You are looking live at The Mecca where tonight West Virginia and North Carolina State do battle in the storied Gotham Classic. We’ve gotten this far and haven’t mentioned a certain somebody who now resides in Raleigh, N.C. We’ll keep eyes peeled for him and for his dad. Junior isn’t allowed to travel with the team because of NCAA rules, but perhaps he’s here on his own dime to cheer on his new teammates and rendezvous with his old friends.

Or not.

(If you’re wondering about the other transfer, Michigan State leads the nation in 3-point shooting without him. And N.C. State’s bringing back two very good guards [Barber and Lacey] next season. Good luck, gentlemen!)

This is the first leg of a tricky Saturday-Monday for West Virginia. The afflicted shooters take aim in the fifth different gym in 10 games, and the Wolfpack have big guards and big bigs (BeeJay Anya’s roster note is “ACC leader in blocked shots; lost 60 pounds during this offseason” and of course lists him at 6-9, 295). The Mountaineers travel home tonight and will begin watching film on the plane for Monday’s opponent: Wofford.

The Terriers no longer have Darris Nichols, but the Mountaineers have the Terriers, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Wofford won the Big South last season and danced, and just about every player is back this season. The Terriers are No. 37 in the RPI (N.C. State is 46), so they’ll help WVU’s SOS and possibly the RPI, but only if the Mountaineers win.

And don’t take that for granted. Wofford won at N.C. State. Like so:

I’m open.