Virginia

2023 Opponent Snapshot: West Virginia

Published

2 years ago

May 23, 2023

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a series of 12 posts doing a quick “snapshot” preview of each of Penn State’s upcoming 2023 football opponents in order of the schedule. We kick off the series today with West Virginia.

Quick 2022 Recap

West Virginia had a rough 2022 to say the least, starting off with a pair of losses to historical rival Pitt and an overtime loss to Kansas (who, it turned out, was actually not that bad). They would go on to win the next two against Towson and Virginia Tech before riding the strugglebus throughout Big 12 play, with their only conference wins coming against Baylor, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State by less than a touchdown. When it was all said and done, the Mountaineers sported a 5-7 overall, 3-6 conference record, good enough to sit around at home for the bowl season. Despite the disappointing season however, WVU opted to bring head coach Neal Brown back for 2023, albeit on a scorching hot seat.

Offensive Player to Watch: RB C.J. Donaldson

Donaldson was arguably the Mountaineers’ best running back last season, racking up 526 yards on 87 carries (good for six yards/carry) and eight touchdowns through the first seven games before suffering a season-ending injury. The coaching staff treated Donaldson with kiddie gloves during the spring practice slate, but fully expect him to be healthy and ready to go by the time they visit Happy Valley. Given that WVU lost their top four receivers from last year, expect them to lean heavily on the ground game to try and limit the number of possessions PSU’s offense gets and keep the game from getting out of hand.

Defensive Player to Watch: DE Sean Martin

The 6’5” 280-pound defensive end racked up 34 tackles last season, including four sacks, making him one of, if not the top guy returning on the defensive side of the ball. If the Mountaineer defense is going to improve upon a rather dismal showing from last year though, one in which they ranked ninth out of ten teams in the Big 12 in points allowed (nearly 33 points per game), they will need even more out of guys like Martin and for others to step up around him. It’s a very tall ask when you have to play at PSU right off the bat.

West Virginia Wins If

It will a take combination of Penn State’s offense repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot with dumb turnovers (especially on their own side of the field), as well as WVU being able to move the ball consistently enough on offense to give the 17.5-point underdog Mountaineers more than a Dumb & Dumber one-in-a-million chance to pull off the upset. Look for WVU to try and establish the ground game through Donaldson and some read options with their quarterbacks Garrett Greene and Nicco Marchiol.

Don’t be surprised either, if WVU’s defensive coordinator decides to stack the box in an effort to keep Nicholas Singleton/Kaytron Allen in check and make Drew Allar attempt to live up to his five-star billing in his starting quarterback debut. It’s a risky move alright, but it’s probably their least bad amongst a bunch of terrible options.

Penn State Wins If

Look, it’s no secret the Nittany Lions are the deeper, more talented team in this one. With what seems to be a championship-caliber defense along with a solid duo at running back and an offensive line that for once appears to be a strength (as opposed to a question mark), PSU can lean on its defense and ground game to grind the Mountaineers down to a fine paste over four quarters and ultimately win without too much discomfort.

Allar doesn’t need to light it up, either. He just needs to be serviceable, and his performances last year have showcased he can be far more than just serviceable. As long as this PSU team doesn’t continually beat themselves, the fans at Beaver Stadium should be treated to a nice season-opening win under the lights against an old foe they haven’t faced since joining the Big Ten 30 years ago (PSU and WVU last played each other in 1992). Neal Brown may be wishing he was fired at the end of last season by the time this game is officially in the books.

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Virginia

Spread & Over/Under Predictions for West Virginia vs. Arizona

Published

3 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Press Room

Spread & Over/Under Predictions for West Virginia vs. Arizona

It’s the final day of the Battle 4 Atlantis and the West Virginia Mountaineers are hoping to leave the Bahamas with a third-place finish in the event. Winning the whole thing would have been extremely impressive considering the field, but Darian DeVries’ squad has already notched a key resume-building win over Gonzaga and can do so again today against No. 24 Arizona.

Here are my picks for today’s game. Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

1 Star – Not very confident
2 Star – A little confident
3 Star – Fairly confident
4 Star – Very confident
5 Star – Should be a lock to happen

3-star play on Arizona (-6.5): This is a really tough matchup for the Mountaineers playing its third game in three days. When these two meet later in the year, I believe WVU will put together a much stronger showing and potentially even win the game. Not there, though.

The Wildcats have a nine-man rotation, which occasionally will be a ten-man. WVU’s key players have logged a ton of minutes over the last two days, with both games going to overtime. As evidenced in yesterday’s game, if the Mountaineers face serious foul trouble, it impacts them more than most teams due to a lack of depth. Amani Hansberry should be able to produce a third straight big game, but if he starts picking up fouls left and right, WVU will be in trouble. Arizona’s guard-heavy lineup will attack and finish around the rim with ease.

I’ve got the Wildcats pulling away with a strong second half.

1-star play on the under: Arizona is a high-scoring team that likes to push the tempo. They’ve averaged 67 field goal attempts in this tournament, whereas WVU has attempted 59 and 63 in games that went to overtime. For West Virginia to win, they’re going to have to slow things down when they have the ball, much like they did in the opening-round game against Gonzaga.

I mentioned fatigue setting in as a possibility in the WVU-Louisville game yesterday, and although Darian DeVries isn’t using that as an excuse, you can tell it played a factor for both teams, especially in the first half. Both squads looked sloppy, slow, and disjointed. I seriously doubt WVU and Arizona will have an extra bounce in their step today, playing for the third time in three days and in a game deciding who takes home third place.

ATS: 3-3 (50%)
O/U: 4-2 (66%)
Overall: 7-5 (58%)

Odds Disclaimer

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Virginia

Virginia woman charged in alleged murder-for-hire plot

Published

10 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Press Room

Virginia woman charged in alleged murder-for-hire plot

A Virginia woman has been arrested and charged in connection with a murder-for-hire plot, according to the Henry County Sheriff’s office.

Gennevieve McGhee, 44, was allegedly captured via audio and video evidence in the meticulous planning of a murder for hire, the sheriff’s office said.

McGhee is accused of meeting with a confidential source at her residence in Ridgeway, Virginia. The source was acting under law enforcement direction and utilizing a recording device to capture evidence.

TEXAS INFLUENCER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT

Henry County Sheriff’s Office charged Gennevieve McGhee, 44, with criminal solicitation of murder following an investigation that revealed her alleged involvement in planning a murder for hire. (Henry County Sheriff’s Office)

She allegedly discussed detailed instructions on payment arrangements and instructions for carrying out a robbery and murder.

McGhee is charged with criminal solicitation of murder and conspiracy to commit a felony.

INDIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL CHARGED IN MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT ON SIKH SEPARATIST LEADER IN NEW YORK CITY

Gennevieve McGhee, 44, is charged with criminal solicitation of murder and conspiracy to commit a felony. (iStock)

McGhee was taken into custody by deputies from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday and is being held at the Henry County Adult Detention Center with no bond.

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The case remains under review by the Henry County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

Additional information on the case is not available at this time, officials said.

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How to Watch & Listen to West Virginia vs. No. 24 Arizona

Published

18 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Press Room

How to Watch & Listen to West Virginia vs. No. 24 Arizona

The West Virginia Mountaineers (4-2) will meet the No. 24 Arizona Wildcats in the third place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis midseason tournament for the sixth meeting between the two programs.

West Virginia vs. Arizona Series History

Arizona leads 2-3

Last Meeting: March 28, 2008 (NCAA Tournament) WVU 75-65

When: Friday, November 29

Location: Paradise Island, Bahamas, Imperial Arena (3,900)

Tip-off: 3:00 p.m. EST

Stream: ESPN2

Announcers: Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli

Radio: Tony Caridi (PBP), Brad Howe (analyst) Mountaineer Sports Network from Learfield IMG College(Radio affiliates)

WVU Game Notes

– West Virginia was scheduled to play in the 2020 Battle 4 Atlantis. The tournament was moved to Sioux Falls, S.D., due to COVID, and the Mountaineers won the renamed Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic.

– WVU is 45-16 in in-season tournaments since 2007.

– 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.

– Prior to the overtime win over No. 3 Gonzaga, WVU had lost six straight overtime games.

– This is WVU’s fourth trip outside the United States and Puerto Rico to play a regular season game. WVU played in Cancun in 2013 and 2019 and opened the season in Germany in the 2017 Armed Forces Classic.

– 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 is 201-55 against nonconference teams in regular season games in the last 21 seasons.

– The Mountaineers have posted a winning nonconference record in 31 of the last 32 seasons.

– WVU is 265-99 in its last 362 games against unranked teams, including winners of 148 of its last 180 at the WVU Coliseum.

– This is the 116th season and 122nd year overall for WVU basketball, which began in 1903.

– Darian DeVries, who led Drake to six consecutive 20-win seasons and has a career .731 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 154-57 (.731) in seven seasons as a head coach, including a 59-16 (.787) mark in the last two-plus seasons.

– This past August, the men’s basketball team went to Italy for a 10-day tour and won all three of its games against international competition.

– West Virginia returns 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) will all see considerable action this season.

– 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.

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