The West Virginia Mountaineers (9-2) are on the road for their Big 12 Conference opener against the No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks (9-2) for the 29th meeting between the two programs.
West Virginia vs. Kansas Series History
Kansas leads 21-7
Last meeting: WVU 91, No. 3 Kansas 85 (Jan. 20, 2024 in Morgantown)
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When: Tuesday, December 31
Location: Lawrence, KS, Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Tip-off: 2:00 p.m. EST
Stream: ESPN+
Announcers: Mark Neely and Kevin Lehman
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Radio: Tony Caridi (PBP), Brad Howe (analyst) Mountaineer Sports Network from Learfield IMG College (Radio affiliates)
Sirius XM: 390
WVU Game Notes
– WVU is 6-6 all-time in Big 12 openers. This will be the 10th time in 13 years that WVU has opened league play on the road.
– WVU guard Joseph Yesufu played the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons at Kansas.
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– Darian DeVries, who led Drake to six consecutive 20-win seasons and has a career .737 winning percentage as a head coach, was named the 23rd head men’s basketball coach at West Virginia University on March 24, 2024.
– DeVries has a record of 159-57 (.737) in seven seasons as a head coach, including a 64-17 (.790) mark in the last two-plus seasons.
– West Virginia is currently ranked No. 33 in the latest NCAA NET rankings.
– Javon Small was named co-Big 12 Player of the Week and Tucker DeVries was tabbed as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Dec. 2. Both were named to the Battle 4 Atlantis All-Tournament Team.
– Small was named the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week on Dec. 3.
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– Small has scored 20 or more points in fi ve of WVU’s last eight games.
– Small leads the Big 12 Conference in scoring at 19.7 points per game.
– With a win over No. 3 Gonzaga, WVU defeated a Top 5 AP team for the second consecutive season. Last season, the Mountaineers downed No. 3 Kansas in Morgantown, 91-85.
– Darian DeVries is 4-5 against ranked teams during his head coaching career. He is 2-0 at WVU with wins over No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 24 Arizona.
– WVU is 101-114 in Big 12 regular season games since joining the league in 2012-13.
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– West Virginia played three consecutive overtime games for the first time in school history.
– West Virginia is the only team in the country that has two players on the same team who averaged more than 20 points per game from last season — Tucker DeVries (21.6 ppg) and Jayden Stone (20.8 ppg).
– West Virginia returned just 2.8 percent of its scoring from last season’s team (Ofri Naveh).
– The Mountaineers are led by a pair of transfers in Tucker DeVries (Drake) and Javon Small (Oklahoma State). Last season, DeVries was named an Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention selection, while Small earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors.
– In addition, Eduardo Andre (Fresno State), Joseph Yesufu (Washington State), Sencire Harris (Illinois), Amani Hansberry (Illinois) and Jayden Stone (Detroit Mercy) were added from the transfer portal.
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– WVU has a wealth of experience on its roster who have college basketball experience. Entering this season, they have combined to play 806 games, made 442 starts, scored 7,606 points, grabbed 3,304 rebounds and dished out 1,248 assists.
– Tucker DeVries was named to the 20-member Julius Erving Preseason Watch List, giving annually to the nation’s top small forward.
– Tucker DeVries was named to the preseason Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Watch List. Tucker DeVries was named to the John R. Wooden Award Top 50 Preseason Watch List.
– Tucker DeVries has scored the most points (1,867) of any senior (four-year players only) entering this season. He ranks eighth overall for career scoring by returning players (including fifth-year) and third in the Big 12 Conference.
Entering this season, Tucker DeVries has scored the fi fth-most points in college basketball since 2021-22. He’s one of 12 players who have scored 1,800 or more points since 2021-22.
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– Tucker DeVries has recorded 99 games in double fi gures.
– Tucker DeVries is 14 points shy of reaching 2,000 for his career.
– Toby Okani scored his 1,000th career point against Georgetown on Dec. 6.
– Javon Small scored his 1,00th career point against Mercyhurst on Dec. 22.
– Darian DeVries is 73-2 when scoring 80 or more points in a game and 139-17 when scoring 70 or more.
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– Darian DeVries is 114-21 when holding opponents to 69 points or less and 54-6 when holding opponents to 59 points or less.
– West Virginia was predicted 13th in the Preseason Big 12 Poll by the league’s head coaches.
– West Virginia has made at least one 3-point fi eld goal in 875 consecutive games.
– The Mountaineers have won 151 of their last 169 games when holding opponents to 69 points or less.
– WVU has won 162 of its last 183 and 218 of its last 246 games when holding opponents to less than 69 points.
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– West Virginia is 6-3 all-time in games played on December 31.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – People who live in and around Kansas City should prepare for a significant winter storm this weekend.
Winter storm watches are already in effect for the metro’s extreme western counties on the Kansas side. The watches start around Jefferson County and stretch south to Anderson and Franklin Counties. The watches are for 12 p.m. Saturday until Sunday at 6 p.m.
The KCTV5 First Warn Weather Team expects a significant winter storm to impact Kansas City starting as early as 12 p.m. Saturday.(KCTV5)
With the latest data available Thursday morning, expect winter storm warnings to impact the region within the next 24 hours to 48 hours.
THURSDAY FORECAST: Morning snow flakes turn to sunny skies before significant storm impacts weekend
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Saturday
We are just starting to see signs in our short range modeling data that shows the winter storm entering in Saturday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. Freezing rain is likely to last Saturday afternoon and evening and into the early morning hours Sunday.
The extended forecast, data across all models are becoming more consistent with very little changes in snowfall or where it will fall.
Significant snowfall expected
At this time all forecast models are indicating snowfall totals between Saturday through Monday to range between 12 inches and 18 inches for the metro with up to 30 inches closer to St. Joseph and Cameron.
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The KCTV5 First Warn Weather Team expects a significant winter storm to impact Kansas City starting as early as 12 p.m. Saturday.(KCTV5)
With those values in mind our extended forecast modeling systems forecasts using an algorithm that concentrates on the higher levels of the atmosphere rather than closer to the surface. This means precipitation totals are skewed overall. A more accurate forecast truly can be attained closer to the surface, but not many of our short range Models are in range to be used for this calculation. Another 24hours is needed to get a better snow value.
Taking those values into consideration, we do not expect to see such high levels of snowfall throughout the area however, a more conservative forecast still puts us confidently between 6 inches and 8 inches of snow with local areas getting 10+ inches of snow.
The KCTV5 First Warn Weather Team expects a significant winter storm to impact Kansas City starting as early as 12 p.m. Saturday.(KCTV5)
With these snowfall totals in mind accompanied with high wind, low visibility and ice accumulation, this puts the viewing area in a very dangerous situation and should be taken seriously. Preparing for this winter storm is vital. Traveling on any roads after 12 PM Saturday will be extremely dangerous.
Be sure to have a plan in place to keep you and your family safe during the winter storm. This means preparing your home and your vehicles for this winter event making sure you have the supplies needed to last through the winter storm, especially if the power goes out.
We anticipate together new data every three hours to six hours up until the actual event and we will continue to update you as soon as new information is presented to us. Stick with KCTV5 and the first warn five weather team for the latest on this significant winter storm.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – While some were celebrating New Year’s with fireworks and champagne, several Kansas City residents are welcoming new additions to their families. Several babies were born after the clock struck midnight at hospitals across the metro.
“I don’t think it’s hit me yet that I’ve had a baby,” said Jaiden Willard. “She’s my second one. I feel like it’s going to hit me soon, like oh, I had a baby!”
Willard welcomed baby Julietta at The University of Kansas Health System’s Olathe campus at 12:45 a.m. Weighing in a 7 lbs., 3 oz, Julietta joins her big sister, who turns 2 in a few days. Willard says Julietta’s older sister is over the moon.
“Oh my gosh, she came in today saying baby sister, that’s my baby,” said Willard. “She would say ‘Baby is cold’ and got the blanket to cover her up. It was just the cutest thing. She kept asking ‘Where is my baby’ and was looking around the room for the baby. It was funny.”
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The Willard family welcomes baby Julietta on Jan. 1, 2025.(KCTV5/Chandler Watkins)
The University of Kansas Health System says each family received a gift basket filled with baby items from the Chiefs, Royals, and KC Current, as well as a selection of health system-branded items.
Across the river at North Kansas City Hospital, Aleacia Estrada and Bryan Diarte welcomed their first child, Jesse, at 1:06 a.m.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Diarte, “Hearing his first cries made me cry, not gonna lie. It’s surreal, still. Just hasn’t settled in.”
Diarte says his brother also has little ones and is excited to watch all their kids grow up together.
North Kansas City Hospital also gave the new parents a basket full of goodies like books and diapers.
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“We got an octopus toy,” said Diarte. “This little puppet is my favorite. Definitely going to play with these with him. We got a lot of books, some Pampers, blankets.”
Alaecia Estrada and Bryan Diarte welcome baby Jesse on Jan. 1, 2025.(KCTV5/Chandler Watkins)
As parents across the metro celebrate the new year with their new babies, Willard has a special message for other moms:
“They are rockstars, to be honest,” said Willard. “Bring in labor is very difficult. Congratulations and I hope everything goes good for the rest of the year!”
With the number one seed in the AFC playoffs fully locked up for the Kansas City Chiefs, the team has made some personnel decisions to ensure the safety of its players.
That includes the move to bench starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes for Kansas City’s final regular season game against the Denver Broncos.
In his place, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that backup quarterback Carson Wentz will get the start.
While other moves hadn’t been announced, it’s likely that other key Kansas City starters – like pass rusher Chris Jones and tight end Travis Kelce – could also be benched.
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This game doesn’t have any importance for the 15-1 Chiefs – who already secured a bye to the AFC Divisional round taking place the weekend of January 18th.
However, that doesn’t mean that the game isn’t important to the overall AFC playoff picture.
The Kansas City Chiefs will be benching Patrick Mahomes for Sunday’s Week 18 matchup
Carson Wentz will get the start against Denver as KC already clinched the No. 1 seed
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The Broncos (9-7) are clinging to the last playoff spot – the seven-seed – and will likely need a victory in order to seal their participation in the NFL’s postseason.
If they don’t win the game against KC, then their fate is out of their hands and a spot could go to one of two other teams that currently sit at 8-8.
The Cincinnati Bengals play the 10-6 Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night and are in position to make the playoffs if they win and if Denver loses.
But if Cincinnati and Denver both lose, then the door swings open for the Miami Dolphins to claim the final playoff spot if they manage to beat the New York Jets.
If all three teams lose, then Denver will make it into the postseason on tiebreakers.
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Whoever clinches the seven-seed faces a trip to Orchard Park, New York to take on the Buffalo Bills – who have locked up the two-seed in the AFC playoffs.
As for the NFC, all playoff teams have been confirmed barring the NFC South division – where either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Atlanta Falcons will make the postseason.
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Kansas City Chiefs make huge Patrick Mahomes decision ahead of Week 18 finale against the Broncos
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