MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia begins its exhibition season just in time for Halloween, hosting Salem Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The opener, dubbed “Haunted Hoops,” is free to attend and will tip off after Trunk-or-Treat at 5 p.m. in the RV lot of the WVU Coliseum and trick-or-treating in the concourse at 5:30 p.m.
The Mountaineers and Tigers have squared off 11 times, with WVU winning the last eight to lead the series 8-2.
The game holds more meaning to WVU coach Mike Carey, a 1980 graduate of Salem. Carey was a four-time letterwinner and won a line of accolades at the school.
Carey’s biggest achievement of his college career was surpassing the 2,000-point mark. Because of his outstanding career, he was inducted into the Salem Hall of Fame in 2003.
Carey is the former head coach of the Tigers’ men’s basketball team, leading them to seven postseason appearances in his 13-season tenure.
The Mountaineers highlight multiple players as the preseason kicks off, including conference Sixth Man of the Year Kari Niblack and sophomore Madisen Smith. Additionally, redshirt freshman forward Rochelle Norris makes her anticipated debut after sitting out the 2018-19 season with an injury.
The 2019-20 season officially kicks off on Nov. 7 when Saint Francis travels to Morgantown.
