After a tough loss to TCU in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament, the Mountaineers are turning their focus to the NCAA tournament, which begins next week.
This has been an excellent year so far for the Mountaineers, who finished 24-7 (13-5 in the Big 12). Mark Kellogg’s and JJ Quinerly’s connection has grown in their second year together, turning Kellogg into one of the better coaches in the country and JJ Quinerly into a potential pro.
WVU is currently projected to be a five-seed in the tournament, and they have the roster and coaching to make a run. The key way to victory for the Mountaineers so far this season has been their defense. They play hard, jump passing lanes, and don’t give up easy shots.
The shooting has also improved this year for West Virginia. They shoot 45% from the field and 75.6% as a team from the free-throw line. JJ Quinerly is a huge reason for this improvement. She not only runs the offense but also averages 20.6 points per game while shooting 44.8% from the field.
Quinerly is one of the candidates for Big 12 Player of the Year and has improved her game so much that she is gaining national attention. This not only improves her draft stock but is also making her one of the biggest names in WVU women’s basketball history.
As conference tournaments conclude, the Mountaineers will need to sit and wait to learn who and where they will be playing. NCAA tournament selection Sunday is set to take place on Mar. 16.
