MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — We welcome you inside Allen Fieldhouse, where No. 7 West Virginia will make some sort of history tonight by playing in its 25th game all-time against a top-10 ranked opponent while also ranked in the top 10.
The opponent is No. 3 Kansas (7-1, 1-0 Big 12) and Allen Fieldhouse has not been kind to the Mountaineers (7-1, 1-0), who are 0-8 there. So, we began to think what exactly would it mean to finally win a game at Kansas? In terms of programs that go on to have a special season, that season can generally be broken down into certain chapters that help us see the season build up into a success. What kind of chapter would a win at Kansas represent? We asked that very question to WVU head coach Bob Huggins.
“I don’t know if it would be a chapter,” Huggins said. “It might be more the list of people that (the writer) wants to thank when you first open the book. They’ve beat us every year we’ve been in the league. I’d have a hard time writing a chapter.”
Still, a top 10 showdown always draws interest. We went back and looked at the previous 24 games and found some riveting details and decided to share them here:
** None of the games have been against rival Pitt.
** West Virginia is 8-16 in the previous 24 match-ups.
** Five of the games came while the legendary Jerry West played at WVU and the Mountaineers were 3-2 in those games.
** As a sign of where Huggins has taken the WVU program, 15 of the 24 games have come under his watch. WVU is 5-10 in those games.
** Want to do a small Big East vs. Big 12 comparison? Nine of the games have come in Big 12 play (WVU is 3-6), while only four came when the Mountaineers were a member of the Big East (WVU was 2-2). The Mountaineers played 17 seasons in the Big East and are in their ninth season in the Big 12.
** Kentucky and Kansas are tied as the most common opponent at four games each, which the Jayhawks will take the lead tonight. WVU is 2-2 against Kentucky and 0-4 against Kansas in top 10 meetings. Duke and Oklahoma were tied for third at three games apiece. WVU is 0-3 against Duke and 2-1 against the Sooners.
** WVU was the higher-ranked team in only eight of the 24 previous games and is the lower-ranked team again tonight.
As for this group of Mountaineers, WVU forward Derek Culver was extremely honest in his assessment of the game. Sure, it’s a lot of fun to play in these types of featured match-ups, but Culver added he was more concerned with how his team plays and that there really isn’t an opponent out there in the college game who makes the Mountaineers nervous.
“If we can get out of our own way, we’ll be fine,” Culver said. “To be honest, I’m not too worried about the other teams we play. I worry about ourselves more than the other team. If we do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll be fine. There aren’t too many other teams that scare us. We’re our own worst enemy at times.”
So, here we go with another top 10 WVU-Kansas showdown. Here’s what you need to know:
TV: ESPN2 (Comcast 36, HD 851; DirecTV 209; DISH 143) for the 9 p.m. tip-off. BETTING LINE: Kansas is favored by 2 points.
WHAT DOES BOB HUGGINS HAVE TO SAY?
The head coach talked a lot about how scouting Kansas this season is nearly a night-and-day difference from last season. That’s because 7-footer Udoka Azubuike is now a rookie with the Utah Jazz instead of in the Jayhawks front court.
Huggins also spoke about Culver’s maturation on the court and how he’s beginning to understand the finer points of playing in the paint a little more. Either Culver or teammate Oscar Tshiebwe will have the honor of going up against Kansas’ 6-10 forward David McCormack, while the other will guard a smaller, faster player. Tshiebwe, who matched up against Azubuike last season, will likely draw McCormack, because Culver has already flashed the ability to keep up with smaller players.
As for the rest, Huggins said the challenge with the Jayhawks will now come on the perimeter, where Kansas is second in the Big 12 with 67 3-pointers and guards Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun are both shooting better than 40% from behind the arc.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS
WEST VIRGINIA (7-1, 1-0 Big 12)
F–Derek Culver, 6-10, jr., 14.4 ppg, 10.9 rpg
F–Oscar Tshiebwe, 6-9, soph., 8.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg
F–Emmitt Matthews Jr., 6-7, jr., 7.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg
G–Deuce McBride, 6-2, soph., 15.0 ppg, 4.3 apg
G–Sean McNeil, 6-3, jr., 10.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg
KANSAS (7-1, 1-0)
F–Jalen Wilson, 6-8, fr., 14.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg
F–David McCormack, 6-10, jr., 9.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg
G–Christian Braun, 6-6, soph., 10.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg
G–Ochai Agbaji, 6-5, jr., 15.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg
G–Marcus Garrett, 6-5 sr., 8.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg
PREDICTION TIME
The Las Vegas line of Kansas at just a 2-point favorite screams for you to take the Jayhawks, especially considering West Virginia has never won at Allen Fieldhouse. Honestly, I feel as if WVU could win this game straight up, but I was figuring the line would be closer to four or five points. With a lower point spread, it’s hard to figure now. I’ll stick with my gut and say WVU wins and covers, 73-70, but this one I do not feel good about.
Justin’s season picks against the spread: 2-4-1.
