There’s a basketball game tonight that I actually get to attend, and I should be able to pull it off because Bryan Messerly reminded me yesterday of where I sit for games.

Good to know.

Remember, though, that the last time I saw West Virginia in person was the Lafayette game, which was 48 hours after a struggle against Monmouth. Twenty days later, which is not a long time early in a basketball season, the same Mountaineers are ranked No. 16 in the polls and No. 1 or No. 2 in some very valuable statistical categories.

There are indicators, if you choose to believe in them, that suggest WVU is a pretty good team. There are indicators, if you choose to believe them, that suggest it’s a bit of a ruse right now. There’s a coach and there are 12 players who choose to believe in themselves and are determined to strive for one and avoid the other.

I had to laugh a little yesterday and in recent days even at this suggestion: “We’ll know more about WVU after this game! It’s their stiffest challenge yet!”

Those things happened … as did the UConn game, which seems to reside under a rug, for some reason. LSU has talent, but it’s had some ups and downs this season. The Mountaineers were down for about 25 minutes and have been up ever since. I feel like the Huskies in Puerto Rico were more daunting than a home game against the Tigers.

Yet there’s a talking point to be drawn from that, because, honestly, WVU could be a top-10 team soon, which is frankly arresting. I won’t bore you with the scenarios, but teams in front of the Mountaineers have some tough games coming up. WVU has this one, which isn’t a small one, and then Northern Kentucky, Marshall and North Carolina State all away from home. Would it surprise you if the Mountaineers were 11-0 for the Dec. 22 home game against Wofford? If that’s the case, it’s probably a top 10 team. That’s crazy, no?

But the horse is way behind the cart here. Tonight, WVU is No. 16, which still seems sudden, if not realistic. But is it real?

“I don’t have any idea,” Huggins said. “I think at this time of the year the good thing about being ranked is you get your highlights on ESPN, which helps recruiting, and our guys enjoy it, but other than that, it really doesn’t mean anything.”