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WHEN/WHERE
Date: Tuesday, February 20th, 2018
Tip-Off Time: 7:00 PM ET
Where: Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas
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WATCH/LISTEN
TV: ESPN2
Streaming Video: WatchESPN
Radio: 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)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 83
ODDS
Spread: Baylor -1
O/U: 142
Bracketology
| MEDIA | SEED | 1ST RD OPPONENT | 2ND RD OPPONENT | LOCATION | REGION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEDIA | SEED | 1ST RD OPPONENT | 2ND RD OPPONENT | LOCATION | REGION |
| ESPN (Feb. 19) | 5 | Louisiana | Ohio State/East Tennessee | San Diego, CA | East |
| CBS (Feb. 19) | 5 | Loyola-Chicago | Gonzaga/Buffalo | Boise, ID | East |
| SB Nation (Feb. 13) | 4 | Middle Tennessee | Tenessee/Louisiana | Boise, ID | South |
| NBC Sports (Feb. 19) | 5 | St. Bonaventure/Washington | Gonzaga/Buffalo | San Diego, CA | East |
THE ENEMY
Where are they from? Waco, Texas
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Series History: Baylor leads the all-time series 8-5
Last Time: No. 6 West Virginia 57, Baylor 54 on January 9, 2018 in Morgantown
SB Nation Blog: Our Daily Bears
Record: 17-10 (7-7 Big 12)
Bracketology
| MEDIA | SEED | FIRST FOUR | 1ST RD OPPONENT | 2ND RD OPPONENT | LOCATION | REGION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEDIA | SEED | FIRST FOUR | 1ST RD OPPONENT | 2ND RD OPPONENT | LOCATION | REGION |
| ESPN (Feb. 19) | 11 | St. Bonaventure (Play-In) | Kentucky | UNC/Charleston | Nashville, TN | West |
| CBS (Feb. 19) | 12 | Syracuse (Play-In) | Rhode Island | Arizona/Murray St. | San Diego, CA | West |
| SB Nation (Feb. 13) | 11 | - | Texas A&M | Michigan St./Charleston | Wichita, KS | South |
| NBC Sports (Feb. 19) | 11 | Syracuse (Play-In) | Missouri | Purdue/Rider | Pittsburgh, PA | Midwest |
Record in 2016-17: 27-8 (12-6 Big 12); Lost to South Carolina in Sweet 16
Head Coach: Scott Drew (15th Season)
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KEYS TO THE GAME
- Control the glass. Baylor grabbed an offensive rebound on 34% of their misses in the first meeting between the two teams, and outnumbered the Mountaineers in total rebounds 44-36. West Virginia needs to start winning those battles under the rim if they’re going to win this game, and look to make a serious run in the NCAA tournament.
- Guard the corner three. I feel like I’m repeating myself on this one. Too many times this season we’ve seen our opponents fight their way back into the game by draining those lightly-contested corner threes.
HOW AFRAID SHOULD WE BE (ON A SCALE OF 1-10)?
Eight. This game very much depends on West Virginia’s ability to put the last game behind them and focus on what is in front of them. Baylor has won five straight, including a win Saturday over the Texas Tech Red Raiders. They got hot at the right time and are fighting for a first round bye in the Big 12 tournament.
Fortunately for us, we have a Hall of Fame coach on our side and I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up winning our last four games. We’ve seen Bob Huggins turn a team around after a heartbreaking loss near the end of the season, let’s see if he’s able to do it again.
PREDICTION THAT WILL BE WRONG
West Virginia takes another double digit lead in the second half, but this time we don’t completely blow it.
West Virginia 74, Baylor 69