After an unexpected and terrible loss to Kansas State on Saturday, the Mountaineers look to rebound, literally and figuratively, tonight against Texas.

The Mountaineers play a Longhorn team that very well may be playing for their coaches job security from here on out. Shaka Smart has a winning record at Texas but has overall been a disappointment, given the resources at his disposal. Smart may already be a dead man walking, but missing the NCAA tournament will certainly cost him his job this season.

WHEN/ WHERE

Date: Monday, January 20

Tip-off Time: 7:00 PM ET/ 6:00 PM CT

Where: WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, West Virginia

Tickets: WVUgame.com

WATCH/ LISTEN

TV: ESPNU

Streaming Video: WatchESPN.com with a valid cable subscription

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

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

Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 83

THE ENEMY

Where are they from? Austin, Texas

Series History: Texas leads 11-8. West Virginia has won four of the last seven meetings in the series, but the Longhorns have won the last three meetings.

Last Time: Texas 75, WVU 53 on February 9, 2019 in Morgantown

SB Nation Blog: Burnt Orange Nation and Barking Carnival

Record: 12-5 (2-3 Big 12)

2018-19 Record: 21-16 (8-10 Big 12), Won the NIT Championship

Head Coach: Shaka Smart (5th season)

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Key Players: G Matt Coleman (12 ppg), G Courtney Ramey (11 ppg), F Jericho Sims

KEYS TO THE GAME:

You forgot we have 8 underclassmen on our 13-man roster, didn’t you? (9/14 if you count Jalen Bridges redshirt)

The upperclassmen have to pick this team up and get their heads right. Thankfully this game is in the friendly confines of the Coliseum, which should help.

Jermaine Haley and Chase Harler have to step up and lead this team off the court but some contributions on the court would be welcomed as well.

The Mountaineers average just over 41 rebounds per game to the Longhorns 33 rebounds per. WVU has to remember who they are and pound the ball inside and find their bruising mojo once again.

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

Nine. WVU is more talented than this Texas team, but it will be easy for the Longhorns to smell blood in the water after the Mountaineer’s poor performance in the Little Apple on Saturday.

West Virgina 62, Texas 55