West Virginia Basketball: Jordan McCabe poised for breakout in 2019-20
West Virginia Basketball is coming off of one of it’s worst seasons in recent memory. Could the rise of a key underclassmen set them up for future success?
It was a disappointing season for West Virginia Basketball. After being ranked in the preseason top-25, the team fell apart to end up with a 15-21 record. It caused several players to either get dismissed from the program or transfer out to other places. West Virginia might have finished in last place in the Big 12 last season, but the Mountaineers are poised for a breakout thanks to a rising sophomore.
That sophomore is Jordan McCabe.
McCabe, a former 4-star recruit, got ample playing time in the second half of Conference play thanks to injuries, suspensions, and transfers.
McCabe didn’t put up huge numbers in that time, averaging just six points and 2.5 assists per game.
However, McCabe showed major potential during that time, proving to be a fluent facilitator for a young, inexperienced offense.
Additionally, McCabe came up big in the Mountaineers’ biggest games, scoring a combined-25 points in their two Big 12 Tournament wins, and dishing out eight assists in a stunning upset of the top-seed Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second round.
With the new-look Mountaineers gaining experience from last season’s growth, and the addition of a couple of solid recruits, McCabe has the players around him to set him up for a nice breakout.
Point guards have experienced nice growth in Bob Huggins’ offense in recent years, with players such as Juwan Staten and Jevon Carter showing big increases in production throughout their years in Morgantown.
Next. Way-too-early preseason top-25. dark
McCabe has the recruiting pedigree and the skills to make a breakout sophomore season happen, and if his play in the second half of Conference play is an indicator of anything, it’s that McCabe is poised for a big second season at West Virginia.