Derek Redd: Previous-school submit play paying off for WVU basketball | Derek Redd

The concept of what a basketball massive man needs to be has modified in recent times. For a very long time, facilities and energy forwards had been extra of the Shaquille O’Neal and Karl Malone selection, devoted low-post gamers who didn’t stray too removed from the basket. But, as with most issues in life, that idea developed.

Now, 7-footers or near-7-footers appear to be Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo, wings who’re extra comfy operating the ground or capturing from exterior. And extra are on the way in which, like Washington freshman Jaden McDaniels, a 6-10 child averaging practically 4 3-point makes an attempt a sport. There’s nothing mistaken with that. It’s simply the pure development of the game.

So it’s intriguing when basketball groups thrive with a extra standard method within the submit. The Mountaineers haven’t only one however two bruisers making life a dwelling hell for opponents.

Foes already knew getting into this season to watch out for 6-10, 255-pound Brahma bull Derek Culver, a second-team All-Massive 12 decide final yr. Then WVU coach Bob Huggins signed him a tag-team accomplice, including 6-9, 258-pound Oscar Tshiebwe to the Mountaineers’ Legion of Doom.

Don’t even trouble game-planning for that duo’s exterior sport. Culver and Tshiebwe have mixed to shoot a stone-cold zero 3-pointers. These two are throwing it again by throwing it down. They’re the highest two rebounders within the Massive 12, Culver averaging 9.7 boards and Tshiebwe averaging 9.6. Plus Tshiebwe is sixth within the league at 1.four blocks per sport.

They usually’re serving to the Mountaineers as a complete stake their declare as one of the best defensive group in school basketball. They’re second in Division I in each total field-goal share protection and 3-point field-goal share protection. Solely 31 groups within the nation have had extra 3-pointers tried towards them than the 340 foes have shot towards West Virginia. A lot of that has to do with what awaits these opponents once they assault the basket.

That was evident in WVU’s Tuesday beatdown of TCU, a fabulous show of defensive would possibly with Culver and Tshiebwe on the forefront. Culver pulled down 11 rebounds towards the Horned Frogs and, whereas Tshiebwe completed with six boards, he additionally blocked three pictures. TCU shot simply 31.eight % from the ground and greater than half its makes an attempt Tuesday night time, 23 of the Frogs’ 44, had been from 3-point vary.

That’s not a components for victory, however it was one compelled upon TCU and might be compelled upon others because the season progresses.

You don’t mess with what works. You need extra proof that that is working? Huggins isn’t speaking about it, and the media isn’t asking about it. That wasn’t the case earlier within the season when the 2 greatest bricks within the Nice Wall of Morgantown had been attempting to determine how one can work collectively.

Huggins isn’t shy in letting folks know what’s on his thoughts. How Culver and Tshiebwe coexist isn’t on the high now, and he can flip his consideration to different urgent issues.

Everybody else in school basketball? They’re paying consideration. Failure to take action could be deadly.

So don’t watch WVU basketball with the concept Culver and Tshiebwe will channel Durant anytime quickly. It’s not gonna occur. The Mountaineers are going old fashioned for now.