West Virginia vs Richmond Preview & How To Watch: Mountaineers Face Spiders In Las Vegas Invitational

Game Day Vitals

• West Virginia Mountaineers (4-0, Big 12 0-0, ESPN RPI 170) vs. Richmond Spiders (3-1, Atlantic 10 0-0, ESPN RPI 193)
• Series Record: WVU leads series 40-13
• Location: Orleans Arena (7,471) in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Vegas Lines: WVU (-7.5), O/U 161
  
• Date: Thursday, November 26, 2015, 5:00 pm ET
• Television: Fox Sports 1 (Justin Kutcher and Bill Raftery)
• Online Streaming: FoxSportsGo
• Radio Affiliates

Opponent Information

• Richmond Spiders (3-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10, NCAA RPI 193)
• Head Coach - Chris Mooney, 11th year at Richmond (189-147), career: (231-186)
  
• Last Result - Defeated Bethune-Cookman 89-64
• Official Richmond Athletics website

It should come with no surprise that, after the first four games on the young basketball season, the West Virginia Mountaineers are among the nation's best in rebounds and steals. It may come with some shock that WVU is also third nationally in scoring as they have put up triple digits or damn near close to it three times already this season. As time goes on, rebounding and steals should stay up, but don't expect the Mountaineer offense to keep this up. A lot of that is padded by the ability to crash the offensive boards which will prove more difficult against better opponents. While West Virginia may have a challenge in that department on Friday, Thanksgiving Day should not be a problem.

The Richmond Spiders are one of those teams you always pick to beat the 5-seed in the opening round of March Madness even though you haven't watched one second of Richmond Spider basketball. They almost never do except in 2011 where Richmond made it to the Sweet 16. Since that run, the Spiders have went 77-60 which is.... fine, but nothing to write home about. That sums up Richmond perfectly: fine, but nothing to write home about.

While Richmond do have two big men in Terry Allen (6'8 20pts/8rebs) and TJ Cline (6'9 18pts/5rebs) who will be the provide the main offensive production, West Virginia should not have a problem. Yes, the Mountaineers have trouble with size (i.e. Baylor), but the Spiders do not have the talent in the back court to consistently break the press. Furthermore, James Madison outrebounded this team in Richmond to an 87-75 victory. We can all see how the Dukes could put out more effort than most teams in the country and West Virginia will follow those blueprints. I see the Spiders crossing the Frustration Horizon in the second half and this one busting loose with 12 minutes to go.

Prediction: WVU 89, Richmond 66