Can the Mountaineers Tame the Baylor Bears at WVU Coliseum?
As the West Virginia Mountaineers prepare to host the Baylor Bears at WVU Coliseum, fans are eager to see if their team can continue their recent performance trends. The Mountaineers have shown a robust offensive game in their past matchups, with a notable victory over Toledo where they scored 91 points, showcasing an impressive 52 percent field goal accuracy and converting 79 percent from the free-throw line. Their ability to control rebounds was evident as they edged out Toledo by one rebound and maintained a positive assist-to-turnover ratio.
However, consistency has been challenging for West Virginia. In a tight game against Radford, despite shooting better from two-point range (52 percent), they fell short by one point due to struggles beyond the arc where they only hit 19 percent of their three-point attempts. This loss highlighted areas that need tightening up, particularly in maximizing scoring opportunities from long-range shots.
The Mountaineers' resilience was tested against UMass when they managed to score 79 points but ultimately lost due to defensive lapses that allowed UMass fast break opportunities and high free throw conversion rates (78 percent). While West Virginia's three-point shooting improved dramatically to 45 percent in this game, it wasn't enough to secure a win.
Looking ahead at the clash with Baylor Bears, fans should expect an intense battle where rebounding and shooting efficiency will be critical factors. The Mountaineers will need to leverage their home court advantage at WVU Coliseum – known for its vibrant atmosphere that often acts as a sixth man – and focus on maintaining strong defensive pressure while capitalizing on every scoring opportunity.
The upcoming game is scheduled for February 17th at 6:00 PM Eastern Time and will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN2 channel number 209. Fans can look forward to seeing if West Virginia can harness their offensive strengths while shoring up defense in what promises to be an exciting matchup.