Report: Culver and Tshiebwe Will Both Return for Next Season

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports is reporting that both of West Virginia’s starting big men, Derek Culver and Oscar Tshiebwe, will be returning next season, per WVU coach Bob Huggins.

Oscar Tshiebwe and Derek Culver are both expected to return to West Virginia next season, per Bob Huggins.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 24, 2020

There was concern that one or both could explore leaving WVU early to declare for the NBA draft as Sagaba Konate did after last season.

Tshiebwe and Culver were WVU’s top two leading scorers this season. Tshiebwe, a freshman, averaged 11.2 points per game, shooting 55.2% from the floor. Culver, a sophomore, averaged 10.4 shooting 45.7%.

They were also the top rebounding duo in the Big 12 conference this season. Tshiebwe (9.3) and Culver (8.6) combined to average 17.9 rebounds per game this season. The next closest duo in the conference was Baylor’s Freddie Gillespie and Mark Vital at 15.3.

In offensive rebounding, Tshiebwe led the conference with 128 and Culver finished sixth with 84. For defensive rebounds, Culver finished third with 183 and Tshiebwe fifth with 159.

Both big men received honors following the season. Tshiebwe was named to the All-Big 12 second team, All-Newcomer Team and All-Freshman Team as well as being named to the NABC All-District first team. Culver was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.