WVU Bounces Back to No. 12 in AP Poll

After winning both of its games this week, the West Virginia basketball team returned to the No. 12 spot in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.

WVU had fallen from 12 to 14 last week after losing on the road to Kansas State on Jan. 18. This week the Mountaineers defeated Texas Monday and Missouri Saturday, both in blow-out fashion.

The 97-59 win over Texas came just two days after losing to Kansas State. It was one of the team’s best performances this season, shooting 51.5% from the floor and committing only eight turnovers. The win over Missouri Saturday was just the second time WVU has been victorious in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. It was also coach Bob Huggins 876th career victory, tying him seventh all-time with Adolph Rupp of Kentucky.

This is the seventh consecutive week the Mountaineers have been ranked in the top-25 and matches their highest ranking so far this season. The team broke into the rankings at No. 25 and moved up to 16 before a loss at Kansas dropped them to 17. Te team then climbed to No. 12 before losing to the Wildcats and falling to 14 last week.

Other Big 12 schools ranked are Baylor at No. 1 and Kansas at No. 3. WVU’s next opponent, Texas Tech, received 33 votes but did not make the top-25.

The Mountaineers and Red Raiders will meet on Wednesday for the second time already this season. WVU defeated TTU earlier this month 66-54. Tip-off from Lubbock, Texas will be at 8 p.m. EST Wednesday night.