West Virginia Basketball: 3 takeaways from blowout loss to No. 3 Kansas

1. After a sensational freshman campaign, Oscar Tshiebwe has entered a sophomore slump – and it ailed the Mountaineers against KU

Much of the high preseason expectations for West Virginia can be traced to their stellar two-man tandem inside.  Derek Culver was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention last season after averaging 10.4 points and 8.6 rebounds, and he has been on a tear to begin his junior season, having recorded five double-doubles entering this game.

His frontcourt mate, Oscar Tshiebwe, was even better last season.  An All-Big 12 Conference Second Team selection, Tshiebwe lead the Mountaineers last season in scoring (11.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.3) – and led the country in offensive rebounding percentage (19.0) while recording 10 double-doubles, all as a freshman.

But the two have struggled to replicate their inside success from last season, and that can almost certainly be traced to Tshiebwe’s sophomore slump.  Again, Culver has been great, and has solidified himself as one of the best big men in the country – but Tshiebwe has failed to live up to expectations, and it has ailed West Virginia when they needed him most.

Several of his numbers have dropped since last season – including his scoring average (11.2 to 8.1), rebounding average (9.3 to 7.0), FG shooting percentage (55.2% to 50.0%), and FT shooting percentage (70.8% to 60.7%).  Tshiebwe’s highest-scoring output thus far this season has been 14 – a mark he passed eight times last year.

His struggles continued in the tilt against Kansas, where he scored just three points (1-5 FG, 1-3 FT) and collected five rebounds in 18 minutes.  In addition, he also committed three fouls and turned the ball over a team-high three times.

Tshiebwe’s slump is bad enough on its own, but it also hurts Culver’s production – and the team’s dominance inside on the boards, particularly when backup Gabe Osabuohien is not able to produce.  With Tshiebwe not producing, it was easy for Jayhawks to double-team – and oftentimes, triple-team – Culver in the post.  Culver still had a solid night, finishing with eight points and eight rebounds – but both marks are the second-lowest for Culver thus far this season.

Tshiebwe’s struggles inside, again, have also been detrimental to West Virginia’s dominance in rebounding, and it has created a liability defensively.  That was on full display tonight, where the Jayhawks matched West Virginia in offensive rebounds at 19 and dismantled the Mountaineers in second-chance points, 25-14.  Many of those extra opportunities produced three-point buckets that allowed Kansas to go on their dominant run in the second half.

To state the obvious: the Mountaineers need Oscar Tshiebwe, especially now that Big 12 play has begun.  West Virginia has already been pushed around by Iowa State, arguably the second-worst team in the conference, and it will not get easier for them.  If they hope to become a threat to Baylor and Kansas in the race for the B12 title, they need Tshiebwe to return to form.