WVU Ready to Host Underperforming Kansas on Saturday in Morgantown

It is well known at this point that the West Virginia University men’s basketball team struggles to close out games when playing against Kansas. The Jayhawks have won five straight against the Mountaineers and nine of the last 10, dating back to Feb. 2017.

When playing on the road, WVU has a poor track record against KU, going 0-9 all-time in Allen Fieldhouse since joining the Big 12. In the WVU Coliseum, however, the Mountaineers are 5-3 against Kansas.

That coupled with the Jayhawks recent struggles could be a good omen for WVU when the two tip-off in Morgantown on Saturday at 2 p.m. It will be the second meeting between the two this season, with Kansas winning the first, 79-65, on Dec. 22 in the WVU Coliseum.

The then-No. 3 Jayhawks improved to 8-1 after defeating the Mountaineers the first time the two teams played this season, but have hit a rough stop since. KU enters Saturday’s game just 12-6 (6-4 Big 12) and is 2-4 in its last six games, including a three-game losing in mid-January. Since scoring 79 points against the Mountaineers, Kansas has eclipsed 70 just twice in nine games.

Even so, Huggins said WVU is not taking Kansas lightly, especially given the improvement of junior forward David McCormick. In his last six games, McCormick is averaging 17 points, scoring in double digits in five of them.

“They’re throwing the ball to him and rightfully so,” Huggins said. “He’s improved more than anybody I’ve coached against in however many years it’s been. I’ve never seen a guy get better that fast. He’s a heck of a threat for them now.”

Saturday’s game is also the first of six in a row in which the Mountaineers will face a ranked opponent. Even with such a grueling schedule upcoming, Huggins emphasized that the team’s sole focus was on Kansas right now. Sophomore point guard Miles “Deuce” McBride said the Mountaineers will not shy away from any opponent.

“That’s the reason I came here,” McBride said. “To play a game like this.”