep explaining to him that I’m not going to let him not practice hard because I think he has a chance to really help us at the end of the year,” said Huggins. “He’s smart. He realizes that.”
Kilicli got the Mountaineers off to a quick start against Charleston, by scoring back-to-back baskets in the low post, including a reverse lay-up and a silky smooth baby hook shot to open the game.
“We can’t guard him, so I figured they’d probably have a hard time guarding him,” said Huggins. We ran a couple things early just to get him a couple touches so he wasn’t nervous.”
WVU has been without a true low post, back-to-the-basket player for several years. Kilicli has the ability and physicality to score the basketball down low in an assortment of ways. He explained how basketball runs in his bloodlines -- his father and uncle both played the game. Kilicli said they showed him 1970s vintage tapes of NBA legends such as Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving.
That exposure has helped mold his game to what it is today. “That’s how I played all the time. That’s how I grew up.”
“I was a big fan of Dr. J. I had posters all over,” Kilicli said. “Of course, Michael Jordan. We used to wake up in the morning. I was like 5 or 6. We use to wake up at 4 a.m. to watch the games because of the time difference.”
Defensively, he alters shots and should be an important piece of the Mountaineers’ interior defense, especially with specific match-ups as the season wares on.
“I don’t know how it’s going to be in the Big East because we played with Charleston and they have great players,” said Kilicli. “But still, it’s not like the Big East.”
Kilicli is set to make his official game debut on Feb. 3, against Pitt. The current challenge he must face is staying in shape and continuing to adjust to the college game in practice. “I try to catch up with those guys because they are playing 40 minute games,” said Kilicli. “Game shape and practice shape is two different things.”
But until then, at least Kilicli will be able to savor his performance against Charleston, which undoubtedly he won’t forget about. “Today was so emotional,” he said. “It’s good to feel like a West Virginia basketball player.”
Briefly
Sophomore forward Devin Ebanks did start against Charleston, but his left wrist and hand were wrapped in medical tape. In 18 minutes against Charleston, Ebanks had two points, four rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. He attempted just two shots and one three-pointer.
Junior shooting guard Casey Mitchell did not play against Charleston due to injury. “Casey’s knee swelled up and the doctor said that probably four games in six days plus flying and all that stuff probably,” said Huggins. “It was swollen so he hadn’t practiced.”
Junior guard Joe Mazzulla played 13 minutes and attempted two shots, but did not score.
Sophomore forward Kevin Jones had 14 points and seven rebounds. Senior forward Da’Sean Butler finished with 11 points, four assists and three rebounds. Junior guard Jonnie West scored 10 points.
WVU returns to action on Dec. 9, at home, against Duquesne.