(Bob Higgins Friday Zoom Conference)
Mortgton, W.V.A. – WVU softmore forward sc ski camp did not return to the Mountaineer Basketball program for personal reasons. Head coach Bob Hughes made the announcement on Friday morning.
Hugins said, “We have the full support of the scarecrow, and we certainly do our best during this time.”
“Did he catch me by surprise?” No. What do we do next? We are going to win more games. I think this gives us a chance to be able to spread a little more floor. Guys like JB (Jillian Bridge) will be able to spread the floor and make shots and give Derek (Culver) more space to work there. “
Hugins has made it clear that Tshibawe will not return to the team.
“Certainly not,” Hughes said.
Tsibwe is making a good representation of his season. He scored 12 points on Tuesday and 15 rebounds against Northeast.
“I had a really good conversation with Coach Huggins,” Shishibwe said after Tuesday’s win. “You don’t have to think,” he said. Make a play. If you make it, you make it. If you miss out, you miss out. Just make a play and play hard. ‘I don’t think I was always playing as hard as I used to.
“We have people who turn off their glitter. And they’ve worked their butts all summer to get a chance, ”Hughes said.
Shibbwe was with the Mountaineers in his second season. He has averaged 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds through 10 games this season.
Tshiebwe has been recruiting a very high profile to enter the WVU program in recent years and it exploded on the scene in its new season a year ago. Langumbashi, a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a Kennedy Catholic (PA) H.S. Following the grades made the mountaineers new players in scoring (11.2 points) and rebonding (9.3).
“Whenever you are a man, it opens up opportunities. That’s what makes it. It’s up to them, “Hughes said.
More minutes will probably go to senior Gabe Osabuhian as well. He averages 19 minutes per contest as one of West Virginia’s top reserve players.
“We want Gabe to stay in the game. What Gabe does for us is better than any of the big ones we have. We couldn’t keep it in the game for long. Gabe is very valuable to us for many different reasons, ”said Hugins.
Bridge is a redshirt freshness that has averaged 4.4 minutes per game this season.
“JB, a year ago at the end of the year, we turned the ball better than anyone other than Derek in practice before it shut down. We were all overwhelmed and excited when JB got time. He’s struggled a bit to make shots at this stage, but I’m one hundred percent confident he’s a guy who can get out there and make shots and spread the floor, ”Hughes said.
WVU’s frontcourt depth took a hit earlier this week when freshman Isaiah Cottrell lost in a Northeastern game with torn Achilles for the season.
“He came to practice with his scooter yesterday and the whole practice stopped because he didn’t want to lose anything. They are the kind of boys who are our lucky ones in this program.
Mountaineers hit the road to face Oklahoma (5-2, 1-1 Big 12) on Saturday. The tip time in Norman is set at 4 p.m.
The Suners are off to a 5-2 start and have shared a pair of close contests for the Big 12 play. In their second game of the season, OC won 82-78 at TCU. In their most recent game on Dec. 22, the Sunners defeated the Texas Tech, 69-67, by basketball.
Lah Kalahoma, at .7૨..7 points per game, has the second-best scoring average in the Big 12. However, they have allowed the league’s second-ranked points at 70.9 per game under Lone Kruger.
“The biggest problem is that they have a coach hack. He has a great idea to see things that he doesn’t really need to come on the floor to see because of his background, “Hugins said.
West Virginia flipped in both meetings against the Suners last year. OU defeated the mountaineers by 10 points in Norman and 11 points in Morgatown.
The WVU continued its road trip over Oklahoma State on Monday. The mountaineer will face the leading scorers of the Big 12 and the top recruiters of the country in the 2020 category. Cade Cunningham is averaging 19.1 points per game for the Cowboys (6-2, 0-2 Big 12).
