West Virginia Mountaineers Vs. Virginia Cavaliers Preview: Season 108 Episode 7 - The Measuring Stick

OPENING THOUGHTS

Well, this is the game.

This is the game where we really figure out how good the Mountaineers are. We’ve seen them be dominant, and in the Temple game we saw the best and worst of the West Virginia and now we can see what we can expect in conference play.

If you’re going to be watching the Baylor game from home, I highly recommend trying to catch as much of this as possible before the football game kicks off because this is the only real game WVU has until December 30th.

WHEN/WHERE

Date: Saturday, December 3rd

Tip-Off Time: 2:00 PM ET

Where: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA

Tickets: General Public

WATCH/LISTEN

TV: ESPNU

Streaming Video: WatchESPN (or the WatchESPN app for smartphones)

Radio: WZST Variety 101 (100.9 FM in Morgantown) and the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG (Radio Affiliates)

Streaming Audio: Locate the Mountaineers Sports Network from IMG on TuneIn Radio (or the TuneIn app for smartphones)

ODDS

Spread: Virginia by 8

O/U: 131.5

THE ENEMY

Where are they from? Charlottesville, Virginia

Series History: Virginia leads the series 9-8

Last Time: No. 10 Virginia 70, No. 14 West Virginia 54 on December 8, 2015 at Madison Square Garden

SB Nation Blog: Streaking The Lawn

Record: 7-0

Record in 2015-16: 29-8 (13-5 ACC); Lost in the Elite Eight to Syracuse

Head Coach: Tony Bennett

Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive

Haha, Just kidding...

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

KEYS TO THE GAME

• Challenge UVA on the glass. WVU can’t knock down shots so the grabbing rebounds will be where the Mountaineers will win and lose the game.
• Keep an eye on a battle of great defenses. WVU and UVA lead the country in nearly every defensive category. It should be a great watch.

HOW AFRAID SHOULD WE BE (ON A SCALE OF 1-10)?

Nine. I’m as afraid of UVA as I am of grizzly bears.

PREDICTION THAT WILL BE WRONG

I think this will be an ugly game on both sides. I was very unimpressed with Virginia in their game against Ohio State, so I think WVU might have a bit of a chance and I think they will at least get a moral victory.

Virginia 62, West Virginia 58