Takeaways: Suemnick’s Recent Play is What WVU Has Needed

WVU Basketball defeated No. 25 Texas at home on Saturday night to collect their first Big 12 win of the season. Junior forward Patrick Suemnick continued to play well, recording 16 points and six rebounds against the Longhorns. Let’s take a look at some takeaways from the game.

Suemnick’s Play Needed Desperately

Suemnick has stepped up his play over the past four games, averaging 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds on 73% shooting from the field. Suemnick has been needed while Jesse Edwards recovers from a fractured wrist injury.

Along with his play, West Virginia has just needed a glue guy like Suemnick that the team can be energized around. Suemnick has made tough plays that have changed the momentum of the game. The 6-foot-8 forward had an offensive rebound that resulted in a reverse dunk over Texas’ Dylan Disu that got the crowd and players into it.

As WVU continues to find its team identity, having a reliable glue player who can do the dirty work will do wonders as the team waits for Edwards to return.

Battle Has to Avoid Foul Trouble

It has become a pattern where RaeQuan Battle has recorded a pair of fouls in the first half. Battle has been aggressive out of the gate on defense which has resulted in Josh Eilert having to bench Battle for the remainder of the first frame.

Battle is averaging 20.2 points during his first six games for the Mountaineers and has already proven to be a needed scorer. Battle has been in foul trouble the previous four games.

Could West Virginia Somehow Turn This Around?

West Virginia picked up their first quality win of the season over Texas but can they continue to turn this thing around or was this just a fluke? Coming up this week the Mountaineers travel to Oklahoma to take on the ranked Sooners before hosting Kansas in Morgantown. If West Virginia even wants to entertain a turnaround they need to at least win one game next week.

Edwards will have his brace taken off this upcoming week, per Eilert, but will begin rehab after that. It seems unrealistic that the Syracuse transfer will participate against the Sooners or Jayhawks. If West Virginia continues to find chemistry and identity, they could ruin some team’s resumes and give themselves a chance for more quality wins heading into February.

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