Following their victory against Oklahoma State, boosting their overall record to 13-2, the WVU Mountaineers have encountered a challenging phase in their schedule. Currently facing a three-game losing streak, they will strive to end it by taking on Oklahoma on Wednesday night.
Although it is never ideal to lose three consecutive games, the Mountaineers were not given any advantages by the schedule makers.
The team suffered three losses, all against formidable opponents ranking in the top positions of the Big 12 Conference. No. 9 Kansas, No. 5 Baylor, and No. 18 Texas Tech are the leading teams and are likely to secure their spots in the NCAA Tournament.
Despite the one-sided nature of the contest against Kansas, WVU managed to hold its ground in the other two matches.
With approximately nine minutes remaining, the Mountaineers possessed the lead against Baylor on their home turf before the Bears managed to seize control. Following this, during their away game against Texas Tech, West Virginia maintained a scoreboard advantage with approximately six minutes left.
Coach Bob Huggins’ team has demonstrated immense determination, despite their unfavorable outcomes.
When WVU hosts OU on Wednesday, they have a good chance of securing their 14th win of the year. West Virginia sportsbooks will probably favor them to defeat the Sooners before their upcoming game against Arkansas from the SEC on Saturday.
Mountaineers lose third straight to Texas Tech
Despite being eight-point underdogs going into the game in Lubbock, the Mountaineers appeared prepared for an upset.
At halftime, they were only behind by two points, but with a little over six minutes remaining, they managed to secure a narrow lead. The Red Raiders further extended their advantage to nine points by successfully sinking three shots from beyond the arc in successive possessions.
With approximately two minutes left, WVU managed to narrow the gap to six points, but unfortunately, they were unable to reduce it further.
After the victory, Tech’s overall season record stands at 15-4, with a conference record of 5-2. This recent triumph marks their fifth win in the last six games, which notably includes defeating both Kansas and Baylor.
Terrence Shannon Jr., of the Red Raiders, led the game in scoring with an impressive 23 points. However, he was not the sole contributor for his team, as several others also made significant contributions on the scoreboard.
Kevin Obanor, a senior forward, contributed 18 points, while Bryson Williams made 13 points on just eight shot attempts.
Taz Sherman had an impressive performance, leading the Mountaineers with 21 points. The only other player to score in double figures was guard Malik Curry, who earned 11 points, with seven of them coming from free throws.
Throughout the entire game, WVU struggled greatly with ball control, evidenced by their 17 turnovers and a mere six team assists. Such a significant imbalance makes it incredibly challenging to secure a victory in any match.
The Mountaineers’ performance in rebounding was another area where they fell behind. Similar to previous games this season, they were outperformed by Tech by a margin of 10 in this aspect.
The Red Raiders had 18 additional possessions compared to WVU, thanks to securing 10 more rebounds and committing eight fewer turnovers. This significant advantage could make a substantial impact in a closely contested basketball game towards the end.
WVU basketball odds at WV sportsbooks
Moving forward, WVU will now focus on their upcoming game against Oklahoma scheduled for Wednesday evening. Even though the sportsbooks in WV have not released odds for this match yet, the Mountaineers are expected to be the favored team, particularly since they will be playing on their home turf.
OU is currently in a losing streak, having lost four consecutive games and holding a 2-5 record in the Big 12.
The Sooners’ challenges, much like the Mountaineers’ struggles, can be attributed largely to an incredibly difficult schedule. Notably, three of their recent losses came at the hands of Baylor, Kansas, and Texas.
Currently, Oklahoma’s schedule is exceptionally challenging as they have already confronted Baylor twice and are set to compete against the top-ranked Auburn this upcoming weekend.
The Mountaineers must bring their best performance as the Sooners are well aware of their potential to secure a victory in this game.
On January 8, the Sooners achieved their most recent victory against the 11th-ranked Iowa State team. In Norman, they rallied in the second half, delivering an outstanding performance to defeat the Cyclones.
Tanner Groves and Umoja Gibson, two seniors, lead the team. Groves plays as a forward, while Gibson takes on the role of a guard. Both players consistently score over 12 points per game. Nevertheless, the team benefits from a diverse range of scoring options.
Jalen Hill, OU’s leading rebounder, is among three others who are scoring more than nine points.
Given its 11-2 record in the first 13 games, Oklahoma may be under significant pressure to improve its performance. Currently, the team finds itself at the bottom of the conference standings, sharing a 2-5 record with Iowa State and Kansas State.
OU, despite having an average record, has proven its ability to defeat formidable opponents this season. Notably, they emerged victorious in matches against three ranked teams: ISU, No. 12 Arkansas, and No. 14 Florida.
Regrettably, Iowa State stands alone as the sole remaining ranked team among these, occupying the 23rd spot in the tournament resume.
The odds for this game will be announced either Tuesday night or closer to the game’s commencement. As per ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Mountaineers are favored with approximately a 72% chance of securing a victory.
A year ago, they were defeated by OU twice, with both games having a total margin of just five points.
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