WVU Looks to Rebound Against Kansas
Jayhawks lead overall series vs. Mountaineers, 7-4
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia has no time to dwell on its loss to Texas Tech as the season does not get any easier.
Kansas will make the trip to Morgantown coming off a 73-72 victory over instate rival Kansas State.
Devonte' Graham scored a game-high 23 points, but it was Malik Newman's layin with seconds left in the contest which decided the contest.
"I just attacked the rim, tried getting downhill to get a bucket," Newman said. "Big fella (Udoka Azubuike) did a great job on the ball screen."
Ozubuike finished with 18 points and eight rebounds while Svi Mykhailiuk and Lagerald Vick contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. Newman chipped with seven -- including the game-winner.
The victory upped the Jayhawks mark to 14-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play heading into their showdown with the Mountaineers.
"I've watched them (WVU)," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "They have definitely caught everyone's attention in America. I think they are very deserving of their ranking.
"We really haven't performed well in Morgantown. With the short turnaround, it makes it even more difficult. They have two of the toughest guards - physically - in our conference and probably the nation. They complement one another."
The Jayhawks weren't the only team that was involved in a one-point decision. No. 2 West Virginia (15-2, 4-1 Big 12) saw its 15-game winning streak -- the longest since 1988-89 -- come to an end in Lubbock Texas, to the No. 8 ranked Red Raiders.
Senior Jevon Carter tallied a game-high 28 points and the Mountaineers welcomed back junior Esa Ahmad, who tallied 18 points in his first game back from an NCAA-suspension.
That would not be enough, however, as Texas Tech received 20 points from Keenan Evans and 17 from Brandone Francis to hand the Mountaineers their first loss since a season-opening loss to Texas A&M.
The 9 p.m. tipoff will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Following his team's second loss of the season veteran WVU coach Bob Huggins had a simple message for his players.
"We have guys with inflated self-worth," Huggins said. "They think they are better that they are. We are all in this together. If you aren't in it with us, go do something else. We collectively have a lot of work to do and a lot of it is our preparing. We aren't the same guys we were. That No. 2 hit and we have different guys."
Verbiage aimed at freshman Teddy Allen as well as Wes Harris and Sagaba Konate. This was simply Huggins' way of sending a warning shot over he proverbial bow before the Mountaineers' ship sinks any further.
The longtime coach also had a message for future officials.
"I think the free throw disparity," Huggins said following a quick perusal of the stat sheet. "They got to the free throw line and we didn't. Look at the numbers: 13 turnovers apiece, we outrebound them by four. They are 24-of-28 and we are 14-of-19.
"I don't know how you are supposed to play aggressively when Lamont (West) had three. Sags has four, Wes has four, Carter has four, Dax has five and Beetle has four. Those are our guys, the guys we play. Esa (Ahmad) is the only guy who played that didn't accumulate a bunch of fouls. On the road you can't foul. I don't know what to say. We couldn't do what we do because I wouldn't have anybody left. We put Wes in and he gets two fouls. We put Beetle in and he gets two fouls in two minutes. They are off ball fouls."
But, find an answer Huggins and his staff must do with Kansas, who is looking for its 14th consecutive Big 12 title, coming to town.
The Mountaineers boss will go with his normal lineup of seniors Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles Jr. at the guards with Lamont West, Wesley Harris and Sagaba Konate the probable starters at forward. Junior Esa Ahmad, who tallied 18 points in his first game back, could be inserted but, that won't be known until just before game time.
Kansas will counter with seniors Graham (18.4 ppg) and Svi Mykhailiuk (16.5), junior Lagerald Vick (14.9) and sophomore Malik Newman (10.7) at the guards and sophomore Udoka Azubuike (14.8) at forward.