Morgantown, West Virginia – What at one time seemed like a devastating loss for the Mountaineers now seems like a blessing in disguise.
When Oscar Tshiebwe decided to leave the team and transfer to the University of Kentucky, it felt like a tremendous blow for a team with huge expectations.
Since then, however, West Virginia is now 7-3 overall with 4 big wins over ranked teams. In addition, the Mountaineers are making six more field goals and four more 3 point field goals per game since Tshiebwe’s departure.
In other words, this is a far better, more cohesive unit now. Bob Huggins confirmed that in his post game interview when he said, “I’m tired of talking about the past. Every time you turn on one of our games, all they talk about is how we don’t have Oscar anymore. Well, they’re right, we don’t have Oscar anymore and we’re doing just fine.”
Huggins also took a jab at Tshiebwe, adding, “We’re a lot more fun team to coach now too.”
Not only do the Mountaineers move the ball better and make more shots, Derek Culver has more room to operate in the paint and looks like an entirely different player now. Overall, West Virginia is a far more exciting, entertaining (and better) team without Oscar Tshiebwe.
Kentucky, on the other hand, fell to 5-13 overall this season following an 81-80 loss at home against Arkansas. The loss put the Wildcats near the bottom of the SEC Conference at 4-7.
Kentucky drops another home game and falls to 5-13 on the season. You sure about that decision, Oscar?
— The Voice of Motown (@voicemorgantown) February 10, 2021
While we wish Oscar all the luck in the world at Kentucky, him deciding to leave Morgantown was perhaps the very best thing that could have ever happened to the West Virginia Mountaineers!
