The West Virginia Mountaineers (14-8, 5-6 Big 12) are home in Big 12 play against the Utah Utes (13-9, 5-6 Big 12) on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM ET.
In its previous game, West Virginia lost to TCU, 65-60, on the road. Its top performers were Javon Small (20 PTS, 7 AST, 2 STL, 42.11 FG%, 4-10 from 3PT) and Joseph Yesufu (11 PTS, 36.36 FG%, 3-8 from 3PT).
Utah were winners at home over Colorado, 72-59, in its most recent game. Its top performers were Gabe Madsen (17 PTS, 50.00 FG%, 4-7 from 3PT) and Lawson Lovering (12 PTS, 2 STL, 57.14 FG%).
Here is what you need to prepare for Saturday’s college basketball action.
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West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Utah Utes
Game day: Saturday, February 8, 2025
Game time: 5:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Live stream: ESPN+ – Watch NOW
NCAA Basketball Odds and Betting Lines
Spread: West Virginia -7.5
Total: 136.5
College basketball odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Saturday at 2:59 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
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The Road to Omaha begins in Morgantown for West Virginia, Wake Forest, Kentucky, and Binghamton, and in less than 48 hours, regional play will officially be underway.
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Below is a look at the weekend schedule, along with a sneak peek at each team heading into the tournament.
Schedule + How to Watch
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Friday, May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Wake Forest vs. No. 3 Kentucky, 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2 Game 2: No. 1 West Virginia vs. No. 4 Binghamton, 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+
Saturday, May 30th
Game 3: TBD Game 4: TBD
Sunday, May 31st
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Game 5: TBD Game 6: TBD
Monday, June 1st
Game 7: If necessary
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Bracket Breakdown
WVU Athletics Communications
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No. 1 West Virginia (39-14)
The Mountaineers came within a game of defending their Big 12 regular season crown. The opportunity was made possible by shockingly sweeping Kansas on the road, closing the gap to just one game heading into the final weekend. They built on that momentum with a strong showing in the Big 12 tournament, beating Kansas State and Arizona State en route to the championship game.
Pitching and defense are West Virginia’s calling card. Maxx Yehl (Big 12 Pitcher of the Year), Chansen Cole, and Ian Korn finished one, two, three in the league in ERA. To couple that great starting pitching, WVU ended the season with the best fielding percentage in the league (.980).
No. 2 Wake Forest (38-19)
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The Demon Deacons have a potent offense that is powered by driving the ball into the gaps and over the fence. Eight players on their roster have a slugging percentage north of .450, three of which are over .600 — Luke Costello, Dalton Wentz, and Kade Lewis.
The pitching staff has been up and down throughout the year, with free passes and the long ball being the biggest issues. Wake finished the year fourth in the ACC in walks (266) and sixth in home runs allowed (71). When they’re not giving up the big one, they do a pretty good job of creating weak contact, resulting in an opponents batting average of .227.
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No. 3 Kentucky (31-21)
A lot of people were surprised to see Kentucky have its name called on Monday, considering they lost eight of their 10 series in SEC play. Even they may have been a little surprised, so they could be a dangerous team in the fact that they are really playing with house money here.
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The Wildcats are built very similarly to West Virginia offensively. They don’t have a ton of power, so they have to rely on stringing a bunch of hits and quality at-bats together, in addition to stealing bases. Kentucky stole 122 bags this season, which is 27 more than the Mountaineers. Ethan Hindle (11 HR) is the only Wildcat to have hit double-digit homers this season.
No. 4 Binghamton (31-20)
Offensively, the Bearcats do a really good job of working the count, fighting off pitches, and drawing walks. They walked 267 times this season, which would have ranked sixth in the Big 12, for what it’s worth. For them to have any success in this region, they are going to have to drive up pitch counts and execute when they do get runners in scoring position. Very little pop and speed in this lineup.
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Pitching could be very problematic for Binghamton against these power conference teams, considering their staff finished the year with a 6.18 ERA and did not play a single game against a power conference foe. Opponents hit .274 off of them collectively.
When the Governor’s Schools for the state’s top-performing high school students convene this summer, the bulk of the proceedings will be centered around a certain birthday celebration.
The schools are commemorating America250 with a host of expos and events regarding the Republic – where it’s been, and where it’s going – through the 21st century and beyond.
“Voices of 1776,” is the name of a seminar-style series with guest speakers and discussions geared around the debates of freedom and civic responsibility leading up to the watershed year that changed everything.
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“The America250 Student Innovation Expo,” will be more the same – only with student voices, organizers said.
Participants discuss and exhibit their projects and research hearkening back to those first days of the Republic – and how those same sparks remain relevant in the present.
The schools and academies have a history of their own going back to their first summer in 1984 when those first students were invited to stay in college dorms across the state so the learning could commence.
Subsequent students over the years have delved into DNA and the medical, ethical ramifications of what happens when you try to manipulate it.
They’ve learned the ancient techniques that make mummies, well, mummies, while also moving to the politics and particulars of an equally ancient form: Appalachian clog-dancing.
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It all kicks off June 20 – West Virginia’s 163rd birthday – with a series of Mountain State road trips through the Governor’s School for Tourism.
The Governor’s Computer Science Institute gathers on the campus of West Virginia University Tech beginning July 6.
In Morgantown, the centerpiece Governor’s Honors Academy assembles at West Virginia University the week of July 11 – while the Governor’s School for the Arts at West Virginia Wesleyan commences the week of June 21.
Marshall University hosts the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurship beginning the week of July 17.
Students will learn how to make bottles at the landmark Blenko Glass factory while also creating their own postcards in another session.
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They’ll also be treated to live performances of folk, bluegrass and other Appalachian-themed music.
On June 20, 2024, the first year for the Governor’s School of Tourism, students boarded a charter bus for a West Virginia-themed road trip all about the state’s Colonial and Civil War-steeped history.
The bus didn’t stop until 1,000 miles were added to its odometer.
And Justin Lambert, the state Department of Education administrator who coordinates the schools and academies, loved every mile and every moment of the inaugural excursion.
“How’s that for a 161st?” the former Advancement Placement history teacher asked then.
A man in West Virginia reeled in a record-breaking blue catfish.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources said Michael Ramey set a state weight record after catching a 71-pound blue catfish on May 9 while fishing the Ohio River in Jackson County. Michael John Drake held the previous record for blue catfish weight after he reeled in a 69.45-pounder in 2023.
Michael Ramey set a West Virginia weight record for blue catfish after catching a 71-pound, 50.23-inch fish on May 9.
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(Photo Credit: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources)
Ramey nabbed the fish using cut bait on a 100-pound test line, the WVDNR added. The fish was 50.23 inches long, just short of the state’s blue catfish length record of 51.49 inches set by Justin Connor while fishing the Kanawha River.
Record tiger trout caught in West Virginia
Donnie Workman’s 13.32-pound, 29.80-inch tiger trout set a West Virginia record, the WVDNR said. He caught the fish on April 26 at Summit Lake using mealworms and orange salmon eggs on an 8-pound test line.
Donnie Workman set a West Virginia record for tiger trout on April 26 while fishing at Summit Lake.
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(Photo Credit: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources)
Angler nabs record-setting redhorse sucker
Zachary Roper caught a 6.46-pound, 25.43-inch redhorse sucker on May 7 at Kanawha Falls, setting new state records, the WVDNR said. He used corn on a 15-pound test line.
The catch surpassed the previous records of 5.75 pounds and 24.57 inches set by Jason Floyd while fishing the Belleville Lock and Dam in April 2025.
Zachary Roper set a West Virginia record for redhorse sucker after catching a 6.46-pound, 25.43-inch fish on May 7 at Kanawha Falls.
(Photo Credit: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources)
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“These incredible catches highlight the outstanding fishing opportunities that West Virginia has to offer,” WVDNR Director Brett McMillion said in a news release. “From scenic lakes to iconic river destinations, anglers can find excellent fishing experiences all across our state. We encourage everyone to get outside, cast a line and enjoy West Virginia’s waters this summer. You never know when you might reel in a record-breaker.”
The government agency takes the lead in tracking the largest fish of each species by length and weight caught in West Virginia waters.
