MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Derek Culver said he saw the double-team coming.
That much should come as no surprise. Culver has spent the better part of two seasons fending off double and sometimes triple-teams.
Except this time, when Culver quickly spun to his right, the forward found something that came rarely Saturday, in West Virginia’s 66-57 victory against Kansas State: Open space.
“I felt the one guy on my right shoulder and when I made my move, I didn’t realize both of their guys had both gone the opposite way,” he said after going for 19 points and 14 rebounds against the Wildcats.
A quick left-handed baby hook turned into maybe’s Culver’s most impressive bucket of the day.
Maybe not his best play, though. That one came minutes later in the second half, as he hauled in a pass in the low post.
Without even thinking about it, Culver whipped a no-look pass back out to Miles McBride, who nailed a 3-pointer for a 54-43 WVU lead.
“I had kind of seen him at the top of the key,” Culver said. “So, I kicked the ball to him and he was wide open.”
The two moments both showcase just how far Culver has come since last season.
You likely remember the Culver of last season. Raw and determined — maybe sometimes too determined — as he powered up shots that sometimes looked like were shot out of a cannon as they hit the backboard.
Fighting through those constant double-teams usually meant he was going to take some kind of awkward shot come hell or high water.
A season later, ladies and gentlemen, Derek Culver, all 6-foot-10 and 255 pounds of him, is tied with McBride for the team’s lead in assists with 41.
True, that may be a sad commentary on West Virginia’s guard situation.
At the same time, though, it is nothing but a positive commentary on the growth of Culver’s game from his freshman season to this season.
“Sadly, he might be out best (passer),” WVU head coach Bob Huggins joked. “It hurts me to say that.”
It was during that freshman campaign last year when Huggins was asked about Culver’s raw ability and when a more polished product would be seen?
“Probably by the middle of his junior year,” Huggins shot back.
Well, just maybe a little earlier than that.
Is Culver still raw? Sure. Does he need maybe a little more touch of finesse in his post moves? Probably.
But, how many 6-foot-10 guys in the college game are chasing around guards in ball-screen situations at the 3-point line?
Culver has been doing that all season and doing it pretty well, too.
“Last year, basically, he was a post defender,” Huggins said. “This year, because we wanted to play him and Oscar (Tshiebwe) together, one of them had to guard a perimeter guy, because most teams don’t play with two post guys.
“Derek was much more suited to guard. When you think about it, he’s been guarding 6-foot-3 guys who are way more agile than your normal 6-10, 270-pound guy.”
Whether or not Culver is one day destined to play in the NBA is still to be determined, but it is that ability to guard a variety of players that could one day get him there.
In comparison, Huggins said he’s asked Culver to study the game of Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson.
“I tried to explain to him to take a look at Tristan Thomson,” Huggins said. “Tristan Thompson just signed for the max (contract) in Cleveland and they never throw him the ball. But, he offensive rebounds it. He defensive rebounds it and he can guard guards, which is a luxury. That’s what I said to Derek, ‘That’s who you need to model your game after.’ ”
To his credit, Culver realizes his game has become more versatile. He joked Saturday that he even tried to show off a little jump shot.
He also knows he still has a long way to go.
“I’ve got to make some free throws,” he said after going 3 of 9 from the line against K-State after going 14 of 16 against Texas Tech last week. “It’s crazy. I’ll get it back.”
In time, Culver may pick up quite a few things to add to his game.
Then the word “raw” will be a thing of the past.
“He was very versatile and very active today,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said of Culver. “Usually the big guys are picking-and-popping, so he’s a different look.
“Obviously, it helps to have Oscar. Last year, it was just him and you were able to pack it in on him. Now, he’s a tough guy to stop. There’s no doubt.”
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