WVU, adjusting to life without Tucker DeVries, faces Bethune-Cookman

Field Level Media|published: Sat 14th December, 01:52 2024

NCAA Basketball: Battle 4 Atlantis-West Virginia vs Arizona

Nov 29, 2024; Paradise Island, Bahamas, BHS; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Toby Okani (5) blocks the shot of Arizona Wildcats forward Tobe Awaka (30) during the first half at Imperial Arena at the Atlantis resort. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

West Virginia will still be without one of its best players when it takes the court against Bethune-Cookman on Saturday in a nonconference game in Morgantown, W.Va.

The school announced Tuesday that Tucker DeVries is out indefinitely due to an upper-body injury.

DeVries, who is averaging 14.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, transferred in from Drake ahead of this season. He joined his father in making the move when Darian DeVries left his job as the Bulldogs' head coach to take the same position with the Mountaineers.

Tucker DeVries, who already has missed one game due to the injury, was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year at Drake.

"We have a great bunch of guys in the locker room who I know will rally around him during his absence," Darren DeVries said.

The Mountaineers (7-2) have won three in a row as they enter the third game of a four-game homestand.

One player in particular who could step into a more prominent role is Joseph Yesufu, who played for Drake, Kansas and Washington State before landing in Morgantown.

In the Mountaineers' 79-45 win over North Carolina Central on Tuesday, the sixth-year senior guard scored a season-high 14 points off the bench. He is averaging 4.3 points per game.

"It's kind of a confidence-booster," Yesufu said after the win. "Been through a lot the past year recovering. Just getting those shots to go in really opened it up for me. I feel I'm locked in now."

Bethune-Cookman (2-7) has dropped three in a row, including a 59-41 road loss to Virginia on Thursday. The Wildcats are set to play their third consecutive game against a power conference opponent. The first two did not go well, as they lost to Minnesota and Virginia by an average of 17.5 points.

It won't be easy to change that trend against the Mountaineers, who are allowing only 66.1 points per game and scoring 77.9. The Wildcats average 62.9 per contest and give up 74.

Brayon Freeman will have to be at his best for Bethune-Cookman to have a shot at an upset. He is averaging 16.2 points per game, and he scored 21 in the 79-62 loss to the Golden Gophers on Dec. 1.

--Field Level Media