West Virginia looks to avoid late struggles it had last season in preparing for stretch run

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Mike Carey has been here before. So has the majority of his WVU women’s basketball roster.

The Mountaineers (10-2, 4-2 Big 12) have won five straight heading into Wednesday’s game against Kansas State, which hasn’t played since falling against Texas four days before Christmas.

Tip-off at the Coliseum is scheduled for 7 p.m.

WVU’s winning streak has seen the Mountaineers average 84 points and avenge an earlier loss against Oklahoma State while WVU played without its top scorer, Kysre Gondrezick, who was attending her father’s funeral.

Gondezick, who is fourth in the conference in scoring (20.4 ppg) is expected to play against the Wildcats (5-4, 0-2).

“She did practice (Monday) and we expect her there again today,” Carey said.

It was about this point last season, too, when the Mountaineers were riding a wave of momentum, only to see it crumble underneath of them with a 4-11 finish down the stretch.

So much has happened since then including a virus pandemic that has already cost WVU one scheduled game and postponed two more.

WVU’s second half of the season will not come easily. There are still two games against 24th-ranked Iowa State, which sits atop the conference standings.

There are trips remaining to Texas and Baylor and WVU will play seven of its final 11 games on the road.

Can WVU, which is projected as a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament currently, escape the same disappointing finish it could not get away from last season?

“Every team is different,” Carey said. “Even though we have a lot of the same players, different things happen during the course of the year. We have different chemistry and that type of stuff.

“I think our chemistry this year is a lot better than it was last year. Our work ethic this year is a lot better than it was last year. I think a lot of our younger players are better from last year, so to answer the question, I don’t bring it up.”

Kansas State was forced to postpone four games over the last two weeks due to not meeting Big 12 roster requirements due to COVID-19 protocols.

In terms of playing a sort of guessing game, Carey said a lot of adjustments may be needed before the game even starts.

“Are they bringing everybody? We’ll see at game time who they’re playing and who is dressed and all of that,” Carey said. “We know that’s the way it’s going to be this year. We’ll just have to prepare and do what we do, that way we’ll be ready no matter who dresses.”

Kansas State is led by 6-foot-6 center Ayoka Lee, who averages 17 points per game, but missed two games earlier this season with an ankle injury.

“She’s a great player in this conference and she’s stronger and more mobile,” Carey said. “It takes three players to guard her. I always say it takes ball pressure on the passer to get them back on their heels a little bit. You have to front her and you have to have help from the weak side.

“A lot of people want to blame the person guarding her, well, eight out of 10 times, it’s not that person’s fault.”

TWEET @bigjax3211