West Virginia Basketball Preview 2021

PreviewsNCAAMBig 12 BasketballWest Virginia Mountaineers

Nov 2

Our West Virginia basketball preview 2021 - 22 notes that last season the Mountaineers (19-10 Overall, 11-6 BIg 12) finished fourth in the conference, and for the third time in the last five seasons, went to the Big Dance. Although in the other two years, 2017 and 2018, they made it to the Sweet 16, last year, the Mountaineers were eliminated in the Round of 32. The fact is longtime head coach Bob Huggins (310-171 West Virginia/14 years, 828-357 Overall/36 years) always seems to find a way to reconstitute and reinvent his teams. He did that last season and will do it this one. In 2021 -22, the West Virginia Mountaineers will be competitive and dangerous.

Mountaineers Frontcourt

The Mountaineers lose two premium starters from last season and will most likely utilize two inexperienced forwards. One player with substantial court time, senior Gabe Osabuohien, will be asked to increase his minutes and upgrade his stats. Although not much of a scorer, Osabuohien brings fine defensive chops and high energy to the paint. Our West Virginia basketball preview 2021 - 22 projects the other two starters to be sophomores Isaiah Cottrell and Seny N’diaye. Due to a torn Achilles, which he suffered in December, Cottrell missed a major part of last season. A skilled shooter, the big man could be a major force upfront. As a freshman, N’diaye exhibited raw talent. Expect refined, improved performance from him this year. Various transfers add depth, including Dimon Carrigan (FIU), a premium shot blocker, and Pauly Paulicap (DePaul).

West Virginia Basketball Preview – Backcourt

Although primetime performer Miles McBride left for the NBA, two solid backcourt players, Taz Sherman and Sean McNeil, return. Both Sherman and McNeil can take it to the rim. Last year, Sherman averaged 12.2 PPG while shooting threes at a rate of 38.8 percent, while McNeil put up 13.4 PPG, connecting on 35.9 percent of his shots from downtown. At the point, transfer Malik Curry (Old Dominion), who led his former team in scoring the past two seasons, starts. He averaged 15.7 PPG last season.