I like how everyone’s making a fuss out of WVU’s next six games being against ranked teams. Take a look at the next nine for the Mountaineers — and Texas is going to be ranked in the coming poll.

It’s unlikely the next six opponents will all be ranked because of losses some have incurred and will incur, but it’s not impossible. It’s at least conceivable WVU could play nine straight ranked teams. That’s never happened at WVU, of course, and I have to wonder if that’s happened anywhere ever before.

But, sure, yes, let’s talk about the next six because what we have is what we have. And what we have this weekend is the beginning with a road game at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Mountaineers, at worst, enjoy a renewed sense of self-certainty.

Their spirit may be sunk by the Cowboys or it may swell with the first win against a ranked team in 25 months. The Baylor task may be made easier Tuesday by what happens Saturday or the opposite will be true. It’s as much up to the Mountaineers as it is to the Bears and the Cowboys, and you’ll remember that practices have been a tricky things for WVU of late.

“Everyone goes through periods where they don’t shoot the ball well and we’re not shooting the ball well, but as a team, I think we need to approach the game more seriously,” point guard Juwan Staten said. “I think we need to really take care of business off the court throughout the whole week. If you take care of business throughout the whole week, you can’t help but be successful on game day.

“I think we’re leaving stones unturned and I don’t think we do everything we need to do to make sure we’re ready when the game comes. Once the game comes, it’s too late to get ready. We need a better mindset in practice and to work on individual skills and bring more passion to the game.”

If nothing else, WVU looked sharper and more invested Wednesday than they had for probably all of Big 12 play. It must continue.

There will be challenges, though, and ones beyond Marcus Smart and Markel Brown, Isaiah Austin and Cory Jefferson. There are assignments and responsibilities, there is recognition and execution. There’s Oklahoma State’s Phil Forte, who leads the Big 12 in 3-point shooting, and there’s Baylor’s Brady Heslip, who’s second.

WVU gives up a lot of open shots to shooters, partly because there’s such an emphasis on helping inside to defend and to rebound, but also because some people blow up some plays. (Be honest with me: Are teams making a lot of hay on the right side?) The Mountaineers know well what Forte and Heslip can do.

But now they know they have a counter — and not Eron Harris. Terry Henderson really hadn’t been playing poorly before he played very poorly against Kansas State. But he was capable of having bad games. He’s had a weird season where he’s shot it badly in losses and run it up in games WVU has won with ease. His 3 to force overtime on the road against Texas Tech was interesting because it was in a big spot and it wasn’t out of the hands of Harris or Juwan Staten. His second half, in particular, and career-high 28 points Wednesday make you wonder: Was that one night or the night that lights a fuse?

I’m not saying Joe-Alexander-against-UConn-in-2008, but is it something that awakes a player who sometimes fights himself?

“I just came out ready to play, man,” he said. “Against Kansas State, I don’t think I really came out ready to play. I get down on myself when I miss my first couple of shots. Whenever I play like that, I always want to come out and play harder. That’s all I tried to do (Monday).”

That’s what’s most interesting, to me, moving forward. Henderson and Harris complement one another nicely. I think Harris is a better scorer from the perimeter. I think Henderson is better going to and around the basket. But I think and WVU thinks Harris is wired differently and better equipped to handle ups and downs.

“Eron’s a guy who it doesn’t seem like it bothers him as much as it does other people,” Huggins said. “I think missing shots bothers Terry more than it bothers Eron. There are a lot of guys who can score and have that mentality where they figure if they miss this one, they’ll make the next one.

“I think Eron is that way. Some guys have a little more conscience for it. Maybe that’s not the right word, but that’s kind of what it is. Some guys worry about missing shots and other guys think they’ll make the next one.”

Henderson was never down Wednesday, but he never flinched once, either. So what does he have up his socks? It’ll be answered on the floor Saturday and I don’t have to tell you what the Mountaineers are thinking.