Will West Virginia Return to March Madness in 2023?

The West Virginia Mountaineers are coming off of a horrible season. They ended the season 16-17, rating exterior of the highest 65 on KemPom. In addition they completed tenth within the Massive 12 with a 4-14 document. Can the Mountaineers flip it round and earn a bid to March Insanity in 2023?

Full Overhaul

West Virginia is coping with an entire overhaul for the 2022-23 season. They’re returning just one participant – Kedrian Johnson – that performed over 10 minutes per sport final season. Johnson wasn’t essentially an enormous a part of the rotation both, as he averaged solely 20.5 minutes per sport.

They added a number of gamers within the switch portal, although. The Mountaineers welcomed again Emmitt Matthews Jr. who left West Virginia for Washington. In addition they added a number of JUCO gamers, who performed at a particularly excessive stage in Junior School.

Lastly, West Virginia added a pair of freshmen who might help early of their careers. It’ll be thrilling to see if all of those gamers have the power to contribute at a excessive stage within the Massive 12.

Scoring

One of many largest considerations for West Virginia shall be scoring. The one returning participant with any scoring potential final season is Kedrian Johnson. Though he noticed some success, he averaged solely 5.3 factors per sport.

Emmitt Matthews may emerge as one of many high choices for the Mountaineers this season. He averaged 11.7 factors per sport for the Washington Huskies final season, and he may take over as the first scorer for West Virginia. Erik Stevenson additionally averaged 11.6 factors per sport for the South Carolina Gamecocks final season. He’s one other participant who’s flashed potential to attain on the highest stage of competitors.

West Virginia has a trio of JUCO transfers that include some scoring potential. Mohamed Wague and Pat Suemnick averaged 14.8 factors and 12 factors per sport final season. In addition they have a possible scorer in Jimmy Bell Jr., who averaged 9.3 factors per sport final season. Bell additionally has expertise at Saint Louis, though Wague has essentially the most potential out of the trio.

Lastly, there are a pair of freshman coming in which have the power to take over video games. Josiah Davis averaged 19.7 factors per sport as a senior final season. He comes with as a lot scoring upside as anybody on the workforce, though he might battle at occasions all through his freshman marketing campaign. Josiah Harris averaged 17.9 factors per sport, and he’s one other excessive upside freshman.

Though there isn’t one participant that stands proud as a constant, secure scoring possibility, there are many potential scorers on this workforce. Sooner or later Davis and Harris will seemingly take over the offense, however that will not occur subsequent season. This isn’t essentially the most harmful offensive workforce, however there may be loads of upside in that division.

Protection

Protection has at all times been a energy for West Virginia, however they struggled on that finish final season. They didn’t have the power to press, and that will change with one in all their transfers this season.

Joe Toussaint is seen as top-of-the-line defenders within the NCAA, and he’ll add some a lot wanted perimeter protection to the Mountaineers. The most important considerations are his offensive liabilities, and whether or not West Virginia is keen to commerce his elite protection for sub-par offense.

General, this shall be an fascinating protection. If Davis and Harris show that they will contribute early, they will add versatility to the West Virginia protection. With the addition of Toussaint and massive man Mohamed Wague, we may see the return of Press Virginia this season.

Conclusion

This West Virginia workforce shall be utterly completely different than what we noticed final season. They aren’t one of many safer groups within the NCAA, as they are going to be relying closely on transfers and JUCO transfers. If they will construct chemistry early on, West Virginia might shock a couple of individuals.

With that being stated, it’s unlikely that they make a adequate run to make March Insanity. Their present odds to win the NCAA Championship sit at +20000 and for good cause. This shall be a younger, inexperienced workforce that ought to have the power to trigger some upsets, however there’ll seemingly be loads of rebuilding earlier than they’re able to make an precise run for the event.

NOTE: Tre Mitchell introduced his dedication to West Virginia after this text was accomplished. He’ll instantly slide in as top-of-the-line choices for West Virginia. He averaged over 18 factors and seven rebounds per sport throughout two seasons at UMass earlier than averaging an 8.7/4.0/1.3/0.7/0.7 line in solely 18.6 minutes per sport for Texas final season. Mitchell may take the subsequent step ahead as the focus for West Virginia, and he is a participant that may assist pace up their rebuild course of. 

Fb – @WVUonSI

Twitter – @SI_WVU and Justin Bales at @BalesSJustin.