2020–21 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team

2020–21 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball
Crossover Classic champions
NCAA tournament, second round
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 18
APNo. 13
Record19–10 (11–6 Big 12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaWVU Coliseum
Seasons
2020–21 Big 12 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 1 Baylor 13 – 1   .929 28 – 2   .933
No. 16 Kansas 12 – 6   .667 21 – 9   .700
No. 21 Texas † 11 – 6   .647 19 – 8   .704
No. 18 West Virginia 11 – 6   .647 19 – 10   .655
No. 19 Oklahoma State 11 – 7   .611 21 – 9   .700
No. 22 Texas Tech 9 – 8   .529 18 – 11   .621
Oklahoma 9 – 8   .529 16 – 11   .593
TCU 5 – 11   .313 12 – 14   .462
Kansas State 4 – 14   .222 9 – 20   .310
Iowa State 0 – 18   .000 2 – 22   .083
† 2021 Big 12 Tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll


The 2020–21 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team represented West Virginia University during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Mountaineers were coached by Bob Huggins, in his 14th season as WVU's head coach, and played their home games at the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, West Virginia as members of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 19–10, 11–6 in Big 12 Play to finish in 4th place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament to Oklahoma State.[1] They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Morehead State in the First Round before losing in the Second Round to Syracuse.

Previous season

The Mountaineers finished 2019–20 season 21–10, 9–9 in Big 12 play to finish tied for third place in the conference. The Mountaineers were to play in the Big 12 Tournament, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Offseason

Departures

Name Pos. Number Height Weight Previous School Hometown Reason for Leaving
Brandon Knapper G 2 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Hargrave Military Academy South Charleston, WV Transferred to Eastern Kentucky[2]
Logan Routt F 31 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Cameron HS Cameron, WV Graduated
Chase Harler G 14 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Wheeling Central HS Moundsville, WV Graduated
Jermaine Haley G 10 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Odessa College Vancouver, BC Graduated

Recruits

Recruiting class of 2020

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Isaiah Cottrell
PF 		Las Vegas, NV Huntington Prep School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (110 kg) Jun 13, 2019 
Star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Taj Thweatt
SF 		Wildwood, NJ Wildwood Catholic Academy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sep 3, 2019 
Star ratings: Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Seny Ndiaye
PF 		Dakar, Senegal Huntington Prep School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Jul 15, 2020 
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Incoming transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Kedrian Johnson 0 G 6'3" 180 Junior Dallas, TX Junior college transferred from Temple College.

Roster

2020–21 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Kedrian Johnson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Temple College Dallas, TX
F 1 Derek Culver 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Jr Warren G. Harding HS Youngstown, OH
F 2 Jalen Bridges 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Fr Fairmont Senior HS Fairmont, WV
F 3 Gabe Osabuohien 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Sr Arkansas Toronto, ON
G 4 Miles McBride 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Moeller HS Cincinnati, OH
G 5 Jordan McCabe 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 188 lb (85 kg) Jr Kaukauna HS Kaukauna, WI
F 11 Emmitt Matthews Jr. 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Woodrow Wilson HS Tacoma, WA
G 12 Taz Sherman 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Collin College Missouri City, TX
F 13 Isaiah Cottrell 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Fr Huntington Prep Las Vegas, NV
G 20 Jay Moore (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Greater Beckley Christian Beckley, WV
G 22 Sean McNeil 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Sinclair CC Union, KY
F 23 Seny Ndiaye 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Fr Huntington Prep Dakar, Senegal
F 24 Taj Thweatt 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Wildwood Catholic Wildwood, NJ
G 30 Spencer Macke (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) So Silver Grove HS Fort Thomas, KY
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular season
November 25, 2020*
9:30 pm, ESPN 		No. 15 vs. South Dakota State
Crossover Classic quarterfinals 		W 79–71  1–0
  23 – McBride   14 – Culver   3 – McBride  Sanford Pentagon (0)
Sioux Falls, SD
November 26, 2020*
2:30 pm, ESPN 		No. 15 vs. VCU
Crossover Classic semifinals 		W 78–66  2–0
  23 – Culver   16 – Tshiebwe   5 – McCabe  Sanford Pentagon (0)
Sioux Falls, SD
November 27, 2020*
7:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 15 vs. Western Kentucky
Crossover Classic final 		W 70–64  3–0
  15 – Culver   8 – Osabuohien   5 – Osabuohien  Sanford Pentagon (0)
Sioux Falls, SD
December 2, 2020*
7:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 11 vs. No. 1 Gonzaga
Jimmy V Classic 		L 82–87  3–1
  18 – Culver   15 – Culver   5 – McBride  Bankers Life Fieldhouse (0)
Indianapolis, IN
December 6, 2020*
4:30 pm, FS1 		No. 11 at Georgetown
Big 12/Big East Battle 		W 80–71  4–1
  17 – McBride   9 – Culver   7 – McBride  McDonough Gymnasium (0)
Washington, DC
December 9, 2020*
7:00 pm, ESPN+ 		No. 11 Robert Morris Canceled due to COVID-19 issues WVU Coliseum 
Morgantown, WV
December 11, 2020*
3:00 pm, ESPN+ 		No. 11 North Texas W 62–50  5–1
  15 – McNeil   10 – Culver   5 – McBride  WVU Coliseum (291)
Morgantown, WV
December 13, 2020*
1:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 11 No. 19 Richmond W 87–71  6–1
  20 – McBride   11 – Culver   5 – McBride  WVU Coliseum (371)
Morgantown, WV
December 18, 2020
9:00 pm, ESPNU 		No. 8 Iowa State W 70–65  7–1
(1–0) 		 18 – tied   12 – Culver   4 – Osabuohien  WVU Coliseum (0)
Morgantown, WV
December 22, 2020
9:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 7 at No. 3 Kansas L 65–79  7–2
(1–1) 		 24 – McNeil   8 – Culver   5 – Osabuohien  Allen Fieldhouse (2,500)
Lawrence, KS
December 29, 2020*
2:00 pm, ESPN+ 		No. 9 Northeastern W 73–51  8–2
  18 – Culver   15 – Tshiebwe   5 – McBride  WVU Coliseum (311)
Morgantown, WV
January 2, 2021
4:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 9 at Oklahoma L 71–75  8–3
(1–2) 		 19 – tied   6 – Culver   4 – McBride  Lloyd Noble Center (2,431)
Norman, OK
January 4, 2021
9:00 pm, ESPNU 		No. 9 at Oklahoma State W 87–84  9–3
(2–2) 		 22 – Culver   19 – Culver   5 – tied  Gallagher-Iba Arena (3,350)
Stillwater, OK
January 9, 2021
1:00 pm, ESPNU 		No. 14 No. 4 Texas L 70–72  9–4
(2–3) 		 17 – Sherman   16 – Culver   2 – tied  WVU Coliseum (305)
Morgantown, WV
January 16, 2021
1:00 pm 		No. 14 TCU Postponed due to COVID-19 issues WVU Coliseum 
Morgantown, WV
January 19, 2021
TBD 		No. 14 Oklahoma State Postponed due to COVID-19 issues WVU Coliseum 
Morgantown, WV
January 23, 2021
4:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 14 at Kansas State W 69–47  10–4
(3–3) 		 18 – McBride   5 – Osabuohien   5 – tied  Bramlage Coliseum (931)
Manhattan, KS
January 25, 2021
9:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 11 No. 10 Texas Tech W 88–87  11–4
(4–3) 		 24 – McBride   9 – Culver   6 – McBride  WVU Coliseum (339)
Morgantown, WV
January 30, 2021*
2:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 11 Florida L 80–85  11–5
  28 – Culver   12 – Culver   9 – McBride  WVU Coliseum (1,000)
Morgantown, WV
February 2, 2021
7:00 pm, ESPN+ 		No. 17 at Iowa State W 76–72  12–5
(5–3) 		 18 – Sherman   12 – Culver   5 – McCabe  Hilton Coliseum (1,059)
Ames, IA
February 6, 2021
2:00 pm, CBS 		No. 17 No. 23 Kansas W 91–79  13–5
(6–3) 		 29 – McBride   9 – Culver   8 – McBride  WVU Coliseum (1,500)
Morgantown, WV
February 9, 2021
9:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 14 at No. 7 Texas Tech W 82–71  14–5
(7–3) 		 26 – McNeil   8 – Culver   4 – McBride  United Supermarkets Arena (4,500)
Lubbock, TX
February 13, 2021
1:00 pm, ESPN+ 		No. 14 No. 12 Oklahoma L 90–91 2OT 14–6
(7–4) 		 29 – Culver   14 – Culver   8 – McBride  WVU Coliseum (2,800)
Morgantown, WV
February 15, 2021
9:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 13 No. 2 Baylor Postponed due to COVID-19 issues WVU Coliseum 
Morgantown, WV
February 18, 2021
5:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 13 at No. 2 Baylor Postponed due to COVID-19 issues Ferrell Center 
Waco, TX
February 20, 2021
3:00 p.m., ABC 		No. 13 at No. 12 Texas W 84–82  15–6
(8–4) 		 17 – McBride   7 – Matthews Jr.   4 – McBride  Frank Erwin Center (0)
Austin, TX
February 23, 2021
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 10 at TCU W 74–66  16–6
(9–4) 		 23 – Sherman   14 – Culver   5 – McBride  Schollmaier Arena (1,877)
Fort Worth, TX
February 25, 2021
4:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 10 at No. 2 Baylor Canceled due to scheduling changes Ferrell Center 
Waco, TX
February 27, 2021
4:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 10 Kansas State W 65–43  17–6
(10–4) 		 16 – McNeil   7 – Osabuohien   3 – Tied  WVU Coliseum (2,800)
Morgantown, WV
March 2, 2021
5:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 6 No. 3 Baylor L 89–94 OT 17–7
(10–5) 		 26 – Sherman   9 – Culver   8 – McBride  WVU Coliseum (2,800)
Morgantown, WV
March 4, 2021
7:00 pm, ESPN+ 		No. 6 TCU W 76–67  18–7
(11–5) 		 22 – Bridges   12 – Bridges   5 – McBride  WVU Coliseum (2,800)
Morgantown, WV
March 6, 2021
2:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 6 No. 17 Oklahoma State L 80–85  18–8
(11–6) 		 20 – Sherman   6 – Bridges   4 – McBride  WVU Coliseum (2,800)
Morgantown, WV
Big 12 Tournament
March 11, 2021
11:30 am, ESPN 		(4) No. 10 vs. (5) No. 12 Oklahoma State
Quarterfinals 		L 69–72  18–9
  19 – Tied   9 – Culver   6 – McBride  T-Mobile Center (3,491)
Kansas City, MO
NCAA tournament
March 19, 2021*
9:50 pm, truTV 		(3 MW) No. 13 vs. (14 MW) Morehead State
First Round 		W 84–67  19–9
  30 – McBride   7 – Culver   6 – McBride  Lucas Oil Stadium 
Indianapolis, IN
March 21, 2021*
5:15 pm, CBS 		(3 MW) No. 13 vs. (11 MW) Syracuse
Second Round 		L 72–75  19–10
  23 – McNeil   9 – Bridges   7 – McBride  Bankers Life Fieldhouse 
Indianapolis, IN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Rankings

See also: 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP151111118791414111714131061013Not released
Coaches1515^1076816141511181415135т91318

*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings.
^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.

References

  1. ^ Tramel, Berry (March 11, 2021). "Tramel: Oklahoma State basketball has a No. 2 scorer in Avery Anderson. Watch out, Big 12". The Oklahoman. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  2. ^ Redd, Derek (April 11, 2020). "College basketball: Brandon Knapper transfers from WVU to Eastern Kentucky". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved November 1, 2024. (subscription required)