West Virginia Mountaineers Vs. Texas A&M Aggies Preview: Season 108 Episode 21 - The One That’s Oddly Scheduled

OPENING THOUGHTS

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Big 12 programming to bring you this oddly scheduled game against an SEC team...

This is actually the first of two meetings between there two schools this year. They will link up again at the beginning of next season as a part of ESPN’s Armed Forces Classic.

For those who don’t know where Ramstein Air Base is, here’s a reference map:

The commute from the Frankfurt to Ramstein would be similar to Pittsburgh to Morgantown, so hopefully we’ll be able to find a cheap flight there and give you some coverage when the time comes.

For now we have the second all-time match up with the Aggies in Morgantown.

The first time these two teams got together was early in the 2009-10 season in Anaheim in the semifinals of the 76 Classic. WVU won the game 73-66.

This is the second time that the Big 12-SEC Challenge is being played in late January. Last season, the Mountaineers dropped an ugly game to the Florida Gators in Gainesville.

In all honesty, I have a soft spot for Texas A&M. I attended one of their baseball games this past spring and had a chance to see the best of College Station. Their fan base is generally pretty welcoming and their tailgates (even for baseball) are very well executed. If any Aggies make their way to the Mountain State, please treat them with respect as they are mostly great people.

I will also add the interesting fact that a couple of Big 12 coaches do not like the scheduling of the Big 12-SEC Challenge. Bill Self had some intriguing words after the loss to WVU.

Sorry about these thoughts, they’re kind of all over the place. Anyway, have fun this weekend and Let’s Go Mountaineers!!

WHEN/WHERE

Date: Saturday, January 28th

Tip-Off Time: Noon ET

Where: WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, WV

Tickets: General Public ; WVU Students

WATCH/LISTEN

TV: ESPN

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 84; XM 84

BRACKETOLOGY

ODDS

Not yet available

THE ENEMY

Where are they from? College Station, Texas

Series History: WVU leads the series 1-0

Last Time: No. 8 West Virginia 73, Texas A&M 66 on November 27, 2009 at the 76 Classic in Anaheim

SB Nation Blog: Good Bull Hunting

Record: 11-8 (3-5 SEC)

Bracketology: Does not appear in any major publication

Record in 2015-16: 28-9 (13-5 SEC); Lost to Oklahoma in the NCAA Sweet 16

Head Coach: Billy Kennedy (POOR HAND GESTURE CHOICE, BRO!)

Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

KEYS TO THE GAME

• I got nothing. The Mountaineers were just about flawless in every phase of the Kansas game. Elijah Macon got in foul trouble early, but other than that, I got nothing.
• Texas A&M scorers. The Aggies run a seven man rotation, but they only have three real scorers. Tyler David and DJ Hogg, who were recruited together out of Plano, TX and Admon Gilder. Hogg missed Texas A&M’s game at Ole Miss due to a minor foot injury, so they might not be a huge factor.

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

Four. I’m as afraid of the Aggies as I am of most SEC fans in general. Most are convinced that the SEC is the only good conference. It’s pretty annoying.

PREDICTION THAT WILL BE WRONG

If the Aggies had a healthy DJ Hogg, I think the game would be a little closer. Since I’m not sure rather he will be playing in Morgantown this weekend, I think that WVU will dominate the game from at least the third media timeout on.

West Virginia 81, Texas A&M 64