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Former Central star a key starter for West Virginia

By DAVID MURPHY
Published January 4, 2007

Alex Ruoff is off to a fast start this season at West Virginia, where the former Central standout has started all 12 of the Mountaineers' games, including an 81-71 upset of Connecticut on Saturday. Ruoff, who was a reserve last year as a freshman, is third in the Big East with 2.92 steals per game, third with an assists-to-turnover ratio of 2.90, eighth in assists with 5.08 per game and eighth in 3-pointers made, with 2.33 per game.

West Virginia cracked the top 25 this week after beating UConn. The Mountaineers are ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press poll. Connecticut is No. 19. West Virginia had a big conference game against Villanova on Wednesday night. (Check out today's Sports section for the result.)

"We're not necessarily tired (of playing smaller, nonconference games), just anxious to get into Big East play," Ruoff told the Charleston (W.Va.) Daily Mail last week. "These wins have been great for us and it's given us a chance to get a lot of problems out of our way.

"But we're very anxious and excited about the Big East."

KYLE SWANSTON, SOPH., JAMES MADISON: Swanston, a former Hernando standout who earned a starting job late last season as a freshman, received a rare opportunity to play near home as the Dukes recently participated in the University of Central Florida Holiday Classic. The Dukes are struggling to rebuild, having lost six straight games to fall to 3-8.

Swanston has started eight of the team's 11 games, averaging 6.3 points and 3.4 rebounds. He is shooting 34.8 percent from the field and 32.4 from 3-point range.

BERNICE MOSBY, SR., BAYLOR: The Bears are ranked No. 9 in the AP top 25, are riding a 10-game win streak and have defeated two top 25 opponents.

And Bernice Mosby is a big reason for all of that.

The former Hernando star transferred to Baylor from Florida two years ago. Through 14 games, Mosby is averaging 17.9 points and 8.7 rebounds for 12-1 Baylor. She is shooting 51.6 percent and is fourth in the Big 12 in scoring.

ELSEWHERE: Former Crystal River standout Lacey Lyons is second on the team in scoring at Coastal Carolina, averaging 10.4 points per game while coming of the bench for the Chanticleers. She is shooting just over 45 percent from 3-point range. ...Citrus product Walt Howard has played in six games for the Citadel this season. ...Lecanto product Drew Zimbro has played in four games this season for Jacksonville.

[Last modified January 3, 2007, 20:08:01]