West Virginia

Scouting report, keys for Cincinnati Bearcats on Big 12 road at WVU

Published

5 months ago

January 5, 2026

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Scouting report, keys for Cincinnati Bearcats on Big 12 road at WVU

The Cincinnati Bearcats and West Virginia Mountaineers both seek their first Big 12 win of the season.
West Virginia swept Cincinnati last season, winning both matchups between the two teams.
Both teams are coming off losses to top-10 opponents to start their conference schedules.

Two teams that started the Big 12 campaign against Top 10 opponents clash in Morgantown Tuesday, Jan. 6, when the Cincinnati Bearcats face the West Virginia Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers, now coached by Ross Hodge, who came from North Texas, got whirled by the No. 3 Iowa State Cyclones on Jan. 2, 80-59. A day later, UC had plenty of chances against No. 8 Houston, but the Cougars closed in the final minutes to win 67-60.

“We’ve got to learn how to finish, but we’re right there,” UC coach Wes Miller said. “The guys in the locker room know it. We’ve got to block out the noise and get ready to play.”

Neither team will want to start 0-2 in the treacherous league and UC has not yet won in Morgantown since being part of the Big 12. UC’s last road win in West Virginia goes back to Mick Cronin’s second Bearcat team (13-19) that pulled off a 62-39 upset of the Mountaineers in 2008. Diehard fans may remember the game for a mustard-colored suit Bob Huggins wore for the contest.

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Cincinnati Bearcats were swept by West Virginia last season

Last Feb. 2, West Virginia beat UC handily 63-50. Current Bearcat Sencire Harris didn’t score for WVU in the game but had four steals. Eighteen days later in Morgantown, the Mountaineers prevailed again 62-59 with Harris scoring six points and grabbing six rebounds against his future team. UC was led by Day Day Thomas in both games with 10 and 13 points, respectively.

Cincinnati Bearcats could be without Kerr Kriisa

Kriisa, a starter for 12 of the 14 games, got hit hard by Houston after a basket and left the game holding his shoulder. He came back to hit his lone 3-pointer, then had to leave again with pain.

Kriisa was recruited to West Virginia by Bob Huggins and played in 2023-24 for the Mountaineers, averaging 11 points and shooting over 42% on 3-pointers.

“Nobody’s dealt with more injury crap than Cincinnati,” Miller said. “We’re getting resilient and we’re getting tough because of that. We’re just going to keep coming. Injuries are tough. We’ve had more than damn anybody in the last four years in all of college basketball. This team’s had its fair share and we’re still right there.”

Miller was worried about Kriisa’s injury and he couldn’t lift his left shoulder after draining his only shot.

3 keys for Cincinnati Bearcats to win at West Virginia Mountaineers

1. Bring Houston intensity to West Virginia

UC had its best crowd experience at Fifth Third Arena against No. 8 Houston with a halftime lead and a 10-point cushion early in the second half. For just the second time this season, they lost a game when they had a halftime lead.

That’s now two games where they had a Top 10 team on the ropes and couldn’t finish (No. 6 Louisville at Heritage Bank Center and No. 8 Houston). They looked like a tournament team in parts of those games, but then lost to teams who showed why they are perennial tournament players.

2. Locate Huff, Floyd

It sounds like someone looking for a law firm, but Honor Huff and Jasper Floyd are both 40% marksmen from three-point range. Huff led the country in triples last season at Chattanooga and Floyd comes from Coach Hodge’s system at North Texas. The Mountaineers average over eight made 3s per game, which is how many Houston made vs. UC Jan. 3.

The Bearcats made only six of their 3-pointers against the Cougars, after making 11 in their previous game with Lipscomb Dec. 29. UC is 5-1 when making 10 or more treys, with the one loss being Xavier. Xavier also beat West Virginia 78-68 in November, shooting a torrid 16-for-25 from the arc.

3. Keep Mountaineers below 70

West Virginia has been held to less than 70 points in four of their five losses. The exception is the 89-88 double-overtime defeat at Ohio State. UC held Houston below their average at 67 and is in that ballpark for the season. The difficult thing is all of West Virginia’s wins have been at home and Hope Coliseum could have a crowd because, well, it’s Tuesday night in Morgantown.

Tip: Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. at Hope Coliseum (14,000)

TV/Radio: ESPN2/700WLW

Series: WVU leads 13-12 (Mountaineers won at Fifth Third Arena Feb. 19, 2025, 62-59)

West Virginia Mountaineers scouting report

Record: 9-5

Coach: Ross Hodge, first season 9-5 (55-29 overall)

Offense: 74.9 ppg

Defense: 61.6 ppg

Projected starting lineup

(Position, Height, Stats)

Treysen Eaglestaff (G, 6’6″, 9.1 ppg)

Honor Huff (G, 5’10”, 16.6 ppg)

Harlan Obioha (C, 7′, 6.3 ppg)

Chance Moore (G, 6’6″, 12.9 ppg)

Jasper Floyd (G, 6’3″, 7.9 ppg)

Cincinnati Bearcats scouting report

Record: 8-6

Coach: Wes Miller (90-65, fifth season; 275-200 overall)

Offense: 74.6 ppg

Defense: 65.6 ppg

Projected starting lineup

(Position, Height, Stats)

Day Day Thomas (G, 6’1″, 13 ppg)

Jizzle James (G, 6’3″, 11.5 ppg)

Sencire Harris (G, 6’4″, 6.9 ppg)

Baba Miller (F, 6’11”, 13.4 ppg)

Moustapha Thiam (C, 7’2″, 11 ppg)

Cincinnati Bearcats, West Virginia Mountaineers to watch

Guard Honor Huff helped Chattanooga win the NIT and nailed a record 131 trifectas last season for the Moccasins, shooting 41.6%. Now he’s West Virginia’s top scorer and is shooting at a similar rate from beyond the arc.

In their second games as starters for this season, UC’s “Buck” Harris and Jizzle James were off against Houston, shooting a combined 2-for-14. James had just four points and Harris two.

James played 36 minutes, and it’s doubtful he can be held down for that long again. Harris was a Mountaineer last season and should have some comfort in the arena.

Rankings

KenPom.com: Cincinnati is No. 66, West Virginia No. 72

NCAA NET: West Virginia is No. 93, Cincinnati No. 95

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West Virginia

Let’s Go Fishing – WV MetroNews

Published

4 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Press Room

It doesn’t take much to engage children in the lifelong pursuit of fishing. PHOTO: Chris Lawrence

ELKINS, W.Va. — The requirement of a fishing license in West Virginia will be waived this weekend all across the Mountain State. June 13th and 14th are designated as “free” fishing days in West Virginia.

“All other regulations still apply, but this is for all of our public waters and this is for resident and NON-resident both,” said Frank Williams, acting director of the Division of Natural Resources hatchery programs.

The idea is to encourage all West Virginians to consider going fishing and see how much fun it can be. Many adults probably fished at some time in their lives and had fun, but when life happened schedules became too busy and fishing was one of the first casualties. The DNR is betting if people are introduced to fishing, they’ll be compelled to go buy a license and make fishing trips a part of life again.

“Life gets busy, but there’s always an opportunity and it’s nice to get out and get away from all of that and go to a pond or stream and enjoy the outdoors,” Williams explained.

To help things along the West Virginia DNR puts on a kids fishing event. The annual fishing derby is set for the Bowden Fish Hatchery in Randolph County. The event at Bowden gets started at 7 a.m. with registration and fishing for the youngest anglers starts at 8 a.m. and runs through noon.

DNR is actively engaged in recruitment and retention of anglers. Studies have shown the earlier children are exposed to outdoors pursuits, the more likely they are to make it a lifelong pursuit.

“That’s a big part of the DNR program is that recruitment and retention. It’s a big part of what we’re working on every day,” Williams said.

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West Virginia

Judge Jim Douglas sworn in to West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals

Published

14 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Press Room

Judge Jim Douglas sworn in to West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals

Wheeling, W.Va. (WTRF) – The newest member of the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals was officially sworn in this evening.

Judge Jim Douglas defeated Dan Greear back in the May election for a spot on the Mountain State’s second highest court.

Judge Douglas currently serves as a family court judge in Kanawha County for the 11th Circuit, 5th Division.

He has a great deal of experience in family law, having spent 10 years as a judge, and also nearly 40 years as a divorce lawyer.

“I think kids and families are the most important thing there are, and I’m going to carry that, and I hope to vindicate the faith that the people in the Northern Panhandle put in me. I hope to vindicate their belief that I can do the job. I hope to justify everything positive that they thought about my ability to be a judge on the Intermediate Court of Appeals.”
Jim Douglas – Elected to West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals

Judge Douglas will assume office on January 1st of 2027.

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West Virginia

Moore says he’s honored being mentioned as possible U.S. Secretary of Labor – WV MetroNews

Published

1 day ago

June 11, 2026

Press Room

Moore says he’s honored being mentioned as possible U.S. Secretary of Labor – WV MetroNews

WASHINGTON, D.C. — West Virginia Second District Congressman Riley Moore didn’t deny a recent report that he’s being considered as the next U.S. Secretary of Labor by President Donald Trump in an appearance Thursday on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.”

Riley Moore

Moore said he couldn’t confirm the report in Politico but did offer his opinion on the credibility of the report.

“The reporter cited some pretty credible sources; that’s about all I can say,” Moore said. “If it weren’t a thing, I would be able to tell you it’s not.”

Moore is in his first term in the U.S. House. He’s on the House Appropriations Committee and is a conferee for the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch appropriations conference committees.

“I really can’t comment on it much further other than what I would say is it is certainly an honor to be mentioned in the conversation,” Moore said.

The House currently has four vacancies, 218 Republicans, 212 Democrats, and one Independent, creating a margin so tight it’s possible Moore wouldn’t be appointed.

“If we decide to go in that direction, the President, Speaker, and I will discuss the tight margins here,” Moore said.

Moore also said two of his Community Project Funding requests for hospitals were approved by the House Appropriations Committee as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Requests for $1.5 million each for Grant Memorial Hospital and the Grafton City Hospital will now be considered by the full House of Representatives.

“Every little bit helps,” Moore said. “Everybody knows how important it is to have functional hospitals, especially in a very rural state like ours,” Moore said.

Moore said the area is getting spruced up for the 250th birthday party for America. He also noted the “claw” is quite visible while motoring down Pennsylvania Avenue.

“The whole town is getting decorated—there are big flags for America’s 250th,” Moore said. Things are going up all over the place, and we drove by the White House, and they have, I think they call it the “claw,” that they have put in front of the White House.”

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