WVU Basketball Starting to Get Included in Tournament Brackets

As WVU basketball keeps winning, people around the country are taking notice.

The Mountaineers (6-2) have gone from an after-thought this season to being on the edge of the AP Top 25 and being on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament.

WVU’s most recent victory was a 73-60 win over Georgetown in the Big 12-Big East Battle Friday in the WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers used a 16-0 second-half run, fueled by an enthusiastic home crowd, to hand the Hoyas just their second loss of the season. Point guard Javon Small led the Mountaineers again with 26 points.

Bracketology

It seems early to be talking about the bracket for the NCAA Tournament, but ESPN’s Joe Lunardi never rests. In his update last week, Lunardi has West Virginia as one of the last four teams in the field of 64. Lunardi pits WVU against Xavier in an 11-seed first four game.

WVU hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament in two years and has made the field just twice since 2018 (the 2020 tournament was canceled).

Another Bracketology update will be coming tomorrow to reflect last week’s games.

AP Top 25

After receiving votes for the first time last week, WVU picked up a few more in Monday’s poll. The Mountaineers received 30 votes in this week’s AP Top 25 poll.

Other Big 12 schools in the poll include No. 3 Iowa State, No. 10 Kansas, No. 15 Houston and No. 22 Cincinnati. Baylor and Arizona State also received votes.

NET Rankings

WVU basketball actually fell a few spots in the second NET Rankings of the season, dropping from No. 37 two spots to No. 39.

The Mountaineers were jumped by Bayton and St. John’s.

KenPom Rankings

The Mountaineers come in at No. 56 in the KenPom Rankings ahead of their meeting with North Carolina Central on Tuesday. North Carolina Central (4-7) is ranked No. 279 by KenPom.

Tipoff between the Mountaineers and Eagles tomorrow is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the WVU Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

For a related story, players are starting to embrace their roles for WVU basketball.