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The Daily OrangeBig East Notebook | No regrets for Smalligan's transfer from Butler to West Virginia
By Jason Tarr
Posted: 1/31/07, 1:45 AM EST Section: Sports
But Smalligan was one of three players to leave a sinking Butler program in 2005. After
its 27-6 record in 2002-03, Butler went just 29-29 during the next two seasons.
Parker left in November 2004, while Brooks announced his transfer to Southern Indiana in March 2005. With both players leaving, the Bulldogs faltered and Smalligan was forced into an unfamiliar role around the 3-point arc. Fans grew frustrated Smalligan was playing on the perimeter rather than dominating inside with his height.
Smalligan said he doesn't have any hard feelings toward the Butler program, but that he
needed a change.
"I wasn't happy there," Smalligan said. "Once I got to West Virginia, I had a better
idea of what I was looking for."
After transferring to WVU, Smalligan sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. The time allowed him to get his head straight and learn the Mountaineers' system.
"I just looked at it like an opportunity to get better," Smalligan said. I wanted to
have fun, and learn from the great group of seniors we had last year."
Kevin Pittsnogle, one of the stars of the Mountaineers' run to the Elite Eight last year,
was one of those five seniors. Smalligan saw the 6-foot-11, 3-point-shooting specialist Pittsnogle as someone he could learn a lot from.
"Pittsnogle, he's an All-American and he was first team All-Big East," Smalligan said.
"Who better to learn from and watch? And, I got to practice with him all last year."
It has been the development of players such as Pittsnogle that has defined the West
Virginia program and Smalligan gives much of that credit to WVU head coach John Beilein. Beilein's prestige as a coach was another factor that drew Smalligan to West Virginia.
"Coach Beilein has turned this into a good program, not just a good team," Smalligan said. "There are going to be good teams at West Virginia as long as Coach Beilein is here. Every kid that comes in here is going to expect to win games."
its 27-6 record in 2002-03, Butler went just 29-29 during the next two seasons.
Parker left in November 2004, while Brooks announced his transfer to Southern Indiana in March 2005. With both players leaving, the Bulldogs faltered and Smalligan was forced into an unfamiliar role around the 3-point arc. Fans grew frustrated Smalligan was playing on the perimeter rather than dominating inside with his height.
Smalligan said he doesn't have any hard feelings toward the Butler program, but that he
needed a change.
"I wasn't happy there," Smalligan said. "Once I got to West Virginia, I had a better
idea of what I was looking for."
After transferring to WVU, Smalligan sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. The time allowed him to get his head straight and learn the Mountaineers' system.
"I just looked at it like an opportunity to get better," Smalligan said. I wanted to
have fun, and learn from the great group of seniors we had last year."
Kevin Pittsnogle, one of the stars of the Mountaineers' run to the Elite Eight last year,
was one of those five seniors. Smalligan saw the 6-foot-11, 3-point-shooting specialist Pittsnogle as someone he could learn a lot from.
"Pittsnogle, he's an All-American and he was first team All-Big East," Smalligan said.
"Who better to learn from and watch? And, I got to practice with him all last year."
It has been the development of players such as Pittsnogle that has defined the West
Virginia program and Smalligan gives much of that credit to WVU head coach John Beilein. Beilein's prestige as a coach was another factor that drew Smalligan to West Virginia.
"Coach Beilein has turned this into a good program, not just a good team," Smalligan said. "There are going to be good teams at West Virginia as long as Coach Beilein is here. Every kid that comes in here is going to expect to win games."
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