WVU Basketball 2020-21 - The Journey to Indianapolis

[adkindo]

12 Hours to tip-off, and I am so ready for college basketball. I was listening to a podcast this week which is hosted by 3 former WVU players from the 2010 Final Four team. It is part WVU sports, but mostly current events and stories that would interest WVU fans. Anyway, they had former long time WVU Basketball Assistant Coach Billy Hahn on for an interview and he was talking about going to watch WVU practice recently with former WVU player and current Boston Celtics Assistant Coach Joe Mazzulla. He told the guys that Mazzulla was amazed and kept saying they looked like an NBA team with their size...and he told the hosts that if Bob Huggins cant get a National Championship with this group, then he probably will just never get one.

If this team can be just an average shooting team, they literally have no weaknesses on paper. They kind of remind me of this years Lakers team in that they can go super big, but even when they go small, they are still pretty big and athletic. So many first year players are returning this year that underperformed last season....which is extremely normal on a Bob Huggins team. It does not matter if they are a Freshman, transfer or JUCO player, the jump from 1st year to 2nd year is nearly universal, and the increases in production are often significant.

The Frontcourt

Oscar Tshiebwe (PF/C) - It all starts with former McDonald's All American and 5 Star recruit Oscar Tshiebwe returning for his Sophomore season. The 6'9" hyper athletic big man with the never ending motor will be a force in college basketball this season. Oscar averaged a double double in conference play last season as a true Freshman. He has a soft touch out to 15' and shoots free throws at a solid clip. He can go from baseline to baseline as fast as any player on the roster. He should be in the conversation as the best big man in college basketball this season.

Derek Culver (PF/C) - Joining Oscar in the frontcourt is former Top 100 recruit, fellow bash brother 6'10" Junior Derek Culver. Culver was 1 rebound shy of averaging a double double last season. While he does not have the touch that Oscar possess, he is bigger and stronger than anyone on the team. His one real weakness is his FT% and as someone who has been among the national leaders in FTA's per game each year in college, a slight improvement would make a major impact. Like Oscar, he attacks the offensive boards, and when he gets it the only option is often to allow him to score or foul him.

Emmitt Matthews (SF) - Matthews is a prototypical SF/Wing at the next level, and after having real interest from scouts as a Freshman that came on strong late in the season, he had a disaster of a Sophomore season. Matthews is 6'7" and has a nice shooting stroke (that did not go in often last year), can defend up and down a position, and can take it to the rim and throw it down on a defenders head. Matthews is an X factor for this team as he has to bounce back and provide perimeter shooting and the ability to score off the dribble.

Off the bench - It starts with Gabe Osabuohien (SF/PF) who transferred from Arkansas last season. At 6'7.5" and a motor for days, Osabuohien is an ideal Bob Huggins player. He can defend 4 positions, and does all the little things which never appear in the boxscore. Next is Isaiah Cottrell (PF), a 6'10" Top 100 4 Star incoming Freshman that brings a face up game to the 4 & 5 position. Cottrell is expected to be a real contributor as the season progresses. Then there is Jalen Bridges (SF), a 6'7" Top 100 4 Star Red Shirt Freshman. Yes, a Top 100 recruit decided to Red Shirt last year before the season started. His game is very similar to Matthews, but reports are Bridges is a very high level perimeter shooter. Finally there is incoming Freshman Taj Thweatt (SF), a 6'7" hyper athlete from New Jersey and incoming Freshman Seny Ndiaye (C), a 6'11" athlete from Huntington Prep. There is a solid chance both Thweatt and Ndiaye have a very limited role this season, and Ndiaye is more likely to not play this season

The Frontcourt

Jordan McCabe (PG) - Like Matthews, McCabe closed out his Freshman season much better than he played in his Sophomore season. He was a 4 Star recruit from Wisconsin. He is under 6' and not hyper athletic, but he is a ball handling prodigy and a floor general. Also, when I say prodigy, I legit mean as a kid/teenager he was a Youtube star that performed at NBA Halftime shows, with the Globetrotters as a special guest, and was a guest on the Ellen Show. He can handle the rock. He also spent the offseason in Michigan with one of the elite shooting coaches who rebuilt his shot, and the rumors are he is wearing out the nets.

Miles "Deuce" McBride (PG/SG) - McBride is a 6'3" Sophomore combo guard who was a pure steal for Huggins out of Cincinnati Moeller where he was a two sport star, and rated higher as a QB than he was a basketball player. McBride was easily a high 4 Star, and maybe even a 5 Star talent that broke his leg during his Junior season in football. This caused him the miss his final years of high school basketball which caused many of the Blue Bloods to quit recruiting him...but Huggins did not. He is a 3 level scorer, and plays Huggins style defense. Per Huggins, Deuce is the first name out of the mouths of pro scouts that call...they ask about Deuce before Tshiebwe, Culver and Matthews. Deuce may ascend to being the face of the program this season.

Off the bench - Sean McNeil (SG) is a 6'3.5" Junior that transferred to WVU from JUCO last season. As with every JUCO transfer I can recall with Huggins, he struggled a little his first year, but is expected to make a huge impact this year. He can stroke it from almost anywhere past half court, and can put it on the floor on a hard closeout and drain a perimeter 2 point shot like a pro. McNeil led the country in scoring as a Freshman at the JUCO level at over 30 PPG. Similar in that he was a JUCO transfer last season, Taz Sherman (SG) is a 6'5" Senior that was a prolific scorer at the JUCO level in a good conference. Sherman also took most of the season to find his groove, but unlike McNeil, Sherman is a 3 level scorer. Next is Kedrian Johnson (PG/SG) a 6'4" Junior combo guard JUCO transfer this season. Johnson was the #4 Ranked JUCO Guard in the country last season who averaged 26 PPG. His film is great, but there is the trend of first year JUCO guys taking a few months in Huggins system before they get rolling. The final front court player on the roster is America's Favorite Walkon Sophomore Spencer Macke (SG) who led Kentucky in scoring as a high school senior.

The base depth chart based on last season is below, but I expect Huggins to play a solid amount of 3 guard lineups this season with either McNeil or Sherman on the court.

PG - McCabe, Johnson
SG - McBride, McNeil, Sherman, Macke
SF - Matthews, Bridges, Thweatt
PF - Tshiebwe, Osabuohien, Cottrell
C - Culver, Ndiaye

The last time we saw this team, they were beating down #4 Baylor in Morgantown...the same Baylor team that is ranked #1 (Coaches Poll) and #2 (AP Poll) to begin this season. Get your wagers in before the country realizes this team in on a journey to the Final 4.

[adkindo]

ugh....WVU beats South Dakota State 79-71. We showed a lack of energy, discipline and shooting that I did not expect. We barely out rebounded SDSU while we had a height and length advantage. Nobody but Taz Sherman shot the 3 well as WVU was 25% (8-32) from 3, while Sherman was 4 of 6. Deuce McBride showed he is the best player on the court scoring 21 points to lead WVU. WVU got very little offense from their bigs while Tshiebwe was in foul trouble all night, and Culver was big on the boards with 14 rebounds. SDSU is favored to win their conference, and they are pretty good. They put a clinic on for WVU how to play the game well with decent shooting, a lot of hustle, and outstanding passing....in the end, they just did not have the level of talent to win.

[WVRed]

In other news, WVU replaced Tennessee in the Jimmy V Classic and is now playing number 1 Gonzaga on December 2.

But yeah, WVU looked off tonight from what little bit I got to see.

[adkindo]

In other news, WVU replaced Tennessee in the Jimmy V Classic and is now playing number 1 Gonzaga on December 2.

But yeah, WVU looked off tonight from what little bit I got to see.

Huggins asked for it.....


We were sitting in the room last night and it came across the ticker that Tennessee couldn't play because of the COVID-19. So, I thought what the heck, let's call ESPN. I called some guys that I've known for a long, long time and say, 'hey, man, can you work this out and get us in the Jimmy V and get us playing Gonzaga.' He said, 'let me call you back.' Ten or fifteen minutes later, he called me back, and he said, 'we got it done. You're in.' It happened pretty quick.

[adkindo]

WVU picks up their 2nd win of the season with a 78-66 win over VCU. Culver had a big game with 23 points and 15 Rebounds....and his frontcourt partner Oscar Tshiebwe put up a double double with 11 & 16. Still not close to where they need to be, but they played with better defense, more efficient scoring and decisively won on the boards. WVU will play Western Kentucky tomorrow to secure their first championship of the season. :)

[WVRed]

Wonder if the Gonzaga game still happens.

This is going to be a wild season.

[adkindo]

Wonder if the Gonzaga game still happens.

This is going to be a wild season.

they probably caught it intentionally when they saw WVU was added their schedule ;)

[WVRed]

they probably caught it intentionally when they saw WVU was added their schedule ;)

With the way they are playing against WKU they are probably getting caught looking ahead.

[adkindo]

WVU wins the inaugural Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic with the 70-64 win over Western Kentucky. It was not pretty, spent a lot of the game behind, but was able to take control of the game about halfway through the 2nd half. WKU is solid, probably a tournament team...but WVU still is not clicking....and played terrible transition defense. On days like this, you are ok just leaving with the W.

[adkindo]

WVU climbs to #11 in the AP Poll....was hoping for #10 so the Wednesday game against Gonzaga could be billed at a Top 10 matchup! ;)

[adkindo]

the renovations @ the Coliseum look nice! Check out the massive HD scoreboard...

https://twitter.com/wvusports/status/1333578867563515904?s=21

[WVRed]

Are you pretty lonely in here?

[adkindo]

Are you pretty lonely in here?

no, at a minimum it is cathartic

[WVRed]

no, at a minimum it is cathartic

You are the only WVU fan in here. I know Slyder posts from time to time. We had a poster named Homer Bailey who followed WVU but he hasn’t posted in awhile.

[adkindo]

You are the only WVU fan in here. I know Slyder posts from time to time. We had a poster named Homer Bailey who followed WVU but he hasn’t posted in awhile.

I do find that strange....growing up in southern WV, a lot of people were WVU and Reds fans...

[WVRed]

I do find that strange....growing up in southern WV, a lot of people were WVU and Reds fans...

I follow WVU only because I’m married to a WVU fan.

I’ve always said you don’t start seeing blue and gold until you get out of Cabell County. It’s mostly UK/Marshall there. The further north you get to Morgantown it’s there but in terms of baseball there’s more Pirates.

The Reds have sent the Caravan to Parkersburg in recent years to the mall here but I think it’s because of proximity to Athens and I think Thom had a hand in it. Should be interesting to see if that continues.

[adkindo]

I follow WVU only because I’m married to a WVU fan.

I’ve always said you don’t start seeing blue and gold until you get out of Cabell County. It’s mostly UK/Marshall there. The further north you get to Morgantown it’s there but in terms of baseball there’s more Pirates.

The Reds have sent the Caravan to Parkersburg in recent years to the mall here but I think it’s because of proximity to Athens and I think Thom had a hand in it. Should be interesting to see if that continues.

I would estimate when I was growing up right in the heart of coal country in the 80's & 90's....the baseball fan split was something like 45% Reds, 25% Pirates, 15% Braves (TBS), 5% Cubs (WGN) and 10% other (Indians, Tigers, Yankees, etc.) I would guess college fans was split between Football and Basketball.....WVU about 75% in both with Marshall coming in 2nd for Football and UK coming in 2nd for Basketball. Actually, I would guess WVU was less than 75% and UK was probably closer to 35% during the Gale Catlett years.

[adkindo]

WVU lost to #1 Gonzaga 87-82 tonight @ the Jimmy V Classic. I am never happy with a loss, but I knew going into the game that there was a very material chance we may not exit with a victory. A 5 point loss to the #1 team in the country in early December is not something I can't get over. The thing that is becoming very hard to get over is in nearly every big game WVU has played away from the Coliseum in the Bob Huggins era, we get a very different whistle in the 2nd half of the game.

As a WVU fan during the Huggins era, one is always closely monitoring the foul situation because of Huggins style of aggressive play, fouls can become an issue. We have lost more than a couple games under Huggins because our better players have got into foul trouble and spent too much time on the bench. It comes with the territory, and something most WVU fans understand. It is very different when refs call the game one way the first half...commonly known as "letting them play", then come out the 2nd half and call every touch foul and even imaginary fouls. It is not fair to the players to set the tone, then take a 180 degree change of course mid game. I recall this happening several times @ Phog Allen, the Sweet 16 game against Gonzaga, and the Sweet 16 game the following year against Villanova. WVU goes to to halftime winning or tied...no real foul trouble, then get called for fouls nearly every possession until half the team is in foul trouble in the 2nd half. Not only does it often bench your best players, but it forces WVU to play without the aggressive style that had lead to their success under Huggins.

Tonight, we beat Gonzaga in every facet of the game in the 1st Half. Actually there was several times in the 1st half that I felt WVU should have blown the game wide open with a big lead, but would shoot ourselves in the foot allowing Gonzaga to remain in the game. We were monsters on the boards, giving them almost no easy baskets, and not allowing them to run. They were on their heals, and Timme was simply locked down because Culver, Tshiebwe, and Osabuohien were just too big and "strong" for Timme. WVU goes into the half with a 5 point lead, holding Gonzaga to 34 points, and the beauty was that WVU was in great shape with fouls. Culver and Osabuohien had a single foul each and Tshiebwe had 2 personal fouls. The second half, it was quickly obvious the refs were not going to allow WVU to play aggressive as the whistles came quick and often. Tshiebwe fouled out about half way through the 2nd half, and Osabuohien quickly followed him to a permanent seat on the bench. Culver had to play the entire 2nd half, the last 5 minutes or so with 4 Fouls....sharing the interior with a True Freshman. It is not that most of the fouls could not be justified in a vacuum, it is the drastic difference in the way the 1st half was called. At the same time in the 2nd half our bigs were getting hacked, and rarely getting the whistle. In regards to Culver, I would not be surprised if Few told his guys to hack him hard (not dirty) and live with the results as there were several plays where you did not even need your eyes to know he was hacked...your ears would have been enough. Bilas was slobbering over Gonzaga from the beginning of the broadcast, and even he labeled multiple calls in the 2nd half "egregious" and "indefensible". WVU was unable to aggressively defend Gonzaga in the 2nd half leading to them scoring 53 points compared to 34 in the 1st Half. Also, Culver who had been dominant all game was so gassed the last 5 minutes he was not playing defense, getting rebounds taken from him, turning the ball over, and missing every free throw after being a perfect 6 of 6 earlier in the game.

I am not suggesting some conspiracy or the refs decided to keep Gonazaga #1, but something is going on with WVU in the way they are officiated from one half to the next in many big games. I am not sure if the other coach is getting on the refs at halftime, or maybe they look at the scorebook at half and decide they probably have not called the game as tight as needed for a Huggins team. I honestly do not know why this continues to happen, but it is not fair to the players or the fans. I am not even arguing that WVU is a better team, but WVU was the better team tonight....WVU was clearly the better team tonight.

[adkindo]

WVU won @ Georgetown today 80-71. This WVU team still is not clicking. Georgetown was supposed to be one of the easier games on our schedule, yet we played for much of the game behind....and did not cover the 11 point spread. They finally flipped the switch with about 5 minutes left to go on a run and put the game on ice...but before that run, I was getting nervous. WVU is just not hitting shots, and everything seems to be in flashes. An effort like today will result in a loss to Baylor, Kansas, Texas Tech and Texas....so they need to get things right fast. WVU plays their first home game Wednesday against Robert Morris. I usually do not like these non-con games against lower level teams, but I am actually thankful for the Robert Morris game as WVU needs to improve.

[adkindo]

WVU put on an offensive clinic in the 1st half against #19 Richmond....leading 52-30 @ halftime. Shot 68% from the field including 75% from 3! Deuce Mcbride putting on a show with 16 points at the half (7 of 8 FG's). All while basically locking down a very good Richmond offense.

[adkindo]

WVU put on an offensive clinic in the 1st half against #19 Richmond....leading 52-30 @ halftime. Shot 68% from the field including 75% from 3! Deuce Mcbride putting on a show with 16 points at the half (7 of 8 FG's). All while basically locking down a very good Richmond offense.

WVU called off the dogs in the 2nd half....emptying to bench even playing the walkons to win 87-71. This is the team I have expected all year and a team that could be the last one standing in March.

[Assembly Hall]

I still haven't seen WV play yet. I imagine I will have to catch them play KU.

BTW, I haven't really seen a team yet that I am blown away with sans the 'Zags.

[adkindo]

I still haven't seen WV play yet. I imagine I will have to catch them play KU.

BTW, I haven't really seen a team yet that I am blown away with sans the 'Zags.

I have been impressed by several teams on particular days/nights....then I have also not been impressed at all by those same teams on other days/nights. Gonzaga and Baylor have probably been the most consistent in they have looked like contenders in all of their games. Iowa may be, but just have not seen them play a really good team yet.....hopefully their game against Gonzaga next weekend gets played.

Right now, I would probably take Baylor over Gonzaga because I think Gonzaga is a little soft....or not as "tough" as they will need to be. Baylor is skilled and physical. In the end, if WVU can hit shots like they did today, then I fear no other team.

[adkindo]

after playing their best game against Richmond, WVU returned to the court last night and played a "stinker" against Iowa State. WVU won 70-65, but would have lost if not just having substantially more talent. After shooting over 57% from 3 against Richmond, WVU torched the nets to shoot 21% from 3 against Iowa State. This is the same Iowa State that was coming off a loss to Kansas State who was coming off a loss to some school called Fort Hays State. FWIW, Iowa State looked better than they have looked all year and they have a very talented guard in Rasir Bolton, but WVU clearly did not take them serious and almost paid for their big heads.

A win is a win I guess, but WVU will have to play much better Tuesday when they visit Phog Allen to play #5 Kansas.

[adkindo]

#7 WVU with a 1 point lead at the half @ #3 Kansas.....36-35. Sean McNeil has been on fire.....7 of 7 from the field, including 6 of 6 from 3! WVU has a winning record against Kansas in the WVU Coliseum, but has never beat Kansas @ Phog Allen since joining the Big12.

[adkindo]

I have seen this movie before.....lead Kansas at halftime in Phog Allen, and the first few minutes of the 2nd half the refs take over calling more fouls on WVU in the first 4 minutes that they did the entire first half. It would be funny if not so sad that this has happened for so long, and nobody demands this crap changes. Kansas hacking the crap out of WVU, and no whistles.....even 80+ year old Dickie V is calling out missed foul calls!

[adkindo]

ugh....it is going to take a while to swallow this loss. I swear I have watched this almost exact chain of events play out so many years. Deuce McBride has zero fouls at the half, and picks up 3 fouls in the first few minutes of the 2nd half ( I saw that exact situation with Jevon Carter 2x in Kansas), has to leave the game, and Kansas goes on a 14-2 run. Deuce comes back in, and we cut the lead a little, and boom another foul. No fouls in the 1st half that he played every minute....and has 4 fouls in about 10 minutes of play in the 2nd half!

It is not the fouls Kansas had more fouls in the game than WVU....it is the drastic difference they always call the opponent in the 2nd half which forced Deuce off the court and us into a zone defense...and then they just nailed outside shots and killed us on the boards because we were in zone. Kansas was playing with intense pressure in the 2nd half on defense, and was getting less fouls called that they got in the 1st half. Deuce has never fouled out of a game or even came close from my recollection....but the refs got him off the court in Kanas, just like they would do to Jevon Carter....but at least Jevon Carter was playing defense 94 feet. The calls on McBride, at least a few of them were imaginary! I have issues with the way we responded, and we did not play well in the 2nd half....our player should have expected the calls in the 2nd half instead of allowing the wheels to come off, but at the same time something needs to be done about what takes place @ Phog Allen. Kansas is the dirtiest program in America, and something always heavily influences the refs after halftime.

[Boston Red]

Here's the thing: no one ever gives any credibility to the person who whines about the refs after a loss unless they are also a fan of the team playing. It may be therapeutic to type out, but no one here not a WV fan (or who didn't have money on WV) is going to buy it. Particularly where there are 2 WV losses this year and two officiating rants.

[Assembly Hall]

Here's the thing: no one ever gives any credibility to the person who whines about the refs after a loss unless they are also a fan of the team playing. It may be therapeutic to type out, but no one here not a WV fan (or who didn't have money on WV) is going to buy it. Particularly where there are 2 WV losses this year and two officiating rants.

I thought the game was called fairly.

[adkindo]

Here's the thing: no one ever gives any credibility to the person who whines about the refs after a loss unless they are also a fan of the team playing. It may be therapeutic to type out, but no one here not a WV fan (or who didn't have money on WV) is going to buy it. Particularly where there are 2 WV losses this year and two officiating rants.

Here is the thing....the refs did call the Gonzaga game very different from half to half....and you can just look at the numbers and decipher the across the board change in whistle correlating with the change in results. After the game, I felt we should have "stole" that game, because I did not think that Gonzaga played close to their best. I left that game feeling if both teams played their best, we would have likely came out on the short end, but the Zags did not win because they played better, they won because the refs would not allow us to defend them in the 2nd half or allow us to do much of anything. If you watch that 2nd half, I bet you walk away thinking that 3-5 big calls that went against WVU late in the game were just atrocious.

Kansas is very different, and I have lived it for years, nor do I care what others think. At Kansas, it is always the 2nd half and it is always targeted. I am not even claiming the calls were atrocious in the way Gonzaga was, but it was clear in the 2nd half that Deuce McBride was not going to be able to be on the court. The guy is never in foul trouble, and did not have a foul in the first half.....then picks up 3 in the opening minutes of the 2nd half? Then gets a 4th as soon as Huggins tries to put him back in the game? Maybe if you are not a WVU fan and did not see this happen to Jevon Carter multiple times @ Kansas it would not seem like a huge deal to you. We have played there 9 times and there has been ref issues at least 6 of the costests. In 2018, WVU attempted 2 Free Throws and Kansas attempted 35 Free Throws in the same game.....how is that even possible? We do not have these issues on a consistent basis @ Texas, Baylor, Texas Tech, Iowa State or any of other Big12 arena. Sure there are calls we do not like, but they are not predictable in the way they happen @ Phog Allen. Poll any fan base in the Big 12 about which arena do they routinely feel screwed over in, and I doubt you get a single response that is not Phog Allen. It has been going on too long, and beyond the rose colored glasses of a bias fan. To be clear, the refs did not directly cost us the Kansas game, the refs changed the way we had to play the game and changed the players on the court in the 2nd half, and WVU was unable to adjust and respond. The refs called many fouls on Kansas in that game, but it was not in a manner that forced them to change their approach or the players they utilized. I would not even say it indirectly cost us to lose the game.....but it indirectly cost us to lose the game by a significant margin. The boxscore will illustrate that Kansas shot the heck out of the 3 ball, unlike they have all year, and that had little to do with the refs.

I get that UK gets a good whistle in Rupp and Duke gets a good whistle in Camron Indoor.....heck, WVU gets a good whistle often in the Coliseum, but it is different @ Phog Allen.

[adkindo]

WVU did not look great once again against an inferior opponent on Tuesday beating Northeastern 73-51, but the worst news came after the game when it was announced their top recruit in the 2020 class Isaiah Cottrell is out for the season with a torn Achilles. I expected Cottrell to be making an impact on the back end of the conference schedule this year, but with this kind of injury I have to wonder how ready he will even be by next season. I hate it for WVU, but I hate it for the young man even more as he likely has a long road ahead of his to get back to 100%.

[WVRed]

So what’s the story with Oscar? Looks like he’s gone.

[adkindo]

So what’s the story with Oscar? Looks like he’s gone.

yeah, he is gone....probably end up at an Adidas school. I do not know the whole story, but I am hearing it is the same people that got in Sagaba Konate's ear when he sit his Junior season and then left early. People connected to the Wildcat Select (AAU) team telling him Huggins is killing his NBA Draft stock....just trying to make few bucks off the kid to get him to an Adidas school or making money over seas. Every time we take a guy that has connections to Wildcat Select, there seems to be similar issues if they are not playing well. I had heard they were on Oscar, but I did not expect him to leave midseason. The guy had his best game of the season on December 29th and was interviewed after the game saying how he thinks the game has turned his season around and how much Coach Huggins had helped him, and he has left the team and in Miami with some of the Wildcat Select / Adidas people by New Years Eve. I would not be shocked if he ends up at U or Miami....nor would I be shocked if we never really hear much about him again.

[adkindo]

Crazy two games for WVU....on the brink of season going down the drain. On Saturday @ Oklahoma, the first game without Oscar and Cottrell, I did not know what to expect going against a better than projected Oklahoma team. I was hoping we would come out hot....maybe the guys wanting to make a point they could still play without Oscar. Yeah, that did not happen as we were down 18 points at halftime. In the second half, we came all the way back to tie the game several times, but fell short in the end.

Next game was tonight against another better than projected team, Oklahoma State. Hoping maybe we figured out how to play without the 2 bigs the 2nd half of last game, and would come out strong. Nope. Down 10 at halftime, and the deficit quickly ballooned to 19 early in the 2nd half. I am thinking our season may be over, but we came all the way back to take the lead and get out of Stillwater with the win.

I really have no idea how good the team without Oscar and Cottrell can be, but I assume it will take a few games to figure out. It does not help our next two games are against #4 Texas and #2 Baylor.....but for tonight, there is still hope.

[Revering4Blue]

Nice gut-check, come from behind win tonight. While I didn't see the entire game, Culver was owning the paint from what I witnessed.

A roster question: Has Ndiaye redshirted? If not, that's another big to throw out there to steal minutes, though he obviously will not come close to the type of production lost. And Huggins has engineered deep NCAA runs before with teams less talented (minus defections/injuries) than this one.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk

[Assembly Hall]

The WV basketball season has been cancelled.......on my TV!

[adkindo]

The WV basketball season has been cancelled.......on my TV!

probably did not come on those 4 channels very often that you get in Indiana anyway...

- - - Updated - - -


Fran Fraschilla
@franfraschilla

I liked Oscar Tshiebwe as a kid at @WVUhoops. I am reasonably sure there was tampering going on but that would just make it a Tuesday in college basketball. Simply put, with Derek Culver’s dramatic improvement there was little space inside. Skill level must improve at next stop.

6:36 PM · Jan 5, 2021

[adkindo]

Nice gut-check, come from behind win tonight. While I didn't see the entire game, Culver was owning the paint from what I witnessed.

A roster question: Has Ndiaye redshirted? If not, that's another big to throw out there to steal minutes, though he obviously will not come close to the type of production lost. And Huggins has engineered deep NCAA runs before with teams less talented (minus defections/injuries) than this one.

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Ndiaye would have redshirted if this was a year that counted against eligibility, but he is available and already got some garbage minutes this year. My understanding is he is extremely raw, but coaches think he can be a big time player if patient and works to develop his game. There is still a slight chance he redshirts next season, but I doubt that happens.

I thought the last two games should have demonstrated to Huggins that the best option is to go 4 out with Culver in the middle.....and increase ball pressure on defense to something similar to Press Virginia. Every time we have went to the press this year, very good things have happened....but I do not understand why we wait until we are almost 20 points down before we turn up the pressure. The real revelation last night was the 1st year JUCO transfer PG Kedrian Johnson. He has got in a few times this year for a minute or two hear and there, but Huggins turned him loose in the 2nd half last night and he appears to have that dog in him that all of WVU's guards had during Press Virginia. He is 6'3" but has those long arms and aggressive on offense also....him running the PG allowed Deuce McBride to play more off ball and nail the big shots down the stretch.

There is a world where this WVU team is as good or even slightly better without Oscar on the roster. It allows them to open up lanes that were never there before with the middle always clogged, and it allows us to extend our defense without being forced to have Oscar/Culver trying to defend a guard/wing. We have our next game @ #4 Texas then back at home against #2 Baylor....so we are going to find out real quick if this team can compete with a whole new style against elite competition. I think a split in those games would be very big.

[Assembly Hall]

probably did not come on those 4 channels very often that you get in Indiana anyway...


Somebody might like it in the Hoosier state...

https://247sports.com/Article/Oscar-Tshiebwe-transfer-schools-timeline-Clemson-Florida-State-Indiana-Kentucky-Memphis-Miami-NC-State-Pittsburgh-Tennessee-Utah-Western-Kentucky-158670151/

[adkindo]

Somebody might like it in the Hoosier state...

https://247sports.com/Article/Oscar-Tshiebwe-transfer-schools-timeline-Clemson-Florida-State-Indiana-Kentucky-Memphis-Miami-NC-State-Pittsburgh-Tennessee-Utah-Western-Kentucky-158670151/

maybe....I am hearing that it will 100% be an Adidas school and it will very likely be Miami. Also, that all of this "activity" being reported by Rothstein and others is coming directly from his handlers, not from the schools.....and is basically serving as smoke and mirrors due to there being eyeballs on this from 3 and 4 letter organizations because the process has been so blatant, especially on the heels of what took place with Adidas and some players/schools last year. There was one report out there today that his "meeting" with UK does not even involve Cal because it was requested by his handlers, and is not considered much more that theatre by UK. We should know soon if it plays out that way.

[WVRed]

maybe....I am hearing that it will 100% be an Adidas school and it will very likely be Miami. Also, that all of this "activity" being reported by Rothstein and others is coming directly from his handlers, not from the schools.....and is basically serving as smoke and mirrors due to there being eyeballs on this from 3 and 4 letter organizations because the process has been so blatant, especially on the heels of what took place with Adidas and some players/schools last year. There was one report out there today that his "meeting" with UK does not even involve Cal because it was requested by his handlers, and is not considered much more that theatre by UK. We should know soon if it plays out that way.

Are his “handlers” also Konate’s?

Talk about basketball suicide.

[adkindo]

Are his “handlers” also Konate’s?

Talk about basketball suicide.

Either the same or partially the same. You probably knew this, but Oscar lived with the same host family in PA that Konate did....which was why WVU was on Oscar so early and likely the only reason he chose WVU. Konate is now overseas playing after the Raptors GLeague did not bring him back. Konate never had the overall ability or size of Oscar, but in many ways Konate had a much bigger impact at the college level with his supernatural ability to block shots. At one point during his Sophomore year, so many guys would miss bunnies because there were so concerned about where Konate was on the court. It was all a natural gift too because Huggins claims they never coached or even discussed shot blocking with him @ WVU. Konate also had better feet than Oscar because I think he was much more of an advanced soccer player before he switched to basketball.

Sags was 6'6.5" without shoes and just destroyed fools at the rim. My favorite block of his all time is the very first one (around 25 second mark) where he basically looks at Svi and gives him the nod as if see you at the rim! Then in the very same game a couple plays later (around 1:05 mark), Marcus Garrett tries his luck with the big fella with similar results. A close 2nd favorite was in the Sweet 16 against eventual champs 'Nova when Mikal Bridges (around 1:55) had a breakaway and tried to put Sags on a poster.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7zWg-XYHqM

Since I am walking down memory lane, I still think it is just wrong Carter and Sags did not get to a Final 4....especially Carter. Jevon Carter made is to 3 Sweet 16's in his 4 year career, and ironically maybe to most talented team was his Sophomore season when they got upset in the 1st Round. In those 3 Sweet 16's they got beat bad by that dominant UK team in 2015 who had never lost a game at that point, then as a Junior they lost to a 35-1 Gonzaga team by 3 points which was the best Gonzaga team ever until this year....and finally as a Senior they lost to eventual champs Villanova. Every one of those years, put WVU in a different bracket, and the chances are high they get to at least 1 or 2 Final 4's.

[adkindo]

Heartbreaker today....WVU lost to #4 Texas 72-70. It was very close the whole game....I think the largest lead of the game was a 7 point lead by WVU. WVU took the lead in the 1st Half with about 14 minutes left and held the lead until 1.8 seconds left in the game. The last minute was poor clock management and choking at the free throw line, which allowed them the hit a 3 pointer with 1.8 seconds left to win the game. WVU needed this game to have any shot at having the type of season that was expected, but that does not appear to be in the cards for the regular season. Next up, a trip to Waco to play #2 Baylor.

[adkindo]

#13 WVU @ #2 Baylor on Tuesday has been postponed. COVID issues on WVU side....not sure if it is a player, players, staff or contact tracing.

[adkindo]

#13 WVU @ #2 Baylor on Tuesday has been postponed. COVID issues on WVU side....not sure if it is a player, players, staff or contact tracing.

extended for 3 games in total....return January 23rd.

[adkindo]

WVU is out a week and drops a spot in the polls....Villanova has been out a month and climbed 2 spots in the polls.

[Assembly Hall]

WVU is out a week and drops a spot in the polls....Villanova has been out a month and climbed 2 spots in the polls.

Seems fair to me.

[adkindo]

Big win for #11 WVU over #10 Texas Tech 88-87. WVU still clearly does not have their legs from being off for 2 weeks with COVID. It was bad last game, but fortunately it was Kansas State and we still got the win. Tonight, we came out on fire but going into the half, it was clear we were gassed again. Had a 12 point lead and Tech closed it to a tie at the half. They came out and took a 14 point lead in the 2nd half. Deuce McBride and Derek Culver were both on the bench with foul trouble....but when Deuce came back in he took over and hit a shot with 5 seconds left to finally reclaim the lead and win! COVID did a number on a few of our guys....Emmitt Matthews lose over 15 lbs.....Culver has no energy.

I think the win tonight might have saved the season....I think a loss could have turned things bad quickly. Offense has become so much better since Oscar left the program.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/JSYiDaB439Y7szpS3S/200.gif

[Assembly Hall]

Big win for #11 WVU over #10 Texas Tech 88-87. WVU still clearly does not have their legs from being off for 2 weeks with COVID. It was bad last game, but fortunately it was Kansas State and we still got the win. Tonight, we came out on fire but going into the half, it was clear we were gassed again. Had a 12 point lead and Tech closed it to a tie at the half. They came out and took a 14 point lead in the 2nd half. Deuce McBride and Derek Culver were both on the bench with foul trouble....but when Deuce came back in he took over and hit a shot with 5 seconds left to finally reclaim the lead and win! COVID did a number on a few of our guys....Emmitt Matthews lose over 15 lbs.....Culver has no energy.

I think the win tonight might have saved the season....I think a loss could have turned things bad quickly. Offense has become so much better since Oscar left the program.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/JSYiDaB439Y7szpS3S/200.gif

One thing I learned from the game is that McClung is a stud.

[Boston Red]

One thing I learned from the game is that McClung is a stud.

He's certainly playing a key role in Patrick Ewing's inevitable firing.

[adkindo]

One thing I learned from the game is that McClung is a stud.

Deuce McBride is the superior player is what you probably should have learned. McClung is good, but he is flawed and brings weaknesses to the court that diminish his net benefit to the team.

[adkindo]

Did not look good @ Iowa State tonight but escaped with the win.

Emmitt Matthews with a monster throw down on ISU defender...

https://twitter.com/WVUhoops/status/1356775982883999745

Little Deuce has hops also...

https://twitter.com/WVUhoops/status/1356764352947183616

[adkindo]

Show me a team that has a tougher 6 game stretch this season (or any season) that WVU's next 6 games....

02/06 - #23 Kansas
02/09 - @ #13 Texas Tech
02/13 - #9 Oklahoma
02/15 - #2 Baylor
02/18 - @ #2 Baylor
02/20 - @ #6 Texas

also, they are condensed into 2 weeks instead of 3 weeks!

[adkindo]

Started the stretch off with a win over #23 Kanas 91-79. Deuce McBride put on a show with 29 Points, 7 Rebounds, 8 Assists and 3 Steals....going 4 of 5 from 3 and 9 of 9 from the free throw line. The offense and shooting continue to look good since Oscar left the team....shooting over 50% from 3 as a team again today.

[WVRed]

Started the stretch off with a win over #23 Kanas 91-79. Deuce McBride put on a show with 29 Points, 7 Rebounds, 8 Assists and 3 Steals....going 4 of 5 from 3 and 9 of 9 from the free throw line. The offense and shooting continue to look good since Oscar left the team....shooting over 50% from 3 as a team again today.

Taze Sherman had 25.

The key for WVU moving forward is getting someone other than Deuce or Culver to step up. They have two stars but need someone more consistent to step up.

That and they have a brutal finish to their schedule thanks to the covid issues a couple weeks ago.

[adkindo]

Taze Sherman had 25.

The key for WVU moving forward is getting someone other than Deuce or Culver to step up. They have two stars but need someone more consistent to step up.

That and they have a brutal finish to their schedule thanks to the covid issues a couple weeks ago.

I think it probably is Taz. He has been in double figures in every game since Oscar left.....averaging 16.25 PPG during that stretch. He is also shooting 49% from 3 during that stretch of games....and 47% from 3 in Big12 games. The defense was ok yesterday, but overall it has been poor in conference play.

[Boston Red]

Always nice to beat KU, but the fact they were still ranked going into last night is absurd.

[adkindo]

Always nice to beat KU, but the fact they were still ranked going into last night is absurd.

When you look closely at their record, their only losses have been Quad 1 losses. Current Net Ranking.

#2 - Gonzaga
#18 - Texas
#37 - @ OK State
#1 - @ Baylor
#19 - @ Oklahoma
#10 - @ Tennessee
#20 - @ West Virginia

All are current tournament teams.

[WVRed]

Just saw that both Baylor games have been postponed due to covid on Baylor’s end now.

[adkindo]

Just saw that both Baylor games have been postponed due to covid on Baylor’s end now.

I have said from the beginning that I thought these games should be considered forfeits. One of them is a make up from our COVID issues, so I think each team should be issued a forfeit win and a forfeit loss. WVU had to postpone two other games during our COVID issues, and I think those should be forfeit losses. We do not have time this season to be making up these games. It was not Baylors fault when the first game was postponed, nor is it WVU's fault for the 2nd game being postponed. This season was never going to be perfectly fair.

[Assembly Hall]

I came away from that KU/WV very impressed by the 'Neers. If you guys get another chance at the Jayhawks, kick them in the gut for me.

[adkindo]

Big win tonight @ #7 Texas Tech 82-71. Even bigger considering Taz Sherman was out for the game, and both Deuce and Culver were in foul trouble....Deuce missed half the 1st half and Culver sat half the 2nd half. Sean McNeil was huge starting for Taz and knocking down 5 of 7 from 3 for 26 Points. Deuce had 20 and Culver had 15 Points.

[adkindo]

This WVU team is hard on the blood pressure. We were down 10 points at halftime @ #12 Texas. The Texas lead balloons to 19 points in the 2nd half....then like so many times this year, we began to storm back to take the lead and win 84-82. The second time this year we have came back from a 19 point deficit in the 2nd half to win.

[adkindo]

Huggins is closing in on 900 wins. He is currently @ 897 with 4 regular season games remaining on the schedule. All 4 are home games....Kansas State, #2 Baylor, TCU & OK State.

He is also chasing down Roy Williams (899) and Bob Knight (902). There is a chance that he catches and/or passes both this season.

[adkindo]

Just been looking back through some of the numbers in recent games....and when did WVU become Kansas? I am not sure what is going on, but we have been getting a good to very favorable whistle in recent weeks. The free throw discrepancy is getting a little embarrassing.....and we have been known to not get many good whistle nights in the Big 12 for a decade. I am sure a big part of it is we basically do not play much defense anymore.

FTA's in last 4 games...

WVU - 33 TCU - 17
WVU - 37 Texas - 10
WVU - 21 Oklahoma - 10
WVU - 39 Tex Tech - 20

[adkindo]

Have no idea what to expect from this team at this point. This WVU team played #1 Gonzaga tougher than any team in the country....led at the half and had the lead until about 6 minutes left in the game, and lost by 5 points on a neutral court. This WVU team played #2 Baylor tougher than any team in the country (except the Kanas game when they were returning from break and was not themselves)....led until 13 seconds left in regulation and lost by 5 points in OT. It is also the same team that is coming off an embarrassing loss to Oklahoma State at home....an OK State team without their two best players.

I probably need them to win the Big12 Tournament to truly buy back in.....it starts tomorrow @ 11:30 AM against the OK State team that just beat us on our court.

[WVRed]

And they lose again to Oklahoma State.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Huggins doesn’t win his 900th game NEXT season.

[adkindo]

And they lose again to Oklahoma State.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Huggins doesn’t win his 900th game NEXT season.

I hope you are wrong, but no it would not be shocking. OK State is rolling, and proved it yesterday by knocking off Baylor. We should have won both games, but just did not execute on critical possessions....but what is more worrisome is how young OK State is and their ability to execute in critical situations. OK State is going to be a problem next season...yes they lose Cunningham but most of their rotations is young and returning. Personally, I find them more dangerous when Cunningham is off the court and they put the ball in Avery Anderson's hands. On top of that, I think Mike Boynton is proving to be a top tier coach.

Did you watch the game? Culver had some virus or something...he had no energy and took a full bag of IV fluids at halftime. Deuce is playing a bad foot, but went toe to toe with Cunningham in the 1st Half....actually outplayed him on both ends, but the foot tightened up at the half. Our shooters were not hitting shots, OK State killed us on the boards, and we were still right there where McNeil hits the game tying 3 pointer a half second too late. Sure it is all woulda coulda shoulda stuff, but if Taz and McNeil can just shoot their normal percentages and Culver is healthy....I think this team should get to the Sweet 16.

[adkindo]

just have to post this for anyone that did not see the highlights on SportsCenter last night....WVU Women BB team was down by 7 points with less than a minute left in the game. They went on a 10 to 1 run over the final 57 seconds to win the game! The final play was just unbelievable.


https://youtu.be/ugqwLlqyNyM?t=160

different angle for final play....

https://twitter.com/WVUWBB/status/1370574622475845633

[WVRed]

I hope you are wrong, but no it would not be shocking. OK State is rolling, and proved it yesterday by knocking off Baylor. We should have won both games, but just did not execute on critical possessions....but what is more worrisome is how young OK State is and their ability to execute in critical situations. OK State is going to be a problem next season...yes they lose Cunningham but most of their rotations is young and returning. Personally, I find them more dangerous when Cunningham is off the court and they put the ball in Avery Anderson's hands. On top of that, I think Mike Boynton is proving to be a top tier coach.

Did you watch the game? Culver had some virus or something...he had no energy and took a full bag of IV fluids at halftime. Deuce is playing a bad foot, but went toe to toe with Cunningham in the 1st Half....actually outplayed him on both ends, but the foot tightened up at the half. Our shooters were not hitting shots, OK State killed us on the boards, and we were still right there where McNeil hits the game tying 3 pointer a half second too late. Sure it is all woulda coulda shoulda stuff, but if Taz and McNeil can just shoot their normal percentages and Culver is healthy....I think this team should get to the Sweet 16.

Watched the last three minutes in Quaker Steak and Lube in Charleston.

[adkindo]

I thought WVU was very fortunate to land on the #3 Seed line. I was expecting a #4 Seed after back to back losses to OK State. The only thing that really would make sense is if the committee really gave weight to "bad losses". Most expected OK State to be a higher seed than WVU, but OK State had two Quad 3 losses...compared to WVU who had not losses in Quad 3 or 4. WVU did not have any losses in Quad 2 at the beginning of the week, but apparently 2 teams slipped in the NET and went from Quad 1 losses to Quad 2 losses.

We have a favorable path to the Sweet 16....but it is March and anything is possible.

[adkindo]

Watched the last three minutes in Quaker Steak and Lube in Charleston.

Is that across the highway from the Range Rover dealership on Corridor G? It has been years since I have been back, but the last time I was there that place stuck out in my mind because I had never seen a fast food place attached to a place to get your oil changed.

[adkindo]

Huggy Bear gets #900 as Deuce McBride introduces himself to the country with a NCAA Tournament debut line of 30 / 6 / 6. An old Big East foe in Syracuse awaits in the Round of 32.

[Assembly Hall]

I am so sick of all this West Virginia talk. These freakin' 'Neers better make it to the FF or I will never pick them again!

[WVRed]

Is that across the highway from the Range Rover dealership on Corridor G? It has been years since I have been back, but the last time I was there that place stuck out in my mind because I had never seen a fast food place attached to a place to get your oil changed.

Pretty close. It’s down the hill from Cabelas.

[adkindo]

I am so sick of all this West Virginia talk. These freakin' 'Neers better make it to the FF or I will never pick them again!

I would not be shocked if they lose before the Elite 8, but I have a strong feeling they are on a collision course with Illinois in the Elite 8. It would be a game with a lot of subplots and drama leading up to tipoff. Huggins hired Underwood @ K State for his first power conference job, then it was Underwood that coached the Stephen F Austin team that embarrassed WVU in 2016 beating them in the 1st Round. On the players side, you would have a young Deuce trying to prove himself against Ayo, Kofi is viewed as the most dominant big man in college taking on a slimmer and faster Culver who is viewed as the most dominant big man in the Big12. Both teams and programs have a little blue collar feel to them...mostly because of the coaches. It would be fun.

[Assembly Hall]

I would not be shocked if they lose before the Elite 8, but I have a strong feeling they are on a collision course with Illinois in the Elite 8. It would be a game with a lot of subplots and drama leading up to tipoff. Huggins hired Underwood @ K State for his first power conference job, then it was Underwood that coached the Stephen F Austin team that embarrassed WVU in 2016 beating them in the 1st Round. On the players side, you would have a young Deuce trying to prove himself against Ayo, Kofi is viewed as the most dominant big man in college taking on a slimmer and faster Culver who is viewed as the most dominant big man in the Big12. Both teams and programs have a little blue collar feel to them...mostly because of the coaches. It would be fun.

Illinois might be the hottest team in the nation right now not named Gonzaga.

[adkindo]

Illinois might be the hottest team in the nation right now not named Gonzaga.

I would have agreed if I read before the Loyola game...

[Assembly Hall]

I knew it...fire Huggins!

[adkindo]

I knew it...fire Huggins!

It is more likely the state reconstitutes with Virginia than it is Huggins ever feels a warm seat in WV. Going to be an interesting offseason.....leaning toward more roster shakeup than most probably expected. IMO, no other way to spin it that this was just a disaster of a season for WVU....the pieces were there and they never was able to become greater than the sum of the parts.

[Assembly Hall]

It is more likely the state reconstitutes with Virginia than it is Huggins ever feels a warm seat in WV. Going to be an interesting offseason.....leaning toward more roster shakeup than most probably expected. IMO, no other way to spin it that this was just a disaster of a season for WVU....the pieces were there and they never was able to become greater than the sum of the parts.

Is that your way of telling me you are sorry? LOL Well at least your team played in the tourney.