West Virginia to Have 8 Scholarship Players Available for Season Opener

West Virginia will begin the 2023-24 season short-handed as the Mountaineers only have eight scholarship players currently available against Missouri State.

WVU interim HC Josh Eilert ruled out forward Akok Akok on Thursday after his health scare against George Mason last week. Akok’s timetable to return to the floor is unknown. West Virginia will also be without Kerr Kriisa, who was suspended for nine games earlier in the week for receiving impermissible benefits while enrolled at Arizona.

WVU G RaeQuan Battle is also waiting on his waiver appeal decision from the NCAA. Battle’s initial waiver was denied in October but has West Virginia Governor Jim Justice and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey helping the process by writing letters to NCAA President Charlie Baker. For now, Battle is ineligible to play this season.

WVU’s projected rotation for Missouri State:

1 – Kobe Johnson, Jeremiah Bembry

2 – Seth Wilson

3 – Josiah Harris, Ofri Naveh

4 – Quinn Slazinski, Patrick Suemnick

5 – Jesse Edwards, Ali Ragab

WVU will host Missouri State next Monday, Nov. 6 at the WVU Coliseum. The season opener will tipoff at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.