Kansas is back in first place in the Big 12, and will look to keep things rolling.
The Jayhawks (15-2, 4-1) have now won three consecutive games, and will travel to West Virginia (8-9, 0-5) this weekend. Despite WVU being winless in league play, KU coach Bill Self believes that it will be a tightly-contested game.
“They are more dangerous than their record,” Self said. “They could easily be 3-2 in the league, which is more probable than 0-5. Forget about records and everything, we know they are capable and hungry. (WVU head coach) Bob (Huggins) is too good not to be playing at a peak level against us.”
Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.
Series history: Kansas leads the overall series with West Virginia, 10-4, and has won the last four meetings. But the Mountaineers hold a 4-2 advantage against Kansas in games played in WVU Coliseum. Four of the last five KU-WVU clashes have been decided by eight points or less.
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**BREAKING DOWN WEST VIRGINIA**
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**TOP PLAYER**
*No. 23 — F Esa Ahmad | 6-8, 225, sr.*
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This season, Ahmad has started in 15 of 16 games and is averaging 12.8 points per contest.
Ahmad is shooting 46.1 percent from the floor, though he’s only 20 percent from long range. He’s averaging 5.4 rebounds per game, and has recorded 10 blocks and 13 steals in 432 total minutes.
KU has struggled on the defensive glass, an area that Ahmad can take advantage of. According to KenPom, Ahmad is boasting a 9.7 offensive rebound rate, which ranks 258th in the nation.
**SUPPORTING CAST**
*No. 3 — G James Bolden | 6-0, 175, jr.*
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The junior guard is one of five players to average in double figures for the Mountaineers.
Bolden is boasting a 12.2 points per game average this season, shooting 42.6 percent from the floor. He’s the team’s best option from deep, as he is hitting 34.7 percent of his shots from long range. Bolden has also tallied a team-high 40 assists in 319 minutes.
According to KenPom, Bolden is being used on 29.1 percent of his possessions, a rate that is 92nd in all of college basketball. He’s also taking 30.2 percent of the team’s shots, which is the 83rd-highest rate in the country.
*No. 1 — F Derek Culver | 6-10, 255, fr.*
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Culver has been effective off the bench as of late for WVU.
In seven games, Culver has recorded an average of 12.0 points per contest. Culver is shooting 61.5 percent from the floor, and has yet to attempt a 3-pointer. He also has logged an average of 8.6 rebounds per outing.
Culver is getting starter minutes, too. He’s averaging 23.1 minutes per game for West Virginia.
*No. 15 — F Lamont West | 6-8, 222, jr.*
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In 17 games, West is posting an average of 11.4 points per contest.
West is shooting 39.9 percent from the field on 97 total shots, while collecting 4.5 rebounds per game. He’s netted 50 of his 76 rebounds on the defensive end, while committing just 19 turnovers on the season.
**ONE THING WEST VIRGINIA DOES WELL**
Self admitted one of the areas he is concerned with is on the glass, though that likely won’t get better this weekend. West Virginia is collecting 38.7 percent of its offensive rebounds, which is the fifth-best mark in college basketball.
**ONE AREA WEST VIRGINIA STRUGGLES**
The Mountaineers have struggled to take care of the rock this season. WVU has posted a 21.7 percent turnovers rate, which is the 307th-worst clip in the nation. West Virginia is also only forcing a turnover on 17.5 percent of its defensive possessions, good for 255th in the country.
**MEET THE COACH**
The Mountaineers are coached by Bob Huggins, who is 263-139 in his 12th season at WVU, his alma mater, and 853-349 in his 37th season overall.
