WVU Downs Mistake-Prone Kansas State Off Two-Week Break

[Kevin Kinder]

West Virginia might have been expected to be a bit ragged in its Saturday afternoon game at Kansas State, coming as it was off a two-week COVID hiatus
[See the full post at: WVU Downs Mistake-Prone Kansas State Off Two-Week Break]

[Butlereer]

the 2 T’s were BS plays by 1st year end of the bench guys.  Kedy should know better.

[JAL]

One nice thing was that every time K State cut the lead to single digits WVU quickly pushed it back to 13 to 15   WVU’s overall dominance was such that I never felt K State would catch up or take the lead.

[Butlereer]

We didn’t let a run by KSt get.to is.  We kept the pressure on.

[Kevin Kinder]

Agreed JAL. I guess I’m looking at it two ways. One, is the way you say – WVU responded every time.

But the other is that KState looked abysmal. Should have been a 30-point game in the first half. Felt like that pointed up many WVU shortcomings.

[WVUAlumni2003]

Thankfully Kansas State is just bad.  Athletes are there and young, but no chemistry, no understanding how to play as a team, and nobody at a level individually to go on a streak.

WVU managed to win a game where Culver was irrelevant, but I would say most of this was due to the opponent we just played.  Needed a warm up game (no offense K State) to get back into the thick of it and Monday night is the biggest game so far this year.

WVU needs a big win on its resume, especially at home.  Texas Tech is a very even match up with WVU.  I hope to see a powerful performance by Culver to help balance out the offense.  Tech plays stingy defense and has a very tough motion offense that’s unpredictable.

 

[TonyAlto]

IMHO, Culver is being put in untenable positions in the offense. His stationary posting is both self defeating and team inefficient. He is constantly in a situation where he has to make tough, athletic moves through or around multiple defenders or attempt one on one drives from outside in awkward attempts! Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to move him around and get the ball off screens on the move. Or when posting, his handling the ball more than 2-3 seconds is a waste! In and out, quick reaction with a guard would give his movement more efficiency and also a better shot for the guard! Ne’st ce pas!? How about a high post screen and spin to the bucket?

[wvucinci]

We had 3 players combine for 14-21 from the floor.  We had 3 other combine for 3-17.  It is never the same 3 that shoot well or the same 3 that can’t piss on their shoes.  But our offense is never going to look smooth going 17-38 from those 6 players.  It is not that we need them to always  shoot 21-38 to win.  But we need them to shoot 21-38 frequently enough that the other team respects on shooters.  Time for those 6 to be good as a group all the time.  Past time.

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers]

TWENTY EIGHT turnovers tells you everything you need to know about Kansas State. WVU defense is top 10-ish, but not THAT good.

K-State couldn’t dribble and chew gum at the same time. 

After the 2-week layoff I  was delighted to see WVU’s performance, though, except for Culver. Felt bad for Derek. Him and McBride have been our twin lighthouses this season. But even Derek is allowed an off night.

[Kevin Kinder]

Tony,

We’ve discussed ways to get Derek into the post to avoid traffic and help prevent some double teams, but he is not a perimeter player, and is not going to be successful driving the ball off an outside screen. He’s a one- or two-dribble power move player, not someone that can put it on the floor from 18 feet like Deuce, Emmitt or Taz.

[TonyAlto]

KK,
going to be successful driving the ball off an outside screen. He’s a one- or two-dribble power move player, not

Not sure how you got that impression from what I said.
The gist or bottom line is that he would get better shots on the move, whether off screens or just being more open than posting among the trees! He’s frustrated in this offense!

[Butlereer]

It’s only been a hand full of games since the departure of Oscar.  The game style for Derek has changed from two bigs fighting each other for position in the paint to a 4 out motion offense.

We need to chill and let Derek’s game transform.  He’s a great athlete and has shown the ability to adjust, learn from Huggs, Larry and Eric.

[TonyAlto]

Butt:
We need to chill and let Derek’s game transform. He’s a great athlete and has shown the ability to adjust, learn from Huggs, Larry and Eric.

Translate please!

[Butlereer]

From my couch potato view the wholesale change from 2 bigs to a 4 out is a huge change.  Talking about the deficiencies of any player or even the whole team at this point is premature.  Culver’s role at the beginning of the year is much different than his role now because of the style of play that is forced because of the defection of Oscar and the injury to Cottrell.

That being said, Culver has shown us that he has the athletic ability to play a different style.  He has a decent handle for a big.  He passes very well. He can go to his right and left equally well.  His shooting from more than 8 ft will develop with time as he learns how to play more facing the basket.  I may be more optimistic than most, but let’s see how this works out.  A lot also depends on how Emmitt, Jalen and Taj develop as a 3/4 hybrid.

[TonyAlto]

Butt:
Culver’s role at the beginning of the year is much different than his role now because of the style of play that is forced

What exactly was that role with O and his role now? And how many minutes of a game were they in together? O seemed to spend a lot of time on the bench for various reasons. So Culver as a lone big ain’t nothing new!? And bye the way, not sure it’s your duty on the board to say what’s allowed and not allowed to be posted!

[Butlereer]

We didn’t play a 4 out at the beginning of the year.  We almost always had 2 bigs on the floor at the same time.  Culver/Oscar/Gabe/Cottrell.  With the defection of Oscar and the injury to Cottrell we seldom have 2 bigs.

Who says anything about “my duty” allowing what is to be posted?  Where do you get that?  If you get that from me saying we need to chill, then you have very thin skin.  Sorry you took it wrong.

[wvucinci]

To reiterate, we had 3 go 14-21 and 3 go 3-17 against KSU.  Those same 6 went 14-25 and 11-18 from the floor against TT.  Against TT a combined 25-43 versus a combined 17-38 against KSU.  Well done group of 6, well done.

Need to shoot at least the average of those two games every game.  Now, about your defensive play……

[Author]

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