No. 15 West Virginia Will Have To Overcome Kansas State And The Flu To Stop Three-Game Skid

OPENING THOUGHTS

The name of the game is survive and live to play another day. As of Thursday, five Mountaineers have been diagnosed with the flu and have been in and out of the hospital, according to Bob Huggins.

Chase Harler appears to be Patient Zero, but Daxter Miles Jr. seems to be the one hit the hardest. Miles didn’t travel to Ames for Wednesday’s game, and is probably out for this afternoon’s game as well.

Jevon Carter and Sagaba Konate have somehow managed to avoid the virus, as far as we know, so the hopes of West Virginia will once again rest on their shoulders.

This one isn’t going to be an easy one, and we have Oklahoma looming over there on Monday. No bueno.

In other news, the first 500 fans in attendance will be given a complimentary can of Lysol. Weird promotion, but perhaps the most practical.

WHEN/WHERE

Date: Saturday, February 3rd

Tip-Off Time: 4:00 PM ET

Where: WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, “Almost Heaven” West Virginia

Tickets: SOLD OUT

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: SiriusXM 81

ODDS

Spread: West Virginia -8

O/U: 145.5

THE ENEMY

Where are they from? Manhattan, Kansas

Series History: West Virginia leads the series 9-5

Last Time: No. 6 West Virginia 77, Kansas State 69 on January 1, 2018 in Manhattan, Kansas

SB Nation Blog: Bring On The Cats

Record: 16-6 (5-4 Big 12)

2016-2017 Record: 21-14 (8-10 Big 12); Lost to Cincinnati in NCAA First Round

Head Coach: Bruce Weber (6th Season)

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

KEYS TO THE GAME

• Don’t die. I’m really not expecting anything out of the Mountaineers in this game. The flu is no joke, especially the strain that’s going around this year, and I’m not going to place any expectations on these guys if they manage to even get on the floor. Let’s just get out of this game without someone collapsing on the court and I’ll be happy.

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

Eight. Not because I think Kansas State would beat us on a normal day, but I have no confidence that our guys are going to be feeling anywhere near 100% and have the energy to keep it competitive the entire 40 minutes.

PREDICTION THAT WILL BE WRONG

Having so many guys not at 100% is just too much for any team to overcome. Kansas State wins in Morgantown and we all die a little more inside.

Kansas State 76, West Virginia 74