Nothing easy when it comes to the Big 12 tournament
For the second consecutive season, West Virginia finds itself in a similar position following the regular season finale.
The Mountaineers again have finished the regular season with a 24-7 record and carry the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 tournament.
So are there any differences between last season and now?
According to head coach Bob Huggins, the answer is no, especially when you take into account the high level of competition in the Big 12. If anything, the Big 12 is tougher than last season with no team having a true edge over any other team.
“In this league, I don’t know that there is an advantage,” Huggins said. “None of them are easy.”
Though the Mountaineers have earned a first round bye along with the No. 2 seed, their road to the Big 12 championship game may be a more difficult one than last season’s.
Last season, West Virginia blew by a below .500 TCU team in the quarterfinals before barely escaping Oklahoma in the semifinals when Buddy Hield’s halfcourt buzzer-beater for the win was waived off.
West Virginia will play Texas tonight who the Mountaineers swept in the regular season. But that is no easy game.
If West Virginia advances, it will see either Baylor or Kansas State in the semifinals on . The Mountaineers split season series with both of these teams and have proved dangerous down the stretch.
Baylor is a team showcased its length and size in its last matchup against the Mountaineers in which the Bears out rebounded West Virginia 43-23.
Kansas State comes into this tournament with its NCAA tournament hopes on the line and will be playing with extra urgency and a chip on its shoulder.
A win in the semifinals would most likely set up a rematch of last season’s Big 12 championship matchup between the West Virginia and Kansas which has the potential to be an instant classic.
This potential matchup would give the Mountaineers a golden opportunity to earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament with a win which could also potentially prevent the Jayhawks from earning a No. 1 seed. It would also be interesting to see how West Virginia responds to Kansas especially after that epic collapse in Lawrence in the last matchup between these two teams.
West Virginia’s experience of going through the Big 12 tournament as the No. 2 seed last season may prove to be a benefit for the squad in Kansas City this week but according to Huggins, it may not as he isn’t exactly sure what helps the team in preparation.
“I could coach them better if I knew what goes through their head,” Huggins said.
The team’s win over a red hot Iowa State team that had won six straight games prior to the regular season finale could not have come at a more perfect time as it gives the Mountaineers a confidence boost following the loss on the road to Baylor and heading into tournament time.
There is no doubt that West Virginia has the potential, talent and skill to win the Big 12 championship and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
It’s not a question of whether not the Mountaineers have what it takes but rather if they can play consistently at a high level for potentially three straight days against stiff competition as their performance this week may serve as an early indicator of this team’s fate when March Madness kicks into full gear next week.