WVU Basketball Set for Thanksgiving Matchup Against Louisville

The WVU basketball team is thankful this morning to be in the winner’s bracket at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas.

The Mountaineers (4-1), who knocked off No. 3 Gonzaga in the first round yesterday, meet up with Louisville today at noon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

On the winner's side tomorrow ✌️#Battle4Atlantis | #HailWV pic.twitter.com/hrOHZtUaxJ

— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) November 28, 2024

West Virginia looked great against Gonzaga during its 86-78 overtime victory. The Mountaineers dictated play for most of the second half and for the entire overtime period.

First-year coach Darian DeVries was quick to point out the team is far from a finished product, however.

“By no means have we arrived,” DeVries said after the game. “We had a great win, a great 45 minutes, but we still have plenty of room to grow into.”

Senior point guard Javon Small might have played the game of his life against the Zags, scoring a game-high 31 points with seven rebounds. Fellow senior Tucker DeVries stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

Sophomore center Amani Hansberry also impressed, scoring a career-high 19 points while showing his versatility with a trio of three-pointers and a team-high eight rebounds.

The Mountaineers might be on some tired legs today as DeVries, Small and Sencire Harris all played 42 minutes. Hansberry played 37 minutes and starting guard Toby Okani played 29.

The Cardinals (4-1) had their own upset in the first round, crushing No. 14 Indiana 89-61 in the early game on Wednesday. Louisville led 37-29 at halftime and then poured in 52 points in the second half en route to the blowout victory.

Noah Waterman and Chucky Hepburn scored 16 points apiece to pace Louisville’s victory. Kasean Pryor contributed 14 points and Reyne Smith added 12. None of the Cardinals played more than 30 minutes.

Louisville and West Virginia are in similar situations this season with first-year head coaches and rosters built through the transfer portal. Cardinals coach Pat Kelsey brought in 13 new players after being hired in March.

For a related story, WVU basketball used the lessons it learned against Pitt to knock off Gonzaga.