Three-Game Skid Drops WVU to No. 17 in AP Poll

Following three straight losses, the West Virginia men’s basketball team has dropped three spots to No. 17 in the latest AP Top-25 Poll.

This is the lowest ranking for the Mountaineers in six weeks when they were also ranked No. 17.

The Mountaineers’ (18-7, 6-6, Big 12) three-game losing streak started with a loss at Oklahoma on Fen. 8. WVU then lost both games this week, at home against No. 3 Kansas, 58-49, and on the road to No. 1 Baylor, 70-59.

It was the second time this season West Virginia has lost to the Jayhawks and the team’s first meeting with Baylor. WVU will rematch Oklahoma on Feb. 29 and Baylor in the regular-season finale on March 7.

The losses this week have also allowed the Texas Tech Red Raiders to surpass WVU in the Big 12 standings for third place. While WVU lost both games this week, Texas Tech split games against TCU and Oklahoma State to bring the Red Raiders’ conference record to 7-5. At 6-6 West Virginia is now tied for fourth place in the conference with Oklahoma.

No. 1 Baylor and No. 3 Kansas maintained their rankings and Texas Tech fell out of the Top-25 this week. Although, the Red Raiders are the top non-ranked vote-getting team.

The Mountaineers will return home Tuesday to host a rematch with the Oklahoma State Cowboys and travel to finish the season series with TCU on Saturday. Tip-off from the WVU Coliseum will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and at 2 p.m. from TCU on Saturday.