As the West Virginia Mountaineers prepare to face off against the Oklahoma Sooners, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward their momentum after a nail-biting victory against the Texas Longhorns. The Mountaineers' recent performance has been a rollercoaster, but they've shown resilience and an ability to close out games under pressure.

Feb 4, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers forward Emmitt Matthews Jr. (1) dribbles during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

In their last outing on January 13th, WVU edged out a win with a final score of 76-73 over the Longhorns. Despite being tied six times and experiencing 13 lead changes throughout the game, WVU managed to maintain composure and secure a win. Their tenacity in defense was evident as they matched up with Texas's fast-paced offense that put up 15 fast break points. The Mountaineers' ability to convert from free throws was crucial, hitting 66 percent from the line which contributed significantly to their three-point victory.

However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for WVU; turnovers were an issue as they gave up possession 16 times leading to 15 points off turnovers for Texas. This is an area of concern that needs tightening up before facing Oklahoma who will be looking to exploit any such weaknesses.

Feb 4, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Bijan Cortes (14) dribbles the ball up the floor against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the first half at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

The previous game against Kansas State Wildcats on January 10th showcased some defensive lapses from WVU as they allowed KSU to shoot an impressive 54 percent from field goals and rack up a hefty 44 points in paint. This resulted in an unfortunate loss for WVU with a score of 81-67 where despite putting up more three-point shots than KSU (35 percent compared to KSU's lesser but more efficient shooting), it wasn't enough.

Looking back further at January 6th's game versus Houston Cougars reveals another aspect of concern: offensive production. Scoring only 55 points against Houston’s robust defense highlighted difficulties in finding scoring opportunities when faced with aggressive opposition.

Feb 4, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers forward Tre Mitchell (3) celebrates during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Now turning our attention towards Oklahoma Sooners who will host this upcoming match at Lloyd Noble Center; OKLA comes into this game having displayed strong offensive capabilities throughout their season thus far. It is imperative that WVU brings forth its A-game defensively if it wishes not just compete but also emerge victorious.

WV faithful should expect Coach Huggins’ squad to focus on reducing turnovers while continuing aggressive play inside both ends of court – capitalizing on every opportunity presented by OKLA’s defense while simultaneously containing them defensively through strategic matchups and rotations.

The scheduled clash between these two teams is set for January 17th at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, OK starting at sharp eight o'clock PM Eastern Time (ET). Fans won’t want miss this exciting matchup which can be streamed live via ESPN+. Will West Virginia continue its winning ways or will Oklahoma prove too much handle? Only time will tell as we await tip-off!

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