Matchup: Houston Cougars (16-3, 8-0 Big 12) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (13-6, 5-4 Big 12)
Date & Time: Wednesday, 7 p.m. EST
Betting Odds: Houston -7.5; Over/Under: 123 points
Overview: The number 6 ranked Houston Cougars head to Morgantown to face the West Virginia Mountaineers. This follows a thrilling overtime win for Houston against the Kansas Jayhawks, where J’wan Roberts led his team with 24 points.
West Virginia has been strong at home, with a record of 9-2 at the WVU Coliseum. They stand out in the Big 12 for their defense, allowing just 64.4 points per game and limiting opponents to 40.1% shooting.
The Cougars are undefeated in conference play, averaging 76.7 points per game. They dominate their opponents with an impressive average margin of victory of 21.1 points. Houston is known for their sharpshooting, making around 8.5 three-pointers per game—well above West Virginia’s defensive average of 5.8 allowed.
Key Players: For West Virginia, Javon Small is a standout, scoring an average of 19.6 points with 5.1 assists and 1.9 steals. Jonathan Powell contributes with 9.5 points over his last 10 games. On the other side, LJ Cryer leads Houston with 13.5 points and shoots at 37.9%. Emanuel Sharp has also been a consistent threat from beyond the arc, averaging 2.1 three-pointers in the last 10 games.
Recent Performance: In their last ten games, West Virginia has gone 6-4, scoring an average of 65.1 points while shooting 41.0%. Meanwhile, the Cougars have been unstoppable at 10-0, boasting 76.4 points per game with a shooting percentage of 46.4%. Houston’s defense has also been tough, allowing only 54.9 points on average from their opponents.
This game promises to be an interesting clash, showcasing the offensive strength of Houston against the defensive prowess of West Virginia.