Culver’s free-throw shooting crucial to West Virginia’s season

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Statistically speaking, no player may be more vital to West Virginia’s long-term aspirations this season than sophomore power forward Derek Culver.

Even though it often looks like he’s getting hacked with no consequence — and frequently is — Culver is actually a foul-drawing machine.

No player in the Big 12 draws more fouls than Culver, who is fouled 6.6 times per 40 minutes played — a rate that ranks 29th among all players in the country.

Culver is also the Big 12’s leader in free-throw rate — a measurement of free-throw attempts divided by field goal attempts. His free-throw rate is 62.7, which ekes out Kansas center Udoka Azubuike for tops in the league.

Point is, when a player goes to the line as frequently as Culver, the ability to take advantage could ultimately be the difference in a close game. With West Virginia a viable Big 12 contender, there will undoubtedly be a few of those games that could make or break a championship run.

Earlier in the season Culver was doing so with a free-throw average that peaked above 74 percent. But he’s only shooting 40 percent (6 of 15) in West Virginia’s two conference games, including a 3-for-10 showing at Oklahoma State.

Culver’s shot was off during warmups at Gallagher-Iba Arena, and that bug never got out of his head.

“I feel like I was sped up,” Culver said after the game. “I wasn’t in my groove. I couldn’t get out of my head. I kept dwelling on little things I shouldn’t have been dwelling on. But my team did a good job of rallying around me to overcome that.”

Huggins referenced the need for the Mountaineers to shoot better from the line on an appearance on “The Jim Rome Show” this week.

“We’ve struggled at the free-throw line, and that shouldn’t be because we’re really made a conscious effort to recruit guys who can shoot,” Huggins said. “If we make free throws, we’re probably undefeated right now.”

The Mountaineers are currently 308th nationally at the line, shooting 65.2 percent — making Culver an above-average shooter on this roster even with his recent struggles.

Style change, Part 1

Sophomore guard Brandon Knapper donned a headband for Monday’s win at Oklahoma State, and don’t look for that to change any time soon.

Knapper scored eight points — his highest since netting nine against Akron in the season opener.

“I had to take it back to the roots. I used to wear it a lot when I was younger,” Knapper said. “I just had a feeling it was going to work [against Oklahoma State]. So I’m going to keep it on the rest of the season.”

Knapper also happens to be a perfect 7-for-7 from the line this year, which can’t hurt his chances of an increase in playing time.

Style change, Part 2

Guard Emmitt Matthews is bringing back his trademark bushy hairdo after a switch to braids to open Big 12 play did not have the desired effect.

Matthews had his two worst performances of the year, scoring two points in 29 minutes against Kansas and going scoreless in 12 minutes against Oklahoma State.

Huggins is not concerned that Matthews’ slump will be long-lasting.

“We just need him to get it over the rim and give it a chance to go in,” Huggins said on his weekly radio show. “Emmitt’s going to be fine. He knows offensively and defensively what we do inside and out. He’ll work his way out of it.”





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