*******OU-West Virginia Game Thread*******

[OUHoops]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209395293

QUICK PREVIEW
Alone in third place in the Big 12, No. 21/23 Oklahoma (17-5, 6-3) travels to take on West Virginia (13-9, 5-4) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT inside WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, W. Va. The Sooners, who had their four-game winning streak snapped in an 81-75 defeat at No. 16 Iowa State on Saturday, are looking for their fifth straight win over the Mountaineers. Fourth-place WVU, which is 7-4 at home this season (2-2 Big 12), posted an 81-71 home win over Kansas State on Saturday.

ON THE AIR
Wednesday’s contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM "The Franchise" in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa) with Toby Rowland and Mike Houck calling the action. The game will be televised by ESPNU with Clay Matvick and Darrin Horn announcing.

THE SERIES
Oklahoma owns a 4-1 all-time record against West Virginia (2-0 on road) and won all three meetings last year (77-70 in Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla., 67-57 in Morgantown and 83-70 in Norman. OU shot .471 from the field in the three matchups while holding the Mountaineers to a .391 figure.

PREVIEWING WEST VIRGINIA
Picked seventh in this year’s Big 12 preseason coaches poll after finishing 6-12 in the league last season, West Virginia (13-9, 5-4) enters Wednesday’s game tied with Iowa State and Kansas State for fourth place. The Mountaineers are coming off an 81-71 home win over K-State on Saturday, a game in which they outscored the Wildcats by 21 points from the free throw line. In Big 12 play, WVU ranks sixth in scoring (74.3 ppg), seventh in scoring defense (75.9), seventh in field goal percentage (.425), fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (.368), fourth in free throw percentage (.728) and seventh in rebounding margin (-2.3 per game). The Mountaineers are 7-4 at home this year with losses to Gonzaga, Purdue, Oklahoma State and Texas.

Three West Virginia players average double figures in points and two of them rank among Big 12’s top four scorers. Junior point guard Juwan Staten averages 18.0 points (ranks second in league) and a Big 12-high 6.0 assists to go along with 5.8 rebounds and a team-high 1.3 steals per game. He ranks second in the Big 12 in free throws made (119) and attempted (165), and is coming off a career-high 35-point game versus Kansas State (18-for-21 from the foul line) that helped him be named Big 12 Player of the Week. Sophomore guard Eron Harris is averaging 17.0 points with the help of 2.6 3-pointers per game and a .423 3-point field goal percentage (both rank third in the league). Sophomore Terry Henderson, another guard, contributes 12.2 points per outing and is shooting .366 from behind the arc (1.6 makes per game).

The Mountaineers are under the direction of seventh-year head coach Bob Huggins, who owns a 146-84 record at West Virginia. The 1977 WVU graduate is in his 32nd season overall and owns a 736-295 career mark.

 

[pnkranger]

Re: *****OU-West Virginia Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*****

This would be a big win for seeding if we can pull it off. Only Iowa State will have an easier conference schedule to close out than us...and 13-5 would be a definite possibility with an outside chance at 14-4.

Take care of business tomorrow, and we are set up for a great stretch run.

 

[slappy in OP]

Re: *****OU-West Virginia Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*****

Big game. Hoping the team can get back into the win column.

 

[BigTime]

Re: *****OU-West Virginia Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*****

Agreed on the big game sentiment.

 

[AdaSooner]

Re: *****OU-West Virginia Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*****

Definitely a big game and one we can win. It will not be easy in Morgantown, though. WVU is better now than they were in the early part of the season. They have a trio of guards in Staten, Harris and Henderson who are really good.

To me, the key is to at least contain Staten and not let him have a career night on us.

 

[Tydude]

Re: *****OU-West Virginia Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*****

OUontheAir: The Sooners are still in Newark. If all goes as planned, tonight's 6pm CST tipoff will stay as planned in Morgantown. #fingerscrossed

 

[AdaSooner]

Re: *****OU-West Virginia Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*****

OUontheAir: The Sooners are still in Newark. If all goes as planned, tonight's 6pm CST tipoff will stay as planned in Morgantown. #fingerscrossed

Wow! :facepalm

They're not going to have much time to get the kinks out of their legs before the game tips off. Sure hope the delay doesn't affect them too much, but I'm officially concerned about it now.

 

[opsooner]

Re: *****OU-West Virginia Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*****

Ou 86
wv 81

 

[opsooner]

OK, I have had enough of football signing day. I'm ready for basketball now. Boomer.

 

[opsooner]

We have the third-string announcing crew again tonight.

 

[opsooner]

7-6 WV at under 16

 

[JBaker]

Not a bad start.
Still wish Clark would shoot the wide open threes in rhythm that teams keep giving him, instead of doing a crossover to get a foot in front of the line.

 

[slappy in OP]

So far we do not look too worn our from the marathon travel. Hope that continues and we can get a huge win on the road.

 

[TheGimper]

Why are they booing Buddy every time he touches the ball?

 

[AdaSooner]

Not a bad start.
Still wish Clark would shoot the wide open threes in rhythm that teams keep giving him, instead of doing a crossover to get a foot in front of the line.

Especially a crossover when there wasn't a defender within six feet of him. lol

 

[AdaSooner]

Why are they booing Buddy every time he touches the ball?

Maybe their saying "boody, boody." West Virginians talked funny you know.

 

[uberjamb]

Is there a stream?

 

[hoopsaustin]

Especially a crossover when there wasn't a defender within six feet of him. lol

Drives me nuts.. But for whatever reason Clark isn't comfortable shooting 3s and you can't argue with his mid range

 

[opsooner]

Looked like Staten ran into his screener there.

 

[stormspencer]

Defense needs to tighten up a bit. They aren't switching well right now.