WVU Basketball

5 Things to Know Before WVU vs. Portland State

Published

1 year ago

November 25, 2022

West Virginia will match up with Portland State in the consolation side of the Phil Knight Legacy tournament in Portland, Ore. Let’s take a look at five things to know before the game.

Erik Stevenson’s Sprained Foot is ‘Not a Big Deal’

Following WVU’s loss to No. 24 Purdue on Thursday night, head coach Bob Huggins said that Erik Stevenson has a sprained foot but it’s not a big deal.

West Virginia Couldn’t Get Over Hump, Falling to No. 24 Purdue 80-68 at PK85

Stevenson landed awkwardly after attempting a contested layup against Purdue. The fifth-year senior limped on one foot down the court to get back on defense before falling down. Stevenson later returned to the game after being treated and finished with a team-high of 17 points.

Opportunity for West Virginia to Bounce Back

Before the PK85 events, I said that West Virginia leaving Portland with a 2-1 record puts them in good shape; that still applies. The Mountaineers couldn’t get over the hump against Purdue but the Boilermakers also couldn’t extend their lead to a blowout win. West Virginia hung around 8-12 points for majority of the game.

With Stevenson’s foot and three sick players, I think that’s a pretty good start. West Virginia has an opportunity to bounce back with wins over Portland State and Florida/Oregon State.

Meet the Opponent: Portland State

In the last game of the first day at the PK85 event, No. 6 Gonzaga defeated Portland State 102-78. Portland State (2-3) comes from the Big Sky Conference, entering year two under head coach Jase Coburn. PSU defeated Oregon State 79-66 on the road last Saturday. PSU’s top-5 leading scorers are all guards: Jorell Staerfield, Cameron Parker, Isiah Kirby, Hunter Woods and Bobby Harvey.

Portland State can score at all three levels with their top guards. Expect a high-scoring game on Friday.