The West Virginia Mountaineers (14-7, 5-5) are back on the road to take on the TCU Horned Frogs Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. EST and the action will stream on ESPN+.
West Virginia University guard Sencire Harris / Christopher Hall – West Virginia on SI
Since their Big 12 opener against Arizona, where the Horned Frogs scored 81 points, they’ve struggled to see the ball go through the hoop. They’re averaging 62.5 points per contest since, and now, they’re welcoming in one of the best defensive teams in the country, West Virginia, who just got their confidence back on Sunday with a win at Cincinnati.
WVU guard Sencire Harris had an extra bounce in his step on Sunday, and it was evident from the jump. That added juice helped fuel West Virginia’s defense, and I expect much of the same tonight. The last thing Darian DeVries wants is for TCU to come out and throw the first four or five punches and fall behind by double digits early. Aside from the Cincinnati game, slow starts have been a theme for WVU lately, and when you’re facing a desperate team like TCU, those dreadful starts are unacceptable.
This one won’t be pretty as far as offense is concerned, but Darian DeVries could care less about style points. Get the win and get out.
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Prediction record: 14-7
West Virginia University guard Javon Small / Christopher Hall – West Virginia on SI
West Virginia has lost three-straight to TCU and has not won in Fort Worth since the 2020-21 season.
Much-like West Virginia’s matchup against Cincinnati on Sunday, on paper, the two teams are similar. However, neither Cincinnati or TCU has a Big 12 Player of the Year contender on the roster like WVU has in senior guard Javon Small.
Small missed double figures a week ago against Houston but bounced back with 19 points against Cincinnati, and the senior got help off the bench from senior guard Joseph Yesufu, who went a perfect 6-6 from the field, including 4-4 from behind the arc.
West Virginia will need one or more supporting role players to step up and there are plenty of options. Finding consistency outside of Small since senior forward Tucker DeVries has been sideline with an injury has been an issue. However, when the Mountaineers put in a defensive effort for a full 40 minutes, they’ve been tough to beat.
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The defensive message may have sunk in with this group after the loss to Houston a week ago and the competitive nature of Small makes this Mountaineer team tough to beat.
Small continues to prove he is the best player in the Big 12 while the Mountaineers prove they have one of the better defenses. WVU ends losing streak against TCU, 72-62.
Prediction record: 14-7
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Governor Patrick Morrisey has appointed a new member of the state House of Delegates.
Shane Thomas Stack, of Triadelphia, was appointed Tuesday to represent District 4. Stack replaces former Delegate Bill Flanigan who resigned to join the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia following his election to the Division 2 seat.
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“Shane Stack is an outstanding choice to represent the families and communities of the fourth district,” Morrisey said in a release. “With his deep roots in the local community, his background as a business owner, and his proven experience managing municipal finances, Shane understands what it takes to support economic growth and advocate for working West Virginians. He will serve his constituents well in Charleston.”
In Morrisey’s release, it said that Stack has a diverse background in small business ownership, municipal finance, and higher education administration. Stack currently is the owner, licensed auctioneer, and certified appraiser for Frio Stack & Associates, as well as the owner of Island Pawn & Gun.
Stack previously worked as the Town Treasurer for West Liberty.
He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in General Business from West Liberty University.
MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Sentencing is underway for Timothy Kennedy, the man convicted of murdering West Virginia State Police Trooper Cory Maynard.
Trooper Maynard was shot to death in June 2023.
The jury found Kennedy guilty on all counts: first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree disarming a law enforcement officer, and two counts of first-degree attempted murder.
Shannon Litton has has that, plus your other top stories for Tuesday, July 7th.
