Ready or not, Big 12 conference play is here for the West Virginia men’s basketball team.
West Virginia (10-2) comes into conference play ranked No. 24 in the AP poll after a four-game winning streak against Navy, UAB, Buffalo, and Stony Brook.
The Mountaineers start Big 12 play with a two-game road trip to Manhattan, Kansas and Stillwater, Oklahoma.
On December 31, the 11-1 Kansas State Wildcats will welcome West Virginia into Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats powered through their non-conference schedule under first-year head coach Jerome Tang, going 11-1 and picking up quality wins over Nevada and LSU.
Through 12 games, Kansas State has been led by Florida transfer Keyontae Johnson. Johnson made headlines across the country in 2020 when he collapsed during a game with the Gators, and many wondered if he would ever play the sport again. Since then, Johnson has been cleared to play and since transferring to Kansas State, the senior guard has taken over, averaging 17.7 points and nearly seven rebounds per game.
Johnson is also 6-foot-6 at the guard position, so it will be a healthy challenge for WVU’s Kedrian Johnson to go pound-for-pound with him.
After missing the past two games with a knee injury, West Virginia’s Emmitt Matthews Jr. will return to the lineup against the Wildcats. The senior forward is averaging 10.8 points per game and brings the most experience in Big 12 play to the table.
“I think the one guy that knows what’s going on [with Big 12 conference play], is Emmitt,” head coach Bob Huggins said.
Having Matthews on the floor should light a spark for WVU, as the Mountaineers struggled at times against Buffalo and Stony Brook without the veteran presence.
Matthews knows how tough it can be to play in Manhattan, as the fifth-year senior has only one win in three games at Bramlage Coliseum.
West Virginia will not have much time to relax after a probable pound-for-pound dogfight against Kansas State, as Oklahoma State will be waiting for the Mountaineers on Monday.
The Cowboys are a different team than last year, as veteran guard Isaac Likekele transferred to Ohio State and Keylan Boone moved on to Pacific.
Oklahoma State, however, is still led by guard Avery Anderson, who has torched the Mountaineers since the 2020-2021 season. Anderson is averaging 12.2 points, 3.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game for Mike Boynton’s squad.
The front court for Boynton’s Cowboys features two experienced big men that have each made their presence felt against WVU in years past. Kalib Boone, brother of Keylan, stayed with Oklahoma State through the offseason, and in his senior season, is averaging nearly 10 points and five rebounds per game.
The Cowboys also return the 7-foot center Moussa Cisse, who is averaging 8.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
WVU’s big men will have their hands full against Cisse and Boone, and it will be a point of emphasis for Jimmy Bell and Tre Mitchell to stay out of early foul trouble.
West Virginia will need to get off to a get off to a quick start in Big 12 play, and ensure it doesn’t start conference play 0-2, as No. 4 Kansas and No. 12 Baylor will come to Morgantown right as the Mountaineers return home.
“We certainly need to win on the road,” Huggins said. “We’re coming home and playing the two best teams in the conference.”
