West Virginia defeated Robert Morris 87-59 in their season-opener on Monday.
In a new era for the Mountaineers, there is a lot to be learned about the team that new head coach Darian DeVries puts on the floor. With that, there are a few takeaways from their victory that may give fans insight into what is to come in the remainder of the season.
Turnovers
West Virginia forced several turnovers early which led to a big lead out of the gate. Three steals within the first couple of minutes led to eight points, all from Tucker DeVries. The Mountaineers scored 21 points before RMU got on the board. In totality, WVU scored 25 points off of 14 Colonial turnovers. They had 10 steals in the game and played tight defense throughout. As the season continues, how West Virginia is able or unable to keep up that style of play is something to look out for.
Perimeter Defense
In addition to forcing turnovers, another area West Virginia’s defense excelled in on Monday was perimeter defense. Robert Morris shot 25% from three, making just six three-pointers in the contest compared to 14 made by WVU. They shot two-of-11 from the arc in the first half, but they picked it up in the second shooting four-of-13. Coach DeVries attributed this to strong defensive guard play, highlighting Sencire ‘Buck’ Harris, who had three of the Mountaineers’ eight blocks in the contest. If West Virginia is able to continue to limit teams from deep, that should significantly contribute to success.
Potential Lack of Height
One aspect that Robert Morris bested WVU in was rebounding. They out-rebounded the Mountaineers 41-37 and had a concerning 16 offensive rebounds. As West Virginia progresses into a more competitive and challenging schedule, rebounding will most likely be a key concern. Their only true five-man or center is Eduardo Andre, who came off the bench and played 13 minutes had four rebounds. Amani Hansberry, who took the tip-off, but realistically is a true four, led the team in rebounding with 12.
True Freshmen
Coming off the bench true freshmen KJ Tenner and Jonathan Powell made a splash. Both played with little nerves, leading them to be two of five Mountaineers to end in double figures scoring-wise. Powell had 11 points, an assist and a rebound in 21 minutes. He shot four of eight from the floor, three of seven from three. Tenner had 10 points, three assists, two steals and a rebound in 15 minutes. He shot four of five from the field, two of two from behind the arc. If the two true freshmen, who signed after the DeVries hire, can continue to produce and step up for West Virginia, it’ll be a positive sign for not only this season, but for the future of the program.
