Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball: Grades for each team in this 2020 offseason

By Matthew Mastandrea

WACO, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 22: Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears and Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half at Ferrell Center on February 22, 2020 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
WACO, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 22: Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears and Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half at Ferrell Center on February 22, 2020 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Forward Derek Culver #1 of the West Virginia Mountaineers (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Forward Derek Culver #1 of the West Virginia Mountaineers (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

6. West Virginia: B-

At six we start to pivot towards some much harder decisions. While they’re definitely interchangeable, I have the Mountaineers coming in at six on this list.

West Virginia finished the season at 21-10 while going 9-9 in conference play. The Mountaineers were supposed to take on the Sooners in conference tournament action before the season was canceled. Bob Huggins comes into his 14th season at the helm of West Virginia with quite possibly one of his best rosters yet.

Before we dive into the roster, West Virginia does have two hard commitments for the 2021 season. The most notable addition is Combo Guard, Seth Wilson, a three-star out of Lorain, Ohio. Their other commitment comes from point-guard, Kobe Johnson, a 6-3, 190 pounder out of Canton, Ohio.

The Mountaineers are poised for a potentially big season as they welcome back their three top scorers in Derek Culver, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Miles McBride. Culver is a breakout candidate this season as he looks to lead the Mountaineer offense. He averaged 10.4 points to go along with an impressive 8.6 rebounds per game.

Tshiebwe led the Mountaineers in scoring at 11.2 points per game and was also able to bring down 9.3 rebounds per game. McBride averaged 9.5 points during his freshman campaign, while also adding 1.1 steals per game.

West Virginia is in good position with roster turnover, but they’re also excited to welcome three freshmen in Isiah Cottrell (Forward), Sean Ndiaye (Foward), and Taj Thweatt (Foward). The three big men will look forward to learning from two of the best in Derek Culver as well as Emmitt Matthews Jr. The Junior Forward averaged 6.3 points to go along with 3.6 rebounds per game last season.

Huggins has always prided himself on defense, and in addition to that, he has a team that should be able to light up the scoreboard. West Virginia will hope to make noise atop of the conference, but a finish of fourth place or better should be good enough to get them into another NCAA Tournament.

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