No. 11 West Virginia University (WVU) will take on No. 16 Kentucky in a critical game at 5 p.m. on Monday at the Hope Coliseum. The Mountaineers, who come into this match as the No. 4 seed with a record of 28-6, are aiming to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 1991-92 season. This matchup is significant for both teams, with the Mountaineers looking to make history.
WVU”s point guard, Jordan Harrison, emphasized the team”s commitment to their goal, stating, “We know what the bigger goal is; keep winning and advance.” To achieve this, they must overcome Kentucky, the fifth seed with a 24-10 record, a program that has made six appearances in the Sweet 16, though their last was in 2016.
“You don”t want this to be the last one this early,” said Kentucky”s point guard, Tonie Morgan, who contributed 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in their first-round victory against James Madison. “You want to keep playing, so you fight like hell every time and your teammates feel the same way.”
Las Vegas has predicted a low-scoring game, with neither team expected to surpass the 60-point mark. This aligns with the perspective of WVU head coach Mark Kellogg, who is aware of the challenges that come with generating offense at this competitive level. Last year, the Mountaineers struggled offensively in a second-round loss to North Carolina, shooting only 24 percent and scoring 47 points.
Kellogg noted, “I think you”re just trying to find ways. We”re going to try to help our group today and leading up to it to find ways to get points. It certainly could be a defensive struggle.” In their first game of the tournament, WVU scored 82 points against Miami (Ohio), shooting over 50 percent from the field and making half of their three-point attempts. However, guard Sydney Shaw cautioned against expecting similar results, emphasizing the defensive strengths of both teams.
WVU is renowned for its full-court pressing defense, while Kentucky allows only 60 points per game and leads the country in shot-blocking. Harrison remarked, “The way we play defense and the way Kentucky plays defense is totally different, but both defenses are really good. We want to be able to get after them and speed them up and use our quickness.”
On the other hand, Kentucky”s head coach, Kenny Brooks, acknowledged the challenge posed by WVU”s pressing style. “I watched the game and Miami of Ohio had 15 turnovers, but it felt like 35,” Brooks stated. “The turnovers were loud, and they make you take some quick shots sometimes. We just have to be on guard the whole game.”
The matchup promises to showcase two strong teams with contrasting styles, and the outcome will likely hinge on which team can impose its will. The anticipation is high for this historic clash.
WVU vs. Kentucky
WHEN: 5 p.m. Monday
WHERE: Hope Coliseum
TV: ESPN2 (Comcast 28, HD 851; DirecTV 209; DISH 143)
RADIO: 100.9 FM
WEB: dominionpost.com
