WVU has played solid basketball all year, which was highlighted by three wins against top-10 teams. They now face a setback with senior guard Tucker DeVries injury sidelining him for the rest of the season.
This is not what the West Virginia faithful wanted to hear. Tucker DeVries will be out the rest of the season due to injury.
The Drake transfer suffered a shoulder injury earlier this past season. He played through it and could average 14.9 points and grab 4.9 rebounds per game this season. He played the first eight games of the season before the injury caught up with him. The WVU guard had surgery last season in March, and it still lingers. He showed some toughness and grit by playing the season’s first eight games.
WVU has played well in his absence, which is a good sign, albeit struggling recently. After Tucker Devries’ injury, West Virginia rattled off five straight wins, upsetting number seven Kansas on the road during that stretch.
Then, his absence seemed to be felt as they lost three of their last four games. DeVries was a key part of West Virginia’s offense and provided timely three-point shooting. He showed what he could do at Drake, averaging 21 points per game in his final season there. This will be a true test of resilience for West Virginia as March approaches and Tucker DeVries’ injury looms large.
Luckily, West Virginia has a favorable schedule for the rest of the season. They only play one ranked team in their last 10 games of the year. That game is on the road versus 13th-ranked Texas Tech. That sets them up to go on a run and gain some momentum before tournament time.
This is the key time of the year for the Mountaineers, and these next few weeks will determine if they will make or miss the tournament. The Mountaineers can get to the tournament despite the key injury. The Tucker DeVries injury certainly hurts WVU, but they have the willpower to overcome it.
Assuming that West Virginia gets into the tournament, they must step up after Tucker DeVries’ injury. The Mountaineers are currently 14-7 and are eighth in the Big 12. They have signature wins over three top 10 teams: second-ranked Iowa State, number-seven Kansas, and third-ranked Gonzaga. The issue, though, is their bad losses versus Arizona State and Kansas State. Both teams will likely miss the tournament as they are hovering at or below .500.
Last season as a member of Drake, he scored 14 points and had six assists in the NCAA tournament. He played 38 minutes in that game, so he is undoubtedly an asset if anyone gets in foul trouble. There is an excellent opportunity for head coach Darian DeVries, father of Tucker, to show that he can coach in the Big 12. Tucker DeVries’ injury allows other players to step up in his absence.
He has shown that he can use the talent he is given effectively and will be able to adjust without Tucker for the rest of the season. The Tucker DeVries injury hurts WVU in so many ways. Unfortunately, he won’t be coming back this season.
The Mountaineers need that next-man-up mentality after the Tucker DeVries injury news. They have played well in stretches without him. If West Virginia makes it there, he will be sorely missed in the NCAA tournament. WVU must finish the season strong and not let this news derail them.
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