--West Virginia is now 3-1 in the Big 12 and have held opponents to an average of 48 points while shooting 49-162 (30-percent) from the floor. This defense just suffocates and strangles the opposition in the half court and even on nights like tonight where they didn't contest as many shots as they have it's proving to be very difficult to score on this group. From there, the Mountaineers have held opponents to 14-70 or 20-percent. The Horned Frogs started this game 4-6 but they finished 10-38 over the rest of the game. What more needs to be said?
--But it wasn't just the defense in this one as the Mountaineers made 58-percent of their shots. The highest percentage in any game since the 2017 season against Morgan State and the first time that the program has shot that well against a conference foe since hitting 65-percent against Rutgers in 2007. It's the highest total that the Mountaineers have shot in a league game since joining the Big 12. The Mountaineers were at 1.286 points per possession.
--West Virginia dominated this basketball game against a team that came into it sitting at 3-0 in the league. The second half was almost a laugher as the home-standing Mountaineers were pretty much in control throughout. The only thing that kept the Horned Frogs alive for as much as they were was the fact that they hit some early threes. Still, that was how you take care of business.
--After 41 turnovers over the previous two games, 14 was an improvement. It's still not ideal but the Mountaineers at least displayed signs of life in that department.
--Good news? West Virginia made 30 shots in this game and recorded 20 total assists. Ball. Movement. The Mountaineers were finding shooters and passing the ball which has been a well-documented issue at times with this team. It started slow, but they were even able to execute some entry passes into the post at times which led to easy scores. Progress.
--West Virginia was +14 on the glass and +26 with points in the paint. Second chance points were +11. What more needs to be said?
--The bench was a big factor yet again outscoring TCU 39-6. The game really changed when Bob Huggins went to that second wave early in the game and Brandon Knapper and Chase Harler hit back-to-back three balls. Things rolled downhill for the most part after that.
--Speaking of Harler, again just another impressive game at +26. He scored 7 points but just understands his role on both ends and is always communicating with his teammates. You can't help but be happy for how things are coming together for him in his final season. He's now shooting 46-percent from the field.
--How fun is Gabe Osabuohien? I don't think I've ever seen a player leave the floor to a standing ovation after playing 17 scoreless minutes (he did score after coming back in) but that's where we are with the junior. He is the ultimate glue guy and it is apparent when watching the game just how much of an impact he has at all levels without putting the ball in the basket. Today he was +28 on the floor and scored a total of 3 points. But it's time to stop talking about what he doesn't do and instead focus on what he does because he is the best defender on this team and arguably the best passer. He finished with 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in 21 minutes. He takes charges (he was visibly upset when a travel was called instead of a charge late in the first half), causes deflections and just understands his role. Huggins hit a home run with his addition to the roster.
--Sophomore Derek Culver finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists and just controlled this game at times. It's the first double-double for Culver since the Nicholls game and his fourth of the year.
--Welcome back, Sean McNeil. After going 0-9 in the New Year, the sophomore hit 3-4 shots and really seemed to have his confidence back. The Mountaineers are going to need him to be able to hit some shots and it was encouraging to me that even after missing his first two tonight, he stepped up and nailed three of his next four attempts.
--Same can be said for senior Jermaine Haley who scored 11 points, his first double-digit scoring effort since the Youngstown State game where he also scored 11. He made some difficult shots in this one but seemed to be aggressive, especially around the rim.
--West Virginia has to find a way to get sophomore Emmitt Matthews going. He is 4-26 over his last six games and at times doesn't seem like he wants to shoot the ball at all. Even his one attempt tonight was as the shot clock was running down. On the year prior to this six game stretch, Matthews had six games where he made at least four shots and was averaging around 8 shot attempts during the first 10 before that total is half of that over the last six. Clearly, Matthews isn't shooting the ball as confidently or frequently as he did earlier in the year.
--Freshman Miles McBride scored about as quiet of an 11-points as you'll have but he just continues to understand how to score and when to score for this team. He uses the mid-range well and was 5-7 from the floor tonight to finish at +27 for the game.
--Felt that freshman Oscar Tshiebwe started to settle down and play well around the rim in this one. He was able to get the ball and use his quickness and power to get the ball over the rim while drawing some fouls in the process. He finished with 11 points but he continues to get better.
--West Virginia was 17-22 on dunks and layups. Free throws were 14-23.
--West Virginia is now 14-2, one win shy of their entire win total from all of last year. The Mountaineers will hit the road to take on Kansas State, who is winless in the league and have a chance to be 4-1 heading back home to play Texas. It's time to start buying stock in this club.
--But it wasn't just the defense in this one as the Mountaineers made 58-percent of their shots. The highest percentage in any game since the 2017 season against Morgan State and the first time that the program has shot that well against a conference foe since hitting 65-percent against Rutgers in 2007. It's the highest total that the Mountaineers have shot in a league game since joining the Big 12. The Mountaineers were at 1.286 points per possession.
--West Virginia dominated this basketball game against a team that came into it sitting at 3-0 in the league. The second half was almost a laugher as the home-standing Mountaineers were pretty much in control throughout. The only thing that kept the Horned Frogs alive for as much as they were was the fact that they hit some early threes. Still, that was how you take care of business.
--After 41 turnovers over the previous two games, 14 was an improvement. It's still not ideal but the Mountaineers at least displayed signs of life in that department.
--Good news? West Virginia made 30 shots in this game and recorded 20 total assists. Ball. Movement. The Mountaineers were finding shooters and passing the ball which has been a well-documented issue at times with this team. It started slow, but they were even able to execute some entry passes into the post at times which led to easy scores. Progress.
--West Virginia was +14 on the glass and +26 with points in the paint. Second chance points were +11. What more needs to be said?
--The bench was a big factor yet again outscoring TCU 39-6. The game really changed when Bob Huggins went to that second wave early in the game and Brandon Knapper and Chase Harler hit back-to-back three balls. Things rolled downhill for the most part after that.
--Speaking of Harler, again just another impressive game at +26. He scored 7 points but just understands his role on both ends and is always communicating with his teammates. You can't help but be happy for how things are coming together for him in his final season. He's now shooting 46-percent from the field.
--How fun is Gabe Osabuohien? I don't think I've ever seen a player leave the floor to a standing ovation after playing 17 scoreless minutes (he did score after coming back in) but that's where we are with the junior. He is the ultimate glue guy and it is apparent when watching the game just how much of an impact he has at all levels without putting the ball in the basket. Today he was +28 on the floor and scored a total of 3 points. But it's time to stop talking about what he doesn't do and instead focus on what he does because he is the best defender on this team and arguably the best passer. He finished with 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in 21 minutes. He takes charges (he was visibly upset when a travel was called instead of a charge late in the first half), causes deflections and just understands his role. Huggins hit a home run with his addition to the roster.
--Sophomore Derek Culver finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists and just controlled this game at times. It's the first double-double for Culver since the Nicholls game and his fourth of the year.
--Welcome back, Sean McNeil. After going 0-9 in the New Year, the sophomore hit 3-4 shots and really seemed to have his confidence back. The Mountaineers are going to need him to be able to hit some shots and it was encouraging to me that even after missing his first two tonight, he stepped up and nailed three of his next four attempts.
--Same can be said for senior Jermaine Haley who scored 11 points, his first double-digit scoring effort since the Youngstown State game where he also scored 11. He made some difficult shots in this one but seemed to be aggressive, especially around the rim.
--West Virginia has to find a way to get sophomore Emmitt Matthews going. He is 4-26 over his last six games and at times doesn't seem like he wants to shoot the ball at all. Even his one attempt tonight was as the shot clock was running down. On the year prior to this six game stretch, Matthews had six games where he made at least four shots and was averaging around 8 shot attempts during the first 10 before that total is half of that over the last six. Clearly, Matthews isn't shooting the ball as confidently or frequently as he did earlier in the year.
--Freshman Miles McBride scored about as quiet of an 11-points as you'll have but he just continues to understand how to score and when to score for this team. He uses the mid-range well and was 5-7 from the floor tonight to finish at +27 for the game.
--Felt that freshman Oscar Tshiebwe started to settle down and play well around the rim in this one. He was able to get the ball and use his quickness and power to get the ball over the rim while drawing some fouls in the process. He finished with 11 points but he continues to get better.
--West Virginia was 17-22 on dunks and layups. Free throws were 14-23.
--West Virginia is now 14-2, one win shy of their entire win total from all of last year. The Mountaineers will hit the road to take on Kansas State, who is winless in the league and have a chance to be 4-1 heading back home to play Texas. It's time to start buying stock in this club.
