See you Monday
December 23, 2016 by Mike Casazza
West Virginia practices today in Orlando. Coach Dana Holgorsen will speak at 4:30 p.m., and it is there and then that we can expect to learn about personnel developments, if there are any. Holgorsen said last week one or two players could be ineligible. I’ll come back here and update you with news, if there is any. Before then, a home basketball game and the almost-end of the non-conference schedule.
The Mountaineers were No. 58 in Thursday’s RPI and would have been far lower if not for the win earlier this month at Virginia, which has no other losses and is No. 13 in the RPI. There are only five other teams with 10 or more wins and a lower RPI — Virginia Tech, the Big 12’s Kansas State, New Mexico State, Rutgers and the Big 12’s Texas Tech.
WVU’s strength of schedule is at No. 213, ahead of Iowa State, Kansas State and Texas Tech in the Big 12, and the only other 10-win teams below the Mountaineers are the same ones that trail in the RPI. But WVU’s opponent winning percentage is .440, and that’s No. 270 out of 351 teams and ahead of 10-win Kansas State, New Mexico State, Rutgers and Texas Tech.
“I like the competition, I like games that are neck-and-neck,” senior guard Tarik Phillip said. “To be honest, I would have liked a tougher schedule, but there’s a reason for everything.”
“Last year, we were developed but not as fast as we were this year,” Ahmad said. “I think we have a lot more guys who know what they’re doing.”
The game against possibly game Northern Kentucky (9-3) is at 4 p.m., and @derekredd has you covered. After that? Not a whole lot. I’ll update this space with stories and developments, but let’s go do Christmas with our friends and family. I’ll be discussing the Edwin Encarnacion deal with anyone who’ll listen. Then I’ll reappear again Monday and take you through the game and all the way to Stillwater for the opening of Big 12 play.
And, hey: Thanks for everything. Happy holidays.