MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Welcome to the eighth annual Big 12/SEC Challenge, where this season’s contest comes with a COVID-19 twist: Only nine games will be played, because the University of Kentucky was forced to go on pause after some positive tests for the virus, which canceled the Texas at Kentucky match-up.
What’s still remaining is intriguing, including No. 11 West Virginia’s home game against Florida (9-4), which has won three straight games leading into the contest.
There are plenty of storylines for the game, beginning with Florida assistant Darris Nichols returning to the WVU Coliseum, which is where he was a four-year standout for the Mountaieers from 2004-08, playing under both John Beilein and Bob Huggins.
“He ran the show,” Huggins said of Nichols, after Huggins recently re-watched WVU’s NCAA tournament games against Arizona, Duke and Xavier during the 2008 NCAA tournament. “He did a great job of running the show.”
It’s actually the third time Nichols has coached against the Mountaineers while at Florida (he’s 2-0), but this will be the first time in the Coliseum. His last time here as a player, Nichols scored 17 points and added five assists in WVU’s 76-62 victory against Pitt.
WVU is also allowing 1,000 fans to enter the arena, the first time this season the school has permitted a general audience into the Coliseum.
There is a bigger picture, which is the challenge itself. The Big 12 is 4-1-2 overall in the series and Big 12 teams are 40-30 overall. WVU is 2-5, but defeated Missouri last season. Florida is 4-3, but is on a two-game losing streak.
The other games today: No. 9 Alabama at No. 24 Oklahoma (yes, these two schools play good basketball, too); Texas A&M at Kansas State; No. 10 Texas Tech at LSU; TCU at No. 12 Missouri; Auburn at No. 2 Baylor; Arkansas at Oklahoma State (Cade Cunningham is expected back for the Cowboys); No. 15 Kansas at No. 18 Tennessee and Iowa State at Mississippi State.
The Mountaineers, obviously, are focused on playing Florida. They can’t help what happens in the other seven games.
That doesn’t mean the WVU players and coaches don’t share a stake in what happens in the other games.
“I think to a degree, but certainly not to the level of when you’re playing (other Big 12 schools),” Huggins said. “I think people use it, to a degree, in recruiting. That’s the biggest thing. I’m sure it’s lucrative for both conferences.”
There is a casual interest for the players, too.
“Like last year, Kentucky played (Texas) Tech at Tech and I watched it,” WVU guard Jordan McCabe said. “I watch a few of them. I don’t get too wrapped up into it. At the end of the day, it’s all just a subgroup, but we would like to see the Big 12 do better. We know how hard of a league this is and how hard it is to win in our league, so it’s a bragging-right thing. I don’t think it carries a ton of weight, but you never know what all the (NCAA tournament selection) committee takes into consideration. We would like to be held as the Big 12 being the best conference in the country.”
The two leagues tied last season at five games each, which can’t happen this season with the Texas-Kentucky game eliminated. SEC schools are favored — according to Las Vegas oddsmakers — in five of the remaining nine games.
According to the latest ESPN Bracketology, the Big 12 is slated to have seven teams in the NCAA tournament field, while the SEC has six. All of it is just talking points, but say the SEC comes away with a 6-3 win. Would that make you feel differently toward just how tough the Big 12 is this season? Maybe it would bolster the opinion the league is a one-trick pony in Baylor and everyone else is playing for second place.
On a personal note, if the two conferences really wanted to spice the challenge games up, they should let the winning league host all the games the following year. In case of a tie, the home games are split.
As for the West Virginia-Florida match-up, here’s what you need to know:
TV: ESPN (Comcast 35, HD 850; DirecTV 206; DISH 140) for the 2 p.m. tip-off. BETTING LINE: West Virginia is a 4.5-point favorite.
WHAT DOES BOB HUGGINS HAVE TO SAY?
West Virginia’s head coach spoke about Florida’s depth, which has been on display this season since the Gators lost its top player in Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed to the floor on Dec. 12 and was in a medically induced coma for a stint while in the hospital. Johnson has since recovered and has been with the team as a sort of extra coach on the sidelines.
Florida has gone 6-3 since and the Gators have put together a nucleus that still has five players scoring in double figures. Something else to note: Florida is the top-shooting team in the SEC, making 47.9% of its attempts.
Huggins also gave his opinion on the talk of teams opting out of conference tournaments come March — he’s not a fan — as well shared some thoughts/stories on his memories of Nichols as a player with the Mountaineers.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS
WEST VIRGINIA (11-4, 4-3 Big 12)
F–Derek Culver, 6-10, jr., 13.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg
F–Jalen Bridges, 6-7, fr., 4.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg
G–Jordan McCabe., 6-0, jr., 2.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg
G–Deuce McBride, 6-2, soph., 15.9 ppg, 4.2 apg
G–Sean McNeil, 6-3, jr., 9.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg
FLORIDA (9-4, 6-3 SEC)
F–Colin Castleton, 6-11, jr., 12.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg
F–Omar Payne, 6-10, soph., 4.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg
G–Tre Mann, 6-5, soph., 14.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg
G–Noah Locke, 6-3, jr., 10.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg
G–Tyree Appleby, 6-1, jr., 10.5 ppg, 3.2 apg
PREDICTION TIME
The first take when looking at both rosters is that both teams could be a year away from something pretty special, as long as there’s not much turnover. Neither school is a Minister of Defense at the moment, but the potential is there to be a good defensive team. Florida shoots the ball better, but West Virginia has been on a shooting tear over its past five games. The Gators may be a little more athletic, the Mountaineers a bit more physical. Tough game to call, but I like Florida to keep this one close. WVU wins, but does not cover, 72-69.
Justin’s season picks against the spread: 5-7-1.
