2020–21 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team

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. 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.

2020–21 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball
Crossover Classic champions
NCAA Tournament, Second Round
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 18
APNo. 13
2020–21 record19–10 (11–6 Big 12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaWVU Coliseum
2020–21 Big 12 men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 3 Baylor13–1 .92928–2  .933
No. 12 Kansas12–6 .66721–9  .700
No. 9 Texas †11–6 .64719–8  .704
No. 13 West Virginia11–6 .64719–10  .655
No. 11 Oklahoma State11–7 .61121–9  .700
No. 21 Texas Tech9–8 .52918–11  .621
Oklahoma9–8 .52916–11  .593
TCU5–11 .31312–14  .462
Kansas State4–14 .2229–20  .310
Iowa State0–18 .0002–22  .083
† 2021 Big 12 Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

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
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

Recruiting class of 2020
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
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 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Taj Thweatt
SF		 Wildwood, NJ Wildwood Catholic Academy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sep 3, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Seny Ndiaye
PF		 Dakar, Senegal Huntington Prep School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Jul 15, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   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
    NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
    Kedrian Johnson0G6'3"180JuniorDallas, TXJunior college transferred from Temple College.

    Roster
    2020–21 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Kedrian Johnson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg) JrTemple College Dallas, TX
    F 1 Derek Culver 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)255 lb (116 kg) JrWarren G. Harding HS Youngstown, OH
    F 2 Jalen Bridges 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS FrFairmont Senior HS Fairmont, WV
    F 3 Gabe Osabuohien 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)235 lb (107 kg) SrArkansas Toronto, ON
    G 4 Miles McBride 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)200 lb (91 kg) SoMoeller HS Cincinnati, OH
    G 5 Jordan McCabe 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)188 lb (85 kg) JrKaukauna HS Kaukauna, WI
    F 11 Emmitt Matthews Jr. 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) JrWoodrow Wilson HS Tacoma, WA
    G 12 Taz Sherman 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg) SrCollin College Missouri City, TX
    F 13 Isaiah Cottrell 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg) FrHuntington Prep Las Vegas, NV
    G 20 Jay Moore (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg) FrGreater Beckley Christian Beckley, WV
    G 22 Sean McNeil 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)210 lb (95 kg) JrSinclair CC Union, KY
    F 23 Seny Ndiaye 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)235 lb (107 kg) FrHuntington Prep Dakar, Senegal
    F 24 Taj Thweatt 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg) FrWildwood Catholic Wildwood, NJ
    G 30 Spencer Macke (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)175 lb (79 kg) SoSilver 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
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