West Virginia plays Cincinnati in Kansas City on Tuesday for the first round of the Big 12 tournament.
Cincinnati recently defeated WVU 92-56 on Saturday and is currently heavily favored to win the game with the Mountaineers’ struggles very evident.
Our staff predicts the game:
Wesley Shoemaker: West Virginia head to Kansas City with a shot at a team they just got rolled by this weekend. I think it’s close throughout and there are lessons to be learned from their loss to UC on Saturday. For me you want to think these seniors have desperation but they look checked out as a whole. I’ll take the Bearcats in a close one as this season officially comes to an end tomorrow.
Cincinnati 78, West Virginia 71
Patrick Reneau: WVU plays their Big 12 tournament game against Cincinnati and while I’m hopeful the game doesn’t go like their last game against Cincinnati did, i think the outcome will still be the same. There hasn’t been a point this season where West Virginia has looked like half the team they are at home compared to playing anywhere else. Whether it’s shots not falling, bad turnovers, not stopping their opponent, or all 3, it’s always a problem away from Morgantown this year. This was a wvu team with potential to be good and make some noise come late but i think their season comes to an end tomorrow.
Cincinnati 79, West Virginia 64
Ryan Roddy: The Mountaineers have a quick turnaround against Cincinnati after losing big to them on Saturday. The Bearcats bested WVU in just about every stat except three-point shooting. West Virginia has had surprising moments this season such as their win vs. Kansas or their late comeback against Kansas State in regulation but defeating a team that posted a 36-point win against them just a couple of days ago will be hard to compete. It also should be noted that West Virginia has not won a game on the road or at a neutral site this season. I expect the defense to perform better than Saturday, but the offense to struggle to get going. In the end, I predict the game to be a lot closer, but the Mountaineers unable to do the improbable and advance in the Big 12 tournament, ending their season.
Cincinnati 75, West Virginia, 68
