West Virginia will look to win their third consecutive game on Saturday when the Mountaineers travel to Austin to face No. 5 Texas. The Mountaineers come into this game fresh off a 76-71 win over No. 11 Iowa State, while the Longhorns come into this game having lost to No. 9 Kansas, 88-80 on Monday.
Keys To Victory
Create a presence on the interior
In these two teams’ first meeting on Jan. 21, West Virginia’s bigs struggled. The trio of Jimmy Bell, James Okonkwo, and Mohamed Wague, went a combined 5 for 8 from the floor, but just scored 10 points, and had 11 rebounds in a combined 37 minutes. The Mountaineers also let Texas’ bigs put up good offensive performances, with Dylan Disu scoring 13 points, while Texas scored 32 of their 69 points (46%) in the paint.
Limit Turnovers
Nothing creates more issues on the road than turning the ball over. In their first meeting, WVU turned the ball over 20 times, leading to 19 Texas points. The 20 turnovers is tied for the most West Virginia has had in a game this season. The Mountaineers must take care of the ball if they want to win. Cut the 20 in half against the Longhorns the first time and you probably come out victorious if you’re the Mountaineers. Prioritize possessions, simple as that.
Start Fast
This game is tipping off at 11 a.m. local time in Austin. If West Virginia starts fast and puts the pressure on the home team, it could be a good sign for the Mountaineers. Early tips are never easy, but as a road team, if they play loose and start fast, it could be a recipe for success.
Game Information
Tip-Off: Noon EST/11 a.m. CST
Location: Moody Center — Austin, Texas
TV: ESPN2
Betting: Texas -6.5, O/U 150.5
Last Meeting: Texas 69, WVU 61 — Jan. 21, 2023
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