On Saturday evening, the West Virginia Mountaineers will take on the BYU Cougars in a pivotal matchup on the basketball court. This encounter marks the only meeting between the two teams this season. After a series of disappointing losses, can West Virginia find a way to return to the win column?
Earlier this week, the Mountaineers showed signs of offensive improvement against Oklahoma State, although this was largely due to the Cowboys” struggles on defense. Tonight”s matchup presents a similar challenge, as BYU”s defensive performance this season has been underwhelming, ranking 196th in scoring defense. However, it is worth noting that their defense is significantly better than that of Oklahoma State.
The key for West Virginia will be their ability to convert open shots, particularly the easy layups that have eluded them in recent games. To stand a chance against a talented opponent like BYU, these are the opportunities they cannot afford to squander. Furthermore, the presence of AJ Dybantsa, who many consider the best player in college basketball, adds to the challenge. Dybantsa”s height, athleticism, and scoring ability make him a formidable opponent.
West Virginia has dropped four of their last six games, with two losses being particularly perplexing given their recent wins away from home. They did manage to score 84 points against Oklahoma State, but that total came after five overtime minutes. Even when adjusted for overtime, it remains the highest point total they have achieved since their upset victory over Kansas earlier in the conference season.
Despite BYU”s struggles, they possess one of the stronger offenses in the league, bolstered by Dybantsa”s impressive averages of 25.1 points and 6.98 rebounds per game, alongside Robert Wright, who contributes 18.1 points and 4.9 assists. However, the Cougars are dealing with the absence of Richie Saunders, who suffered a season-ending injury, and they have lost two of their last three games without him.
This game appears to be an opportunity for the Mountaineers to secure a much-needed win following several disappointing outings. Nevertheless, they have lost three consecutive home games, and their recent scoring surge does not guarantee success against the Cougars. Additionally, free throw shooting has plagued West Virginia throughout the season, making every point critical against one of the Big 12″s top offenses.
While West Virginia has the potential to claim the victory, they have not consistently demonstrated their capabilities in recent matches. Expect a competitive game that remains close until the final minutes, where talent may ultimately determine the outcome. The prediction is that BYU will pull away late, securing a victory with a score of 88-67.
