Emmitt Matthews Jr. Bounces Back in Win Over Iowa State

Emmitt Matthews Jr. was hit hardest by the latest COVID-19 outbreak within the West Virginia University basketball program. The forward reportedly dropped 16 to 18-lbs during the two-week hiatus. He returned seeing limited action, averaging 14.3 minutes in the first three games, down from 24.2 before the layoff, and his production dropped from 8.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game to 4.7 to 2.0.

“When I first came back from the break, I was a little tired,” said Matthews Jr. “Obviously, that’s going to go away with a few practices, and once you start getting back into shape and doing all the extra stuff I was doing, you kind of get back into game shape pretty quick.”

In the Mountaineers win over Iowa State on Tuesday night, Matthews Jr. looked as if he got his bounce back in his step, running the floor, snagging rebounds, offensively, playing inside out, to tie a season-high 13 points along with seven boards, including taking number four on ESPN’s Top 10 Plays with an emphatic dunk in the second half. 

West Virginia forward Emmitt Matthews Jr. (11) dunks over Iowa State forward Solomon Young to put the Mountaineers up 59-46 with just over 12 minutes to play in the game.

Luke Lu – Iowa State Athletics Communications Department

“I think he’s close to being back. I don’t think it’s a matter of his when now I think it’s just a matter of him gaining his weight back,” said West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins. “I think as soon as he gains his weight back, he will be every bit of what he was… I thought he played pretty well.”

Since the departure of Oscar Tshiebwe, the Mountaineers have been able to spread the floor, and now that Matthews is getting back into a groove, he believes the new style produces more opportunities to score.

“I feel like now that the style of offense we’re running, I feel like things are more spread out. I feel like I’m able to create more for myself and create for more guys on the team. I just feel like now, I don’t have to sit out and only rely on cutting to the basket and shooting open threes to create for myself.”

Emmitt Matthews Jr and the No. 14 West Virginia Mountaineers are back in action Saturday afternoon as they host the No. 23 Kansas Jayhawks at 2:00 on CBS.