OPENING THOUGHTS
Before I get started, I just want to remind you of something wonderful:
Ha-ha yeah...
Okay, let’s get down to brass tacks.
Many people on the Inter-webs have been complaining about how WVU is ranked behind Baylor in the AP Poll. If you didn’t know that, here’s the top ten:
WVU went up 3 after blowing out Baylor and escaping Texas, Baylor went down 5 for being smeared in Morgantown and getting by K-State on the road.
So what?
In college basketball, RANKINGS ARE MEANINGLESS. The AP and Coaches poll do not determine seeding in the NCAA Tournament. They’re only purpose is to promote the perception of which team is good and which one isn’t, even if it isn’t true. No major college basketball poll had Stephen F. Austin in the Top 25, but evidently they were good enough to beat WVU, who was ranked 8th.
Even if you are under the illusion of media and coaches polls meaning anything, would you really still rank WVU ahead of Baylor? I’ll go a head and put up both team’s major results (i.e. RPI 150+):
DISCLAIMER: If you’re seeing this on a smartphone, the chart will be hard to interpret.
BAYLOR (17-1) | WEST VIRGINIA (15-2) |
---|---|
BAYLOR (17-1) | WEST VIRGINIA (15-2) |
RESULTS (RPI 1-50) | RESULTS (RPI 1-50) |
Louisville (RPI 8) (W 66-63) | Baylor (RPI 2) (W 89-68) |
Oregon (RPI 14) (W 66-49) | Virginia (RPI 17) (W 66-57) |
Xavier (RPI 21) (W 76-61) | TCU (RPI 24) (W 82-70) |
West Virginia (RPI 22) (L 89-68) | Illinois (RPI 44) (W 89-57) |
VCU (RPI 37) (W 71-63) | |
Michigan State (RPI 40) (W 73-58) | |
Kansas State (RPI 49) (W 77-68) | |
RESULTS (RPI 51-100) | RESULTS (RPI 51-100) |
Iowa State (RPI 51) (W 65-63) | Oklahoma State (RPI 57) (W 92-75) |
Oklahoma State (RPI 57) (W 61-57) | Texas Tech (RPI 58) (L 77-76 OT) |
Texas Southern (RPI 77) (W 89-63) | Temple (RPI 74) (L 81-77) |
Florida Gulf Coast (RPI 81) (W 81-72) | |
RESULTS (RPI 101-150) | RESULTS (RPI 101-150) |
Oklahoma (RPI 129) (W 76-50) | Texas (RPI 144) (W 74-72) |
Texas (RPI 144) (W 74-64) | |
5-0 AGAINST ALL OTHER TEAMS | 9-0 AGAINST ALL OTHER TEAMS |
Would you still pick WVU over Baylor? I actually think that Baylor should be ranked higher, maybe 3rd or 4th.
But still, it’s all meaningless and the only thing that matters is where WVU is on Sunday, March 12th (Selection Sunday). Also, think about how we’re only four years removed from a WVU team that went 13-19.
That being said, let’s watch some dang basketball.
WHEN/WHERE
Date: Wednesday, January 18th
Tip-Off Time: 7:00 PM ET
Where: WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, WV
Tickets: General Public ; WVU Students
WATCH/LISTEN
TV: ESPN2
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 Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG on TuneIn Radio (or the TuneIn app for smartphones)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 134; XM 199
BRACKETOLOGY
MEDIA | SEED | 1ST RD OPPONENT | 2ND RD OPPONENT | LOCATION | REGION |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MEDIA | SEED | 1ST RD OPPONENT | 2ND RD OPPONENT | LOCATION | REGION |
ESPN (Jan. 16) | 2 | Boston University | South Carolina/Pitt | Buffalo, N.Y. (Mar. 16 & 18) | New York (Mar. 24 & 26) |
CBS (Jan. 16) | 3 | Monmouth | Wisconsin/Rhody-NC State | Buffalo, N.Y. (Mar. 16 & 18) | New York (Mar. 24 & 26) |
NBC (Jan. 12) | 3 | Georgia Southern | Florida/UNC Wilmington | Buffalo, N.Y. (Mar. 16 & 18) | New York (Mar. 24 & 26) |
SB Nation (Jan. 17) | 3 | Princeton | South Carolina/Rhody-Marqette | Buffalo, N.Y. (Mar. 16 & 18) | New York (Mar. 24 & 26) |
ODDS
Spread: WVU by 17 (according to Caesar’s Palace)
O/U: 110
THE ENEMY
Where are they from? Norman, Oklahoma
Series History: Oklahoma leads series 8-4
Last Time: No. 9 West Virginia 69, No. 6 Oklahoma 67 on March 11, 2016 in Kansas City (#TooLate)
SB Nation Blog: Crimson and Cream Machine
Record: 7-9 (1-4 Big 12)
Bracketology: Does not appear in any major publication
Record in 2015-16: 29-8 (12-6 Big 12); Lost to Villanova in the NCAA Final Four
Head Coach: Lon Kruger
KEYS TO THE GAME
- FREE THROWS! Still worst in the conference, C’MON!!
- Jordan Woodard can score! The Sooner guard averages over 17 points per game and 27 against Texas Tech on Saturday (his first full-scale game since his leg injury).
HOW AFRAID SHOULD WE BE (ON A SCALE OF 1-10)?
Two. Oklahoma has lost to every team with a pulse (with the exception of Clemson and Texas Tech). They have a couple of scorers, but none of them have gone up against WVU’s press, so I’m as afraid of the Sooners as I am of Katie Nolan (not a cheap shot, I’m literally running out of material and I saw this video on YouTube. She’s awesome guys, check her out on FS1).
PREDICTION THAT WILL BE WRONG
I honestly don’t think the game will be a huge blowout like Vegas thinks it will. I think it will be uncomfortable for most of the game, just because it’s WVU and that’s what WVU does. They will go on a scoring run at some point and will have a ten point cushion for most of the second half.
West Virginia 79, Oklahoma 68