There are no nights off in the Big 12, but tonight’s matchup between No. 3 Kansas and No. 7 West Virginia figures to be especially taxing in the final game before the break.
Not only is it another battle between two top-10 teams, but the style of play for WVU would suggest that this is going to be a slugfest. KU’s toughness will likely determine its fate in a classic Big 12 battle at Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks (7-1, 1-0 Big 12) have won seven consecutive games since losing their season opener to No. 1 Gonzaga. Kansas is coming off a 58-57 road win over Texas Texas in the Big 12 opener.
On the other side, West Virginia (7-1, 1-0 Big 12) has won its last four games following its 70-65 victory against Iowa State.
KU holds a 14-5 advantage in the all-time series with West Virginia, which includes eight wins in the last nine meetings between these two teams. Kansas is 8-0 against West Virginia in games played in Allen Fieldhouse.
According to KenPom, Kansas has a 57% chance of victory against West Virginia in tonight’s conference clash. The Jayhawks are projected to win by a 71-69 margin on KenPom. The contest will begin at 8 p.m. and will air on ESPN2.
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**BREAKING DOWN WEST VIRGINIA**
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**TOP PLAYER**
*No. 1 — F Derek Culver | 6-10, 255, jr.*
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Culver is a well-known player by now, as he is in third year with the Mountaineers. And he’s a big reason behind West Virginia’s physical style of play.
Through eight games, Culver is averaging a double-double in 27.3 minutes per outing. He has a scoring average of 14.4 points per game to go along with 10.9 rebounds per contest. Culver is shooting 47.8% from the floor so far this year.
It is no secret that Culver is going to be an integral part of this team. Per KenPom, Culver is taking 26.3% of the shots and is involved on 26.9% of the possessions. Both of those numbers lead WVU among players getting at least 50% of the team’s minutes.
Culver has appeared in 65 career games, which includes 47 starts in his tenure. He has posted five consecutive double-doubles, including an outing of 18 points and 12 rebounds against Iowa State.
**SUPPORTING CAST**
*No. 4 — G Miles McBride | 6-2, 200, so.*
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At this point in the year, McBride is leading the team in scoring with an average of 15 points per game.
Not only does McBride lead West Virginia in points, but he’s such an important player because of how often he is on the floor. He is leading the team in minutes with an average of 33.1 minutes per outing.
Per KenPom, McBride plays 82.8% of the team’s minutes and has an offensive rating of 118.6. Both of those numbers are the best on this West Virginia squad.
Last time out, McBride scored 18 points and collected six rebounds against Iowa State. He has started all eight games this year after making just two starts a season ago.
*No. 34 — F Oscar Tshiebwe | 6-9, 260, jr.*
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Last but not least, it is time to introduce the 6-foot-9, 260-pound big man for WVU.
Tshiebwe is only averaging 20 minutes per game, but he’s managed to produce an average of 8.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per outing. Tshiebwe’s offensive rating of 116.5 on KenPom is the second-best mark on the team.
In addition, Tshiebwe’s rebounding rate is a big part of what he provides. He’s 16th in the nation in offensive rebound rate of 17.5%, while also posting a 21% clip in defensive rebounding.
Tshiebwe, who has started all 38 games of his career, was named to the preseason All-Big 12 team entering this year. He’s coming off a 12-point performance against Iowa State.
**ONE THING WEST VIRGINIA DOES WELL**
Given West Virginia’s size, it is no surprise that this team has an offensive rebound rate of 38.2% and ranks 12th in the nation in that category. Limiting second-chance opportunities will be key for the Jayhawks.
**ONE AREA WEST VIRGINIA STRUGGLES**
The Mountaineers simply aren’t shooting well this year, and that’s evident by their 45.3% effort on 2-point attempts through eight games. That mark ranks 246th in all of college basketball, so it is a good thing WVU tends to get extra shot attempts on offense.
**MEET THE COACH**
The Mountaineers are coached by Bob Huggins, who is 298-162 in his 14th season at WVU and 888-373 in his 39th season overall.
**VEGAS SAYS**
According to FanDuel’s Sportsbook, Kansas is a 2.5-point favorite over West Virginia as of Tuesday morning. Home court doesn’t mean anything to me this season, but it is worth mentioning how difficult it has been for West Virginia to win in Lawrence.
That said, I’m taking West Virginia to win and cover. I just don’t think this is an ideal matchup for KU. The Jayhawks probably can’t play small against the Mountaineers’ lineup, and I don’t believe the best version of this team is playing big — at least as of late December.
As we saw in the Big 12 opener, it is hard to count out Bill Self because he is so incredible at in-game adjustments and late-game situations. That’s obviously not news, but worth something in a likely intense Big 12 race.
But I’m picking Huggins and company to get a win in Allen Fieldhouse tonight.
Prediction: West Virginia 69, Kansas 67
