Former Hawkeye Joe Toussaint swaps NCAA tourney scouting with Iowa

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Connor McCaffery got a scouting report on Auburn from Joe Toussaint, and McCaffery gave his former Iowa men’s basketball teammate a rundown on Maryland.

Toussaint left the Hawkeyes after three seasons to transfer to West Virginia, but he didn’t cut off ties from his Iowa guys.

“Once a Hawkeye, always a Hawkeye,” Toussaint said before his team held a practice on the Legacy Arena court Wednesday morning.

He said he speaks to his Iowa roommate Patrick McCaffery several times a week

“Those are my guys,” Toussaint said. “There’s no bad blood between me and Iowa or anybody in that state. I love those guys. Those are still my brothers.”

West Virginia beat Auburn, 80-77, on Jan. 28 in Morgantown, W.Va.

“Gritty team,” said Toussaint. “Very gritty, athletic. Very good defensively. Their bigs are really good. Their guards are crafty. They’re a really tough team. They’re really going to defend you.“

West Virginia (19-14) plays the Big Ten’s Maryland on Thursday morning in the first game here. Iowa takes on Auburn at 5:50 p.m.

Toussaint, from New York City, averages 9.5 points after scoring 4.3 per game last season with the Hawkeyes. He doesn’t start, but he’s playing a career-high 21.6 minutes per game.

One of his finest games of the season was at Iowa State on Feb. 27 when he had 19 points and seven rebounds in the Mountaineers’ 72-69 win. More than anyone, Toussaint tilted that game West Virginia’s way.

He said he chose the Mountaineers because of their coach, Bob Huggins.

“He’s a Hall of Fame coach,” Toussaint said. “You can’t turn that down. Also, it’s only six hours away from where I live. My family came to mostly every single game that I had there.”

After a year in the Big 12, Toussaint is in the chorus of those who say it’s the best basketball league.

“Head and shoulders,” he said. “I feel like you’re playing against a pro every night.

“Even Oklahoma, the last team in our conference. They beat the No. 1 team in the country (Alabama) by 30 points (93-69).”

Comments: mike.hlas@thegazette.com