Oklahoma at West Virginia
Tip: 11:00 AM (Central)
Location: WVU Coliseum (Morgantown, WVU)
TV: ESPN2
Series History
Oklahoma is 9-7 all-time against the Mountaineers and is 8-6 in the series while WVU has been a member of the Big 12. West Virginia has won the last three meetings.
The series is tied 3-3 all-time in Morgantown. The Sooners claimed road wins at WVU Coliseum in 2013, 2016 and 2017.
How Did That Happen?
If you’re just glancing at season records then you might be tempted to scoff at West Virginia’s 1-7 mark in Big 12 play. However, that one win was an impressive 65-64 win over the Kansas Jayhawks, essentially meaning that no one is safe when they come to Morgantown.
Difference Maker
Freshman guard Jamal Bieniemy has started the last four games, producing 16 assists and just two turnovers in 130 minutes of playing time. His season assist/turnover ratio of 3.8 ranks second in the Big 12, sixth nationally and third among Division I freshmen.
Time For The Bounce-Back
In Monday’s loss to Baylor Christian James was held to under 10 points for just the third time this season. In the previous two instances, the senior guard has come back strong in the following game. After scoring nine against North Texas (Nov. 27), he responded with 25 against Notre Dame (Dec. 4). Then he was limited to just five points at Oklahoma State (Jan. 23) and bounced back with 21 points against Vanderbilt (Jan. 26).
Not Really The Way It’s Supposed To Be
Recent Oklahoma/West Virginia basketball games have favored the road team. In four of the last five on-campus meetings between the two schools the visiting team has come out on top. The Sooners have won two of the last three games in Morgantown while West Virginia has won two straight in Norman.
Team Leaders
James continues to lead Oklahoma in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Brady Manek is the only other member of the team averaging double figures in scoring, with 11.1 points per game.
Jamal Bieniemy is leading the team with three assists per game.
Oklahoma is averaging 72.7 points per game, with opponents scoring 67.1 points per game on average.
Scouting The Mountaineers
Forward Esa Ahman leads four active West Virginia players averaging in double figure scoring. His 12.4 points per game just edges out James Bolden’s 12.2 points per game.
Derek Culver (11 PPG) and Lamont West (10.9 PPG) are the other two players scoring in double figures for the Mountaineers. Culver also leads the team in rebounding with an average of 7.7 boards per game.
For the season West Virginia is averaging 73.8 points per game, while opponents are scoring an average of 75.3 points per game.