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Tag: WVU
Surging Cougars to Visit WVU Coliseum on Wednesday Night
Tale of the Tape 
Points Per Game 76.7 71.2
Scoring Margin +21.1 +6.8
Field Goal Percentage .459 .423
OPP Field Goal Percentage .360 .401
3-PT Field Goal Percentage .395 .330
Opp 3-PT Field Goal Percentage .302 .285
Free Throw Percentage .722 .757
Rebounds Per Game 38.2 34.6
Assists Per Game 13.4 13.5
Turnovers Per Game 8.7 10.7
Steals Per Game 8.5 8.1
Blocks Per Game 5.5 4.7
Streak W12 L2
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia will try and snap its first losing streak of the Darian DeVries era on Wednesday night against one of the hottest teams in the country.
The Mountaineers, losers of two straight to Arizona State and Kansas State, will try and right things against a surging 16-3 Houston team that is ranked sixth in this week’s polls and has won 12 straight games following last Saturday’s 92-86 double-overtime victory at Kansas.
Among Houston’s recent wins is a 70-54 triumph against West Virginia in its arena on Jan. 15.
In that game, Houston sent multiple defenders at Mountaineer guard Javon Small after he scored nine early points, which led to Amani Hansberry contributing a team-best 16, including 12 in a row during one point in the second half. The Mountaineers actually had it to a one-possession game with 12:36 remaining before going ice cold.
Frigid 3-point shooting has also plagued West Virginia in its recent two-game slide.
WVU connected on only 19% of its 21 tries from behind the arc in a 73-60 loss at Kansas State last Saturday, four days after misfiring on 25 of its 29 triples in a 65-57 home defeat to Arizona State.
That’s eight for the last 50 from behind the 3-point line, but DeVries maintains his bigger concern is a defense that allowed Kansas State to score on nearly 56% of its offensive possessions one game after allowing Arizona State to grab 14 offensive rebounds and hold a commanding 46-to-28 advantage on the glass.
Those are things his team managed to avoid up through its 64-57 upset victory over then-second-ranked Iowa State on Jan. 18.
“We had a bad week of shooting, for sure, but it ultimately is still about our defense,” DeVries noted. “On both of those nights, when we didn’t shoot it well, our defense wasn’t what it has been either. Our main issue was those breakdowns defensively, and when we weren’t shooting well, we couldn’t keep up, and that hurt us in both of those.”
Small was terrific against the Cyclones, scoring a game-high 27 points while grabbing seven rebounds, handing out five assists and making four steals. Since then, teams have made stopping him their primary focus while taking their chances with other players with open shots.
“For us, it’s about getting him off the ball some,” DeVries said. “We still need him with the ball in his hands making plays, but they are going to bring two guys to the ball when he has it. Now the one side to that is we have a numbers game on the backside of that. If we get it out of there, which we have, that’s where some of those 3-point opportunities come. You make that one extra pass then you are shooting a wide-open 3, and then it’s a matter of making them.
“And we’re going to do that,” he added. “We didn’t last week, but I have all of the confidence in the world that we will make those shots more than we won’t.”
In both losses, West Virginia (13-6 overall and 4-4 in Big 12 play) dug itself an early hole it couldn’t climb out of, including a 19-2 deficit to begin at Kansas State.
Despite the heavy level of attention, Small was still West Virginia’s leading scorer in both games, including 22 against Kansas State.
“We can’t put it all on Javon,” DeVries pointed out. “We’ve got to continue to get that second scorer and that third scorer on most nights.”
Houston, meanwhile, is getting balanced production across the board. Forward J’Wan Roberts tallied 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting and guard LJ Cryer connected on half of his 10 3-point tries for 18 points the first time these two teams met in Houston.
Last Saturday at Kansas, Roberts hit for 24, while grabbing nine rebounds and handing out five assists.
Cryer was held in check, which opened things up for 6-foot-4 guard Milos Uzan, who just missed a triple-double with 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
Giving the Cougars a big boost off the bench was 6-foot-1 guard Mylik Wilson, a non-factor in the West Virginia win but a big factor against the Jayhawks. He finished with 18 points on eight-of-11 shooting, including a pair of triples.
Houston’s guards, Cryer, Uzan, Wilson and Emanual Sharp, are basically interchangeable, just like its 6-foot-8 bigs, Roberts, Joseph Tugler and Ja’Vier Francis.
Throw in 6-foot-8 wing Terrance Arceneaux, averaging 8.2 points per game, and you are looking at one of the best eight-man rotations in the country right now.
“Across the board, both offensively and defensively, they have great versatility,” DeVries said. “Then, they go to the bench, and they have another guy who comes in at 6-foot-8 or 6-foot-9 who can run, jump, shoot or whatever it may be.
“They all complement each other really well in the way they play. They can come out and trap a ball screen and really blitz it and be aggressive and get into rotations, or they can just come out and switch it, and they’re fine with that either way,” DeVries continued. “On the offensive end, same type of deal. Their three guards each shoot it at a high, high level, and then they can post it with Roberts, or they bring in offensive rebounders, which is why they are where they are right now.”
Houston’s balanced attack ranges from Cryer’s team-leading 13.5 points per game down to Francis’ 5.4 points per contest coming off the bench. Sharp (13.4 ppg.) and Roberts (11.3 ppg.) are also averaging double figures.
The Cougars have yet to lose in eight Big 12 outings, including comfortable victories over BYU, TCU, Kansas State, West Virginia and Utah.
Wednesday night will be Houston’s first-ever visit to the WVU Coliseum.
The game will tip off at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+ (Eric Rothman and Tim Welsh).
Mountaineer Sports Network radio coverage with Tony Caridi, Brad Howe and studio host David Kahn will get things started at 6 p.m. on stations throughout West Virginia, online via WVUsports.com and the popular Varsity Network and WVU Gameday apps.
Tickets remain and can be purchased through the Mountaineer Ticket Office by logging on to WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800-WVU-GAME.
Get ready Mountaineer fans, because the surging Cougars are coming to town! The BYU men’s basketball team will be facing off against West Virginia University in what is sure to be an intense matchup at the WVU Coliseum on Wednesday night.BYU has been on a hot streak lately, winning their last five games and climbing up the rankings. Led by standout players like Alex Barcello and Caleb Lohner, the Cougars have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with.
Meanwhile, the Mountaineers will be looking to defend their home court and come out on top against BYU. With a talented roster featuring players like Taz Sherman and Derek Culver, WVU has the skills and determination to give the Cougars a run for their money.
So mark your calendars and get ready for an exciting night of basketball as the surging Cougars take on the Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum. It’s sure to be a game you won’t want to miss!
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- WVU Coliseum
- Wednesday Night
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- West Virginia University
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Can West Virginia Get Back on Track? Here’s What the ESPN BPI Says About WVU vs. K-St
Darian DeVries and the West Virginia Mountaineers look to get back on track on Saturday evening in the Little Apple as they square off with the Kansas State Wildcats.
According to the ESPN Basketball Power Index (BPI) matchup predictor, West Virginia is the slight road favorite, with a 58.4% chance of winning the game. Kansas State has a 41.7% chance.
As we’ve noted several times before here, winning in this league is tough, but winning on the road is even harder. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing at Kansas or, in this case, one of the bottom feeders early on in Kansas State – every win in the Big 12 will be earned. 58% is a pretty fair number for the Mountaineers for that very reason.
The last two games for WVU have produced emotions of extreme elation and utter disappointment. Just days after knocking off No. 2 Iowa State on the day that they honored the legendary Jerry West, they fell flat against Arizona State, who entered the game five straight. Every time the Mountaineers have lost this season, they’ve bounced back the very next time out, having yet to drop two straight.
It’s been an extremely disappointing start to the season for the Wildcats, who, on paper, looked to be a dark horse contender in the league this season. They have a handful of “bad losses” in non-conference play but have really struggled since getting into their Big 12 slate. Since beating Cincinnati in the Big 12 opener, they’ve lost six straight, three of which came by double digits.
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West Virginia University’s men’s basketball team has had a challenging season so far, with a record of 12-9. However, there is still hope for the Mountaineers to get back on track and make a push for the postseason.According to the ESPN Basketball Power Index (BPI), West Virginia has a strong chance of bouncing back in their upcoming game against Kansas State. The BPI gives the Mountaineers a 65% chance of defeating the Wildcats, who currently have a record of 11-12.
This matchup will be crucial for West Virginia as they look to improve their standing in the Big 12 conference and build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. With key players like Derek Culver and Taz Sherman leading the way, the Mountaineers have the talent and skill to come out on top in this important game.
Fans of West Virginia basketball will be eagerly watching as the team looks to prove the ESPN BPI right and secure a much-needed victory. Let’s hope the Mountaineers can get back on track and finish the season strong.
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west virginia basketball, west virginia vs kansas state, espn bpi, college basketball, west virginia mountaineers, big 12 conference, ncaa basketball, college sports, sports analysis, basketball rankings
#West #Virginia #Track #Heres #ESPN #BPI #WVU #KSt
WVU Football William Green Front | West Virginia University Sports
West Virginia University Football Welcomes William Green as New FrontWest Virginia University’s football team has announced the addition of William Green as a new front player for the upcoming season. Green, a highly touted recruit with exceptional skills on the field, is expected to make a significant impact on the team’s defense.
With his impressive speed, agility, and football IQ, Green is set to be a key player in the Mountaineers’ defensive lineup. His stellar performance in high school has already garnered attention from college recruiters, and his commitment to WVU is a major win for the team.
Head coach Neal Brown expressed his excitement about Green’s arrival, stating, “We are thrilled to have William join our football program. His talent and dedication to the game are evident, and we believe he will be a valuable asset to our team.”
As the Mountaineers gear up for the upcoming season, fans can expect to see Green’s impact on the field as he helps lead the team to victory. Stay tuned for more updates on WVU football and William Green’s journey with the team. Let’s go Mountaineers! #HailWVU #MountaineerPride #WilliamGreenFront
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WVU Football, William Green, West Virginia University Sports, WVU Football player, college football, Mountaineers football, WVU athletics, William Green stats, WVU Football news
#WVU #Football #William #Green #Front #West #Virginia #University #SportsReport: WVU finalizing deal to make Oklahoma’s Alley defensive coordinator
West Virginia is finalizing a deal to make Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Zac Alley their defensive coordinator according to report.
Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that West Virginia was in the process of finalizing a three-year deal to take over the defensive coordinator spot in Morgantown.
Alley had been the key target of the search.
Alley was hired by the Sooners in January of 2024 but spent the two seasons before that working under Rodriguez as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Jacksonville State. Those ties made him an immediate candidate for the position and his addition gives Rodriguez a strong building block for his initial coaching staff in his return to Morgantown.
Alley had signed a three-year contract with the Sooners which had a base pay of $850,000 this past season and was set to see $50,000 raises in 2025 and 2026. That was a significant jump from the $213,800 that he was under contract for in his final season at Jacksonville State.
That signals a significant investment from West Virginia on the defensive side of the ball.
As the play caller on defense, Oklahoma was ranked 21st in total defense this past season allowing 318.2 yards per game and was tied for 18th in yards per play allowed at just 4.87. The Sooners were ranked 34th in scoring defense permitting just 21.58 points per contest.
During his time at Jacksonville State, Alley’s defense ranked 33rd in scoring defense at 21.2 points per game and 43rd in total defense helping to lead the Gamecocks to a 9-4 overall record in 2023. His unit had success in holding opponents to 2.8 yards per rush, or fourth nationally, was ranked eighth in tackles for loss with 414 and ninth in turnovers gained with 25.
The 2023 Gamecocks defense also held opponents to just 4.8 yards per play, good for 12th nationally and was able to get off the field on third down ranking 22nd in conversion percentage at 32.7.
The 2022 unit led the nation at the FCS level with 15 fumble recoveries and was 11th in red zone defense. The Gamecocks gave up 21 points or fewer in seven of 11 games.
Prior to his arrival at Jacksonville State, Alley was the youngest defensive coordinator in the country at Louisiana-Monroe and improved in every statistical category on defense from the previous season.
Alley also previously served as the co-special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Boise State as well as a defensive coaching internship with the Carolina Panthers where he assisted with the linebackers. He got his start as a student assistant at Clemson in 2011 and spent four years in that role working under Brent Venables and graduated from the school.
WVSports.com will have more on Alley in the near future.
According to reports, West Virginia University is finalizing a deal to make Oklahoma’s Brian Odom their new defensive coordinator. Odom has served as the inside linebackers coach for the Sooners for the past three seasons and is known for his aggressive defensive schemes.This move comes after former WVU defensive coordinator Vic Koenning resigned amid allegations of mistreatment of players. The Mountaineers are hoping that Odom can bring a fresh perspective to their defense and help them improve on their 5-7 record from last season.
Odom is highly regarded in the coaching world and has a proven track record of developing talented defensive players. His hiring would be a big win for WVU as they look to rebuild their defense and compete in the tough Big 12 conference.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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- WVU football news
- Oklahoma’s Alley defensive coordinator
- WVU coaching staff update
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- Report on WVU defensive coordinator hire
- Big 12 football updates
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#Report #WVU #finalizing #deal #Oklahomas #Alley #defensive #coordinator
