NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 2ND ROUND: 5:15 P.M.:  Midwest (11) Syracuse vs. (3) West Virginia, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, CBS; Mountaineers game notes

No. 11 Syracuse
Orange (17-9, 9-7)

No. 3 West Virginia
Mountaineers (19-9, 11-6)

Game 29 – Syracuse
DATE: Sunday, March 21, 2021
LOCATION: Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana
TIPOFF: 5:15 p.m. ET
SERIES: Syracuse leads 34-16
TV: CBS (Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery and Tracy Wolfson)
RADIO: MSN from Learfield IMG College (Tony Caridi & Jay Jacobs)
OFFICIALS: Announced on game day

2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship • WVU has reached the Sweet 16 in eight of its last 12 NCAA appearances (2018, 2017, 2015, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2005, 1998).
• Bob Huggins (900) and Jim Boehiem (981) have combined to win 1,881 wins in 84 seasons of coaching basketball.
• West Virginia is 27-14 in postseason games (12 NCAA, 3 NIT and 1 CBI) in its last 16 appearances.
• West Virginia has won 21 of its last 33 NCAA Tournament games.
• West Virginia has won 14 of its last 20 and 25 of its last 35 games televised by CBS.
• Derek Culver was named to the All-Big 12 First Team, while Miles McBride was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team.
Sean McNeil and Taz Sherman were named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. Gabe Osabuohien was named to the Big 12
All-Defensive Team, and Jalen Bridges earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
• With the win at Iowa State on March 3, 2020, Bob Huggins moved past Dean Smith for sixth place on the NCAA all-time
Division I winningest coaches list. Huggins’ record now stands at 900-381 in his 39th season as a head coach. He needs
two more to tie Bob Knight (902) for fifth place and three more wins to tie Roy Williams for fourth place all-time.
• Huggins is the fourth-winningest active Division I coach behind Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim and Roy Williams.
• On Jan. 4 at Oklahoma State, Bob Huggins recorded his 300th career victory at his alma mater. Only Gale Catlett (1979-
2002) has won more games at WVU with 439. Huggins now has 310 victories at West Virginia.
• Bob Huggins became just the second coach to win at least 300 games at two different Division I schools (WVU – 310
and Cincinnati – 399), joining Roy Williams (Kansas and North Carolina).
• Huggins was named as a finalist for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award.
• Huggins was named the USBWA District II Coach of the Year.
• Huggins was named as one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy Men’s College Coach of the Year.
• WVU is 49-34 in March under Bob Huggins, and WVU is 64-41 in its last 105 games in March.
• Derek Culver became West Virginia’s 54th 1,000-point scorer on March 6. He now ranks 49th with 1,029 career points.
• WVU had three different players win Big 12 Player of the Week honors: Culver (Nov. 30), McBride (Feb. 8 & 22) and
McNeil (Feb. 15). Culver became the first WVU player since Jaysean Paige (2016) to win the award.
• WVU has had three different Player of the Week honorees for the first time since 1994 (Atlantic 10).
• WVU is shooting 38.8% from 3-point range since Jan. 1. Prior to Jan. 1, WVU shot 30.3% from 3. McBride has gone from
37.5% from 3 prior to Jan. 1 to 41.9% since Jan. 1, while Sean McNeil has gone from 34.0% to 39.3%. WVU’s scoring
average has increased from 74.6 ppg to 79.2 ppg.
• Five Mountaineers have had career highs in points since Jan. 25: (McNeil – 26 at Tech, McBride – 24 vs. Tech, then 31 vs.
Kansas, Sherman – 25 vs. Kansas, then 26 vs. Baylor, Culver – 28 vs. Florida, then 29 vs. OU and Bridges – 22 vs. TCU).
• The Mountaineers have made at least eight 3-point field goals in 12 of their last 19 games. WVU made eight or
more 3s three times all of last season and not once in the final 19 games of the 2019-20 season.
• Huggins has seven wins over AP Top 5 teams, most recently No. 4 Baylor on March 7, 2020.
• West Virginia has allowed its opponent to shoot 50 percent or better 85 times under Bob Huggins (480 games).
• West Virginia has made at least one 3-point field goal in 728 consecutive games.
• Huggins has wins over 54 AP-ranked teams at WVU, including 22 wins over Top 10 teams and three over No. 1.
• Huggins has 99 wins over ranked teams as a head coach in his career.
• In the Big 12 stats, Culver leads the league in double-doubles (11), defensive rebounds (6.8), rebounds (9.7), is fourth in
offensive rebounds (2.9) and third in FG% (48.5).
• Miles McBride is second in the league in assists with 134 and leads the league in assist/turnover ratio at 2.61.
• Culver is drawing 7.3 fouls per 40 minutes per game. Culver is rebounding 29.1% of opponent’s missed shots.
• WVU is rebounding 35.6% of its missed shots, ranking 13th nationally. The national average is 28.0 percent.
• This season, Gabe Osabuohien leads WVU with 165 deflections followed by McBride with 162 and Culver with 98.
• WVU’s leaders in +/- this season: Miles McBride (+191), Sean McNeil (+149) and Taz Sherman (+145).
• The Mountaineers have won 110 of their last 122 games when holding opponents to 69 points or less.
• WVU has won 121 of its last 134 and 177 of its last 200 games when holding opponents to less than 69 points.
• WVU is 232-41 under Huggins when holding opponents to 69 points or less.
• West Virginia is 78-5 under Bob Huggins when shooting 50 percent or better from the field.
• West Virginia is 243-51 under Bob Huggins when leading at halftime.
• West Virginia is 251-29 under Bob Huggins when leading by 10 or more points in a game.
• West Virginia is 213-16 under Bob Huggins when posting a higher shooting percentage than its opponent.
• The Mountaineers are 231-58 under Bob Huggins when scoring 70 or more points in a game.
• West Virginia is 230-67 under Bob Huggins when outrebounding its opponent.
• The Mountaineers hold an all-time record of 1-3 in games played on March 21.

Bob Huggins • Huggins is WVU’s 21st head basketball coach.
• Huggins is a Morgantown native and a 1977 graduate of
West Virginia University.
• Huggins has won 900 games in his 39th season as
a head coach.
• Huggins ranks fourth in total victories among active
Division I head coaches.
• Huggins ranks sixth among the NCAA’s all-time
winningest coaches.
• Huggins’ teams have participated in postseason play in 34
of 39 seasons, including 25 NCAA Tournaments.
• His squads have won 20 or more games in all but eight
of his 38 campaigns, including 30 or more twice.
• Huggins averages 23.7 victories a season.
• Huggins has made two NCAA Final Fours and four NCAA
Elite Eight appearances.
• Huggins has been named national coach of the year six
times.
• Huggins’ teams have finished in the Top 10 final rankings
nine times.
• Huggins has coached 13 All-Americans and 75 all-
conference selections.
• Huggins has coached 19 NBA draft picks, including six first
round selections and four lottery picks.
• Huggins has won 13 conference regular season titles.
• Huggins has won 10 conference tournament titles.
• Huggins has led West Virginia to 10 NCAA Tournament
appearances.

Year School Position Record
1977-78 West Virginia Graduate Assistant 12-16
1978-79 Ohio State (NIT) Assistant Coach 19-12
1979-80 Ohio State (NCAA) Assistant Coach 21-8
1980-81 Walsh College Head Coach 14-16
1981-82 Walsh College (NAIA) Head Coach 23-9
1982-83 Walsh College (NAIA) Head Coach 34-1
1983-84 UCF Assistant Coach 15-13
1984-85 Akron Head Coach 12-14
1985-86 Akron (NCAA) Head Coach 22-8
1986-87 Akron (NIT) Head Coach 21-9
1987-88 Akron Head Coach 21-7
1988-89 Akron (NIT) Head Coach 21-8
1989-90 Cincinnati (NIT) Head Coach 20-14
1990-91 Cincinnati (NIT) Head Coach 18-12
1991-92 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 29-5
1992-93 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 27-5
1993-94 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 22-10
1994-95 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 23-11
1995-96 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 28-5
1996-97 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 26-8
1997-98 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 27-6
1998-99 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 27-6
1999-00 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 29-4
2000-01 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 25-10
2001-02 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 31-4
2002-03 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 17-12
2003-04 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 25-7
2004-05 Cincinnati (NCAA) Head Coach 25-8
2006-07 Kansas State (NIT) Head Coach 23-12
2007-08 West Virginia (NCAA) Head Coach 26-11
2008-09 West Virginia (NCAA) Head Coach 23-12
2009-10 West Virginia (NCAA) Head Coach 31-7
2010-11 West Virginia (NCAA) Head Coach 21-12
2011-12 West Virginia (NCAA) Head Coach 19-14
2012-13 West Virginia Head Coach 13-19
2013-14 West Virginia (NIT) Head Coach 17-16
2014-15 West Virginia (NCAA) Head Coach 25-10
2015-16 West Virginia (NCAA) Head Coach 26-9
2016-17 West Virginia (NCAA) Head Coach 28-9
2017-18 West Virginia (NCAA) Head Coach 26-11
2018-19 West Virginia (CBI) Head Coach 15-21
2019-20 West Virginia ^ Head Coach 21-10
2020-21 West Virginia (NCAA) Head Coach 19-9
Overall 39 Seasons 900-381
^ Postseason Canceled due to COVID-19

By The Numbers
2 – Appearances in the NCAA Final Four (1992, 2010)
3 – Times earning the Ray Meyer Award as the Conference USA
Coach of the Year (1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00); also named the
Conference USA Coach of the Decade
4 – Appearances in the NCAA Elite Eight (1992, 1993, 1996, 2010)
5 – Conference Players of the Year (Danny Fortson – 1996 and
1997; Kenyon Martin – 2000; Steve Logan 2001 and 2002)
6 – Times named National Coach of the Year (1991-92 – Hoop
Scoop, 1992-93 – Playboy, 1997-98 – Basketball Times, 1999-2000
– The Sporting News, 2001-02 – ESPN.com, 2014-15 – Jim Phelan
Award)
9 – Top-10 final poll rankings
10 – Number of NCAA appearances at West Virginia (2008, 2009,
2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)
10 – Conference tournament titles
13 – Number of All-Americans in coaching tenure (Bobby Brannan

  • 1998, Da’Sean Butler – 2010, Jevon Carter – 2018, Danny Fortson
  • 1995-1997, DerMarr Johnson – 2000, Kevin Jones – 2012, Steve
    Logan – 2001-2002, Kenyon Martin – 1999-2000, Pete Mickeal –
    2000, Ruben Patterson – 1998, Juwan Staten – 2015, Nick Van Exel
  • 1993, Dontonio Wingfield – 1994)
    13 – Conference regular season titles
    14 – Consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances at Cincinnati
    (1992-2005)
    19 – NBA Draft picks, including six first round selections and four
    lottery picks (Marcel Boyce – 1987; Corie Blount and Nick Van Exel
    – 1993; Dontonio Wingfield – 1994; Danny Fortson – 1997; Ruben
    Patterson – 1998; Melvin Levett – 1999; Kenyon Martin, DerMarr
    Johnson and Pete Mickeal – 2000; Kenny Satterfield – 2001; Steve
    Logan – 2002; Jason Maxiell – 2005; James White – 2006; Joe
    Alexander – 2008; Bill Walker – 2008; Da’Sean Butler and Devin
    Ebanks – 2010; Jevon Carter – 2018)
    25 – NCAA Tournament appearances
    30 – Number of 20-win seasons in his 39 years as a head coach, including 18 seasons of 25 wins or more
    34 – Postseason appearances; 25 NCAA appearances, six NIT appearances (two at Akron; two at Cincinnati; one at Kansas State;
    one at West Virginia), one CBI and two NAIA
    75 – All-Conference selections in Division I (43 at Cincinnati; three at Akron; two at Kansas State; 27 at West Virginia)

WINNINGEST ALL-TIME DIVISION I
MEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES
Coach Wins

  1. Mike Krzyzewski 1,170
  2. Jim Boeheim 981
  3. Jim Calhoun 918
  4. Roy Williams 903
  5. Bob Knight 902
  6. Bob Huggins 900
  7. Dean Smith 879
  8. Adolph Rupp 876
  9. Jim Phelan 830
  10. Rollie Massimino 816
  11. Eddie Sutton 806
  12. Rick Byrd 805
  13. Cliff Ellis 794
  14. Lefty Driesell 786
  15. Lute Olson 781
  16. Lou Henson 779
  17. Bo Ryan 762
  18. Ed Diddle 759
  19. Henry Iba 755
  20. John Beilein 753

Milestone Wins
1 – at Oberlin (11/22/80) 91-59
50 – vs. Mercyhurst (1/6/83) 65-56
100 – vs. Tennessee Tech (2/10/86) 79-69
150 – vs. Stephen F. Austin (12/3/88) 102-77
200 – vs. Xavier (1/30/91) 69-56
250 – vs. DePaul (1/30/93) 80-54
300 – at Dayton (1/26/95) 81-60
350 – vs. DePaul (2/1/97) 90-53
400 – vs. UNC Wilmington (12/30/98) 81-52
450 – vs. Youngstown State (12/20/00) 74-65
500 – vs. Boston University (3/15/02) 90-52
550 – vs. Jackson State (12/20/04) 95-43
600 – at Canisius (12/22/07) 77-54
650 – vs. Marquette (12/29/09) 63-62
700 – vs. Missouri State (12/22/11) 70-68
750 – vs. NC State (12/20/14) 83-69
800 – vs. UMKC (12/17/16) 112-67
850 – vs. Youngstown State (12/1/18) 106-72
900 – vs. Morehead State (3/19/21) 84-67

By School
School Tenure Won Lost Pct.
Walsh 3 years 71 26 .732
Akron 5 years 97 46 .678
Cincinnati 16 years 399 127 .759
Kansas State 1 year 23 12 .657
West Virginia 14 years 310 170 .650

Coaching Honors 2020-21 Season
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Ballot
USBWA District II Coach of the Year
2019-20 Season
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Ballot
2018-19 Season
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Ballot
Conference USA Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
2017-18 Season
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Ballot
2014-15 Season
Big 12 Coach of the Year
National Coach of the Year (Jim Phelan Award)
West Virginia State Sportswriters Coach of the Year
NABC District 8 Coach of the Year
2009-10 Season
West Virginia State Sportswriters Coach of the Year
Big East Tournament Champions
2008-09 Season
West Virginia State Sportswriters Coach of the Year
2007-08 Season
West Virginia State Sportswriters Coach of the Year
2006-07 Season
USBWA District VI Coach of the Year
Big 12 Coach of the Year by the Kansas City Star
2004-05 Season
Conference USA Coach of the Decade
2003-04 Season
Conference USA Regular Season Champions
Conference USA Tournament Champions
2001-02 Season
Conference USA Regular Season Champions
Conference USA Tournament Champions
National Coach of the Year (ESPN.com)
2000-01 Season
Conference USA Regular Season Champions
1999-00 Season
Conference USA Regular Season Champions
Conference USA Coach of the Year
Ohio College Coach of the Year
National Coach of the Year (The Sporting News)
1998-99 Season
Conference USA Regular Season Champions
Conference USA Coach of the Year
1997-98 Season
Conference USA Regular Season Champions
Conference USA Tournament Champions
Conference USA Coach of the Year
National Coach of the Year (Basketball Times)
1996-97 Season
Conference USA Regular Season Champions
1995-96 Season
Conference USA Regular Season Champions
Conference USA Tournament Champions
Mideast Coach of the Year (Basketball Times)
Ohio College Coach of the Year
1994-95 Season
Great Midwest Tournament Champions
1993-94 Season
Great Midwest Tournament Champions
Akron Sports Hall of Fame
1992-93 Season
Great Midwest Conference Regular Season Champions
Great Midwest Tournament Champions
Great Midwest Conference Coach of the Year
National Coach of the Year (Playboy)
1991-92 Season
Great Midwest Conference Regular Season Champions
Great Midwest Tournament Champions
Great Midwest Conference Coach of the Year
District 4 Coach of the Year (USBWA)
Ohio College Coach of the Year
Midwest Coach of the Year (Basketball Times)
National Co-Coach of the Year (Hoop Scoop)
1989-90 Season
Metro Conference Coach of the Year
1985-86 Season
Ohio Valley Conference Champions
Ohio Valley Coach of the Year
Walsh College Wall of Fame
1984-85 Season
Ohio Valley Coach of the Year
1982-83 Season
Mid-Ohio Conference Champions
NAIA District Champions
Mid-Ohio Conference Coach of the Year
NAIA District 22, NAIA Area 6 Coach of the Year
1981-82 Season
Mid-Ohio Conference Champions
Mid-Ohio Conference Coach of the Year
NAIA District 22 Coach of the Year

Scouting Syracuse
• Syracuse is 17-9 following a 78-62 win over San Diego State on Saturday. The Orange have won four of its last five.
• Syracuse was 2-7 on the road and 2-1 on neutral courts this season.
• Jim Boeheim is 981-407 in his 45th season as head coach of the Orange.
Series Record
• Former members of the Big East from 1995-2012, Syracuse holds a 34-16 advantage against West Virginia.
• The last meeting took place on Jan. 28, 2012, a 63-61 Syracuse victory at the Carrier Dome.
• The first meeting in the series took place in Morgantown on Jan. 9, 1917, a 32-21 Orange victory.
• Bob Huggins was 3-1 against Syracuse while playing at WVU. He was 1-1 as a player against the Orange while
Jim Boeheim was in his first two years of coaching at Syracuse. Huggins had 17 combined points in those two games.
• Bob Huggins is 1-5 against Syracuse. All of those meetings have been while he was at West Virginia.
• West Virginia has won seven in a row and 13 of its last 15 games against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
WVU Basketball Tradition
• This is the 112th season and 118th year overall for West Virginia basketball, which began in 1903.
• The Mountaineers own a 1,811-1,119 all-time record in intercollegiate basketball competition, ranking the
Mountaineers 20th in wins among all Division I schools.
• WVU has earned 30 NCAA berths, 16 NIT trips and one CBI bid since 1941, and has finished in the Top 25 24 times,
including an amazing nine straight years from 1955-63.
• Since 2005, WVU played in the CBI in 2019, reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2018, 2017 & 2015, NIT First Round in
2014, NCAA Second Round in 2012, NCAA Third Round in 2011, the NCAA Final Four in 2010, made the NCAA Tournament
in 2016 and 2009, reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2008, won the NIT in 2007, reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2006 and
NCAA Elite Eight in 2005.
• In 1958, the Mountaineers finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in both polls and in 1959, West Virginia, led by
All-America guard Jerry West, lost in the NCAA finals to California.
• West Virginia has had 12 first team All-Americans, headlined by West, who went on to become one of
basketball’s all-time greats with the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.
• Under Huggins, Jevon Carter was named to the John Wooden, Lute Olson and Senior CLASS All-America teams in 2018.
Juwan Staten was named to the Lute Olson All-America team in 2015, Da’Sean Butler earned All-America first team
honors in 2010 by John Wooden & Basketball Times and Kevin Jones earned All-America honors in 2012 by John Wooden.
• Besides West, some of basketball’s biggest names have been affiliated with the Old Gold & Blue, including former
Lakers coach and general manager Fred Schaus, former NBA President of Basketball Operations and NBA Hall of Famer
Rod Thorn and former Utah Jazz broadcaster and NBA Hall of Famer “Hot Rod” Hundley.
• West Virginia has played in four different home venues: the ROTC Armory (1903-15), The Ark (1916-27), Stansbury Hall
(1928-69) and the WVU Coliseum (1970-present). When the WVU Coliseum was closed due to asbestos removal during
the 1999-2000 season, WVU played home games in Charleston, Wheeling and Fairmont.

WVU Seeding Since 1979
1982, 5th seed, lost in second round
1983, 7th seed, lost in first round
1984, 11th seed, lost in second round
1986, 9th seed, lost in first round
1987, 7th seed, lost in first round
1989, 7th seed, lost in second round
1992, 12th seed, lost in first round
1998, 10th seed, lost in regional semifinals
2005, 7th seed, lost in regional finals
2006, 6th seed, lost in regional semifinals
2008, 7th seed, lost in regional semifinals
2009, 6th seed, lost in first round
2010, 2nd seed, lost in national semifinals
2011, 5th seed, lost in second round
2012, 10th seed, lost in first round
2015, 5th seed, lost in regional semifinals
2016, 3rd seed, lost in first round
2017, 4th seed, lost in regional semifinals
2018, 5th seed, lost in regional semfinals
2021, 3rd seed

NCAA Tournament Notebook
• West Virginia is making its 30th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, dating back to 1955. • The Mountaineers are 32-29 all-time in NCAA Tournament play.
• The Mountaineers made their second Final Four appearance in 2010. The other was in 1959, led by the great Jerry
West. WVU advanced to the national championship game, falling to California, 71-70.
• WVU has reached the Sweet 16 in eight of its last 12 NCAA Tournament appearances (2018, 2017, 2015, 2010, 2008, 2006,
2005 and 1998).
• West Virginia is 27-14 in postseason games (12 NCAA, 3 NIT and 1 CBI) in its last 16 appearances.
• In 2010, WVU defeated No. 15 Morgan State, No. 10 Missouri, No. 11 Washington and No. 1 Kentucky to win the East
Region. The Mountaineers fell to Duke in the Final Four.
• In 2015, WVU defeated No. 12 Buffalo and No. 4 Maryland before falling to No. 1 Kentucky in the NCAA Sweet 16.
• In 2017, WVU defeated No. 14 Bucknell and No. 5 Notre Dame before falling to No. 1 Gonzaga in the NCAA Sweet 16.
• In 2018, WVU defeated No. 12 Murray State and No. 13 Marshall before falling to No. 1 Villanova in the NCAA Sweet 16.
• Combining the NCAA Tournament and the NIT, WVU is 53-45 all-time in 46 postseason appearances.

Huggins in Division I Postseason Tournaments
• Bob Huggins is coaching in his 31st Division I postseason appearance and his 34th appearance overall in his 39
seasons as a head coach.
• Huggins is making his 25th NCAA Tournament appearance (one at Akron, 14 at Cincinnati and 10 at WVU).
• Huggins led his 1992 Cincinnati team and 2010 West Virginia team to the Final Four. He has appeared in the NCAA Elite
Eight four times (1992, 1993, 1996 and 2010) and NCAA Sweet 16 nine times (five at West Virginia).
• Huggins is 34-24 in NCAA Division I tournament games and 37-30 in Division I postseason games.

Probable Mountaineer Starters (Starters based on previous game)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Statistics Notes
2 Jalen Bridges F 6-7 200 r-Fr. 6.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg 22 points, 12 rebounds vs. TCU on March 4
11 Emmitt Matthews Jr. F 6-7 215 Jr. 7.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg Has started 66 of the last 70 games
1 Derek Culver F 6-10 255 Jr. 14.5 ppg, 9.7 rpg Big 12 leader in double-doubles with 11
22 Sean McNeil G 6-3 210 Jr. 11.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg Big 12 Player of the Week (Feb. 15)
4 Miles McBride G 6-2 200 So. 16.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg Leads WVU in plus/minus with a +191
Mountaineers Off The Bench
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Statistics Notes
12 Taz Sherman G 6-4 190 Sr. 13.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg 89.2% from the free throw line in Big 12 games
5 Jordan McCabe G 6-0 188 Jr. 2.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg Season-high 10 points against Texas Tech
3 Gabe Osabuohien F 6-7 235 Sr. 1.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg Has 164 deflections on the season
13 Isaiah Cottrell F 6-10 240 Fr. 1.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg Out for season with a torn Achilles
0 Kedrian Johnson G 6-3 180 Jr. 1.3 ppg, 0.8 rpg Posted a season-high nine points at OSU
20 Jay Moore G 6-3 195 Fr. 0.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg Invited walk-on
24 Taj Thweatt F 6-7 210 Fr. 0.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg Averaged 17.9 points, 7.3 boards as a senior
23 Seny Ndiaye F 6-10 235 Fr. 0.1 ppg, 0.4 rpg Attended Huntington Prep last year
30 Spencer Macke G 5-11 175 So. 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg Played in seven games last season
Probable Syracuse Starters (Starters based on previous game)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Statistics
1 Quincy Guerrier F 6-7 220 So. 14.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg
21 Merek Dolezaj F 6-10 201 Sr. 10.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg
0 Alan Griffin G 6-5 190 Jr. 14.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg
11 Joseph Girard III G 6-1 195 So. 9.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg
35 Buddy Boeheim G 6-6 195 Jr. 17.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg

Preseason Awards
• Junior forward Derek Culver was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
• The Mountaineers were predicted to finish third by the league’s head coaches in the Big 12 preseason poll.
NCAA Statistical Leaders
• WVU has led the country in offensive rebounds the last three seasons: 471 in 2019-20, 525 in 2018-19 and 521 in 2017-18.
• In 2016-17, WVU led the country in turnover margin (7.7), turnovers forced (20.0), total steals (371) and steals (10.0). WVU
ranked third in scoring margin (14.8), fifth in offensive rebounds (14.3), 21st in assists (16.4) & 23rd in scoring offense (81.5).
• In 2014-15, the Mountaineers led the country in turnovers forced, steals and offensive rebounds. In 2015-16, West
Virginia led the country in turnovers forced.
Academic Success
• Forty-six of the last 47 seniors on the WVU men’s basketball team have graduated on time or early since 2004.
• In 2020, West Virginia had the most student-athletes (six) on the Academic All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Team.
• The Mountaineers also led the Big 12 in 2019 with six student-athletes on the team.
• Derek Culver, Emmitt Matthews and Jordan McCabe were named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2019-20.
• Jalen Bridges, Spencer Macke and Miles McBride were named to the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team in 2019-20
• In 2017-18, Jevon Carter was named CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for men’s basketball and first team
Academic All-American.
• In 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, WVU men’s basketball also was recognized nationally for ranking in the
top 10 percent nationally among men’s basketball programs for the Academic Progress Rate (APR).
• In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, men’s basketball was recognized by the NCAA for a perfect four-year APR score of 1,000.
Tournament History
• West Virginia is 276-179 all-time in tournaments.
• This season, WVU defeated South Dakota State, VCU and Western Kentucky to win the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic.
• Derek Culver was named MVP, while Miles McBride was named to the Crossover Classic All-Tournament Team.
• Under Bob Huggins, the Mountaineers have won the 2020 Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic, the 2019 Cancun
Challenge, the 2017 AdvoCare Invitational in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, the 2015 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational,
the 2014 Puerto Rico Tip-Off and the 2009 76 Classic in Anaheim, California.

Against Ranked Teams
• The Oklahoma State game marked the 338th time in school history WVU played a team ranked in the AP Top 25.
• Bob Huggins has 54 wins over ranked teams at WVU: No. 7 Texas Tech, 10 Texas Tech, No. 12 Texas, No. 19 Richmond, No.
23 Kansas (2020-21), No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Baylor, No. 22 Texas Tech (2019-20), No. 7 Texas Tech, No. 7 Kansas (2018-19),
No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 12 Texas Tech, No. 14 Texas Tech, No. 15 Virginia, No. 17 Oklahoma (2017-18), No. 1 Baylor, No. 2 Kansas
(No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches Poll), No. 6 Virginia, No. 14 Notre Dame and No. 24 Iowa State (2016-17), No. 1 Kansas, No.
6 Oklahoma, No. 13 Iowa State, No. 15 Baylor, No. 17 Iowa State and No. 19 Baylor (2015-16), No. 8 Kansas, No. 12 Maryland,
No. 17 UConn, No. 18 Oklahoma and No. 22 Oklahoma State (2014-15), No. 8 Kansas, No. 21 Oklahoma and No. 11 Iowa State
(2013-14), No. 9 Georgetown (2011-12), No. 8 Notre Dame, No. 8 Purdue, No. 11 Louisville, No. 13 Georgetown and No. 16
UConn (2010-11), No. 2 Kentucky, No. 9 Villanova, No. 15 Ole Miss, No. 19 Georgetown, No. 21 Ohio St., No. 22 Georgetown
and No. 22 Pitt (2009-10), No. 2 Pitt, No. 12 Georgetown, No. 13 Villanova and No. 15 Ohio St. (2008-09) & No. 9 Duke, No.
10 Marquette & No. 15 UConn (2007-08).
• Including a win over No. 25 Iowa State (2018-19), Huggins has 55 wins over teams in the USA Today Coaches’ poll at WVU.
• WVU’s win over No. 2 Ohio State in 2019 was its first win away from home against an AP Top 5 team since defeating No.
2 Kentucky in the 2010 NCAA Elite Eight in Syracuse, New York.
• WVU owns 110 wins over AP-ranked teams. • Since 1995, the Mountaineers have played 225 nationally ranked teams. WVU has played 338 total games against
nationally ranked competition. That means more than 66 percent of the games against the best teams in the country
have come during the last 27 seasons.
• WVU has played 176 ranked teams since the start of the 2004-05 season, winning 68 of those games.
• Bob Huggins has faced 120 ranked teams during the regular season in 14 years, the most in school history. Gale
Catlett faced 66 ranked teams during the regular season in 25 years, while John Beilein faced 34 ranked teams during
regular season play in five years.

Player Assists
• Jalen Bridges: Enrolled at WVU in September 2019 … redshirted last season … won the 2019 Bill Evans Award, given
annually to the state player of the year in West Virginia … helped Fairmont Senior to two state championships … made
his first career start at Oklahoma and had 19 points … first career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds vs. TCU …
named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
• Isaiah Cottrell: Attended Huntington Prep in Huntington, W.Va., last season … averaged 18.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per
game … previously attended Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas … out for season with a torn Achilles on Dec. 29, 2020.
• Derek Culver: Named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2019-20 … named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and tabbed a
unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team in 2018-19 … named to the All-Big 12 First Team in 2021 … had 22
points and 21 rebounds against TCU in 2019, marking the first WVU player to post a 20-20 game since 1977 … 11
double-doubles this season and 27 for his career … named to the Academic All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball First Team … MVP
of the 2020 Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic … Big 12 Player of the Week (Nov. 30, 2020) … 18 points and 15 rebounds
vs. Gonzaga … 22 points and 19 rebounds at Oklahoma State … 28 points to go with 12 rebounds against Florida …
career-high 29 points and 14 rebounds against Oklahoma.
• Kedrian Johnson: Attended Temple College in Temple, Texas … was fourth in the country in scoring as a sophomore
with 25.5 points per game … named a NJCAA Third Team All-American.
• Spencer Macke: Top scorer in Kentucky and 10th in the country as a senior at 34.9 points per game … led the state of
Kentucky in rebounding at 15.8 per game … invited walk-on … played in seven games as a freshman.
• Emmitt Matthews Jr.: Tallied a career-high 28 points against Texas Tech in the 2019 Big 12 Championship … first career
double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds against Austin Peay … Academic All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball First Team … 18
points in the win over No. 4 Baylor on March 7, 2020 … has started 66 of the last 70 games.
• Miles McBride: Named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team … led Moeller HS to the Ohio Division I state championship with
a 29-0 record … OPSWA Division I Ohio All-State First Team as a senior … outstanding high school quarterback … was
named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (Jan. 13, 2020) … 2020 Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic All-Tournament Team …
had 24 points, including the game-winning shot with 5.9 seconds left against Texas Tech … posted a career-high 31
points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists in the win over Kansas … named Big 12 Player of the Week (Feb. 8
and Feb. 22, 2021) … named to the All-Big 12 Second Team this season.
• Jordan McCabe: Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on March 4, 2019 … led the team in assists as a freshman with 88
… named Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin … Associated Press state player of the year … finished with 25 points, 11 assists, six
steals and five rebounds vs. TCU (2019) – becoming the first collegiate player since 2010 to post those numbers in a game
… Academic All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball First Team … has made 49 career starts.
• Sean McNeil: Led the nation in scoring, averaging 29.7 points per game prior to coming to WVU … led the nation with 4.3
field goals made per game in junior college … earned NJCAA Division II First Team All-America honors … made a
team-leading 29 3’s last season … had 24 points at Kansas, started the game 6-of-6 from 3-point range … finished with
a career-high 26 points in the win at Texas Tech … named Big 12 Player of the Week (Feb. 15, 2021) … named All-Big 12
Honorable Mention.
• Seny Ndiaye: Signed with WVU in the summer of 2020 from Huntington Prep in Huntington, W.Va. … averaged five
points, six rebounds and three blocks per game.
• Gabe Osabuohien: Transferred to WVU from Arkansas in August 2019 … played in 54 games for the Razorbacks, starting
the final eight … became eligible on Nov. 20, 2019 … first game was against Boston U … started against Rhode Island …
played in 28 games last season, avearging 3.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game … Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
• Taz Sherman: Named a National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Second Team All-American in 2019 … in
junior college, scored 25.9 points per game, finishing fourth in most points overall in NJCAA Division I … first career start
vs. Northern Colorado … career-high 26 points against Baylor (March 2, 2021) … All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2021.
• Taj Thweatt: Averaged 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a senior at Wildwood Catholic High … named the 2019-
20 Press Boys Player of the Year … finished his career with 1,773 points and 1,028 rebounds.

Postseason Awards
• Junior forward Derek Culver was named to the All-Big 12 First Team. As a freshman, he was named to the All-Big 12
Second Team and was named to the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention Team last season.
• Culver is the third Mountaineer to earn All-Big 12 First Team honors. Juwan Staten was named in 2014 and 2015, while
Jevon Carter was tabbed in 2018.
• Sophomore guard Miles McBride was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team. Last year, he was named to the Big 12
All-Freshman Team.
• Senior guard Taz Sherman and junior guard Sean McNeil were named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
• Senior forward Gabe Osabuohien was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
• Freshman forward Jalen Bridges was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
• West Virginia finished tied for third after being predicted to finish third by the league’s head coaches.

Huggins Announces 2021-22 Recruiting Class
• Coach Bob Huggins annnouned the signing of two recruits during the November signing period.
• Kobe Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 207-pound combo guard from Canton, Ohio, attends Canton McKinley High. Last season, he
was the only junior named to the Division I All-Ohio First Team by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.
• Seth Wilson, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound combo guard from Lorain, Ohio, attends Lorain High. Last season, he was named to
the All-Lake Erie League First Team and All-Lorain County First Team. Wilson previously attended St. Vincent-St. Mary
High in Akron, Ohio.

COURTESY WEST VIRGINIA ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

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