In an effort to bring you in-depth insight on the opposing teams that West Virginia plays, WVSports.com goes Behind Enemy Lines for an in-depth look at the Big 12 conference match-up with Texas Tech.

What can you expect from the Red Raiders? Well we contacted an authority on the subject in RedRaiderSports.com writer Justin Apodaca.

1. What’s the pulse on this Texas Tech team at 7-4? Has this been about what was expected?

This Texas Tech team had the air come out of the bubble on two occasions, and the coaching staff is pretty frustrated by these now with the jumbled mess atop the conference, but first the loss in Fort Worth against TCU where Tech had a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter and saw it slip away.

The second was the loss earlier this month against Colorado where Tech was in it despite the offensive line having tons of issues run blocking but ultimately fell short at home in front of a sold-out crowd. Tech gets one of those, we’re talking about a completely different season. Tech has a chance to win eight regular season games for the first time since 2009 on Saturday, meaning progress under McGuire, but it’s not been fast enough for some.

2. What’s the situation at quarterback with Behren Morton and how has he played this season? Strengths/weaknesses?

Morton has been a rollercoaster this season. While being very productive when you look at the box score, Morton’s numbers are a touch deceiving, but he is coming off an excellent showing against Oklahoma State.

Morton can get flustered under pressure, understandably so with his injury history and a lack of trust in the O-line, and it’s bit Tech this season. It bit Tech last weekend in Stillwater. Just a bit up and down at times and we will see how he handles a different defensive look than Tech has seen this season from WVU.

3. What type of offense will the Red Raiders use and who are the playmakers to watch? Still playing with a lot of tempo?

Tech’s offense is very balanced on the whole. OC Zach Kittley has been able to engineer quick starts lately but hasn’t been able to sustain it, leading to Tech’s tendency to not put teams away. The tempo is game-dependent, and Tech used it the most all year against OSU en route to seven offensive touchdowns, mostly leaning on tempo to pass concepts. The playmakers have a couple of familiar faces, but Tech has overhauled the receiver room, and for very good measure.

RB Tahj Brooks is still the bell-cow back, he is now Tech’s all-time leading rusher, but the offense has been opened up because of slot receiver Washington State transfer Josh Kelly, who has 873 yards on 80 receptions this year. Florida transfer Caleb Douglas is also a major factor as a deep ball threat, posting 715 yards on 52 receptions this year. Tech also utilizes its tight ends a ton, a trio of guys who play is led by 6-foot-9 Mason Tharp and complimented by Arizona State transfer Jalin Conyers and Elon transfer Johncarlos Miller II.

4. Same on defense?

Defensively, it’s been a very, very tough year for Tech. DC Tim DeRuyter’s unit has taken a step back and was a major reason for those setbacks. This is one of the youngest units in the nation with a true sophomore starting at free safety and nickel (or STAR). Tech’s linebackers are the best unit on the team but still have had their issues in coverage this season.

That group is led by Jacob Rodriguez who is the team leader in tackles (112), TFLs (8.5), and sacks (4). That sack number should be telling, Tech has not been able to impact the passer all year, stemming from a youthful room that lost it’s two best to knee injuries in the pre-season, but it’s not much of an excuse and it’s been abysmal.

5. Any injuries of note? Keys to this game and how do you see it playing out?

Tech is a bit banged up on the interior defensive line coming out of Stillwater. Look for De’Braylon Caroll (52) and Quincy Ledet Jr. (5), Tech’s two eldest defensive tackles, in pre-game. Both are listed as questionable for the contest and are dealing with ankle issues. My biggest key for Tech will be handling the WVU run game.

I have enjoyed watching the WVU tape this year with all of the motions and misdirection they use in the run game with two very contrasting backs in Donaldson and White. Eye discipline and angles have been a struggle for this Tech defense, so I really see this one being relatively higher scoring than most would anticipate, but I’ll lean to the Red Raiders here.

The Gonzaga men’s basketball team is set for three games in as many days down in The Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, starting with a matchup against West Virginia at Imperial Arena on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs (5-0) head into the multi-team event already boasting wins over Baylor, Arizona State and San Diego State to start the 2024-25 campaign. In their last outing, they held Long Beach State to a season-low in points to come away with an 84-41 victory at the McCarthey Athletic Center last week. Five players scored in double-figures, though their head coach was more impressed with the effort they showed defensively to hold the Beach to 17-of-54 (31.5%) from the field and 2-of-20 (10%) from 3-point range.

Offensively, the Zags rank No. 1 in the country in efficiency and boast the lowest turnover rate in the country, according to KenPom.com. Five players put up more than 11 points per outing, led by Ike at 14.6 points.

“They’re elite at a lot of different things,” West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries said of the Zags on Tuesday. “Very good team, very balanced team. Tremendous challenge to try to slow them down as people have seen, as they’ve gotten off to a great start with this early season. But again I think they’re they’re certainly deserving of their early season accolades and rankings.”

Javon Small, a 6-foot-3 senior who transferred from Oklahoma State, paces West Virginia at 15.5 points and 4.0 assists per outing. He’s 20-of-47 (42.6%) from the field and 10-of-23 (43.5%) from the 3-point line. After recording five steals in the 43-point win over Iona, Small is top 10 in the country in steals per game (3.0) and ranks top 25 in steal percentage (5.5%) according to KenPom. The South Bend, Indiana, native also finished with 23 points, five rebounds, five assists and one block to lead the Mountaineers to an 86-43 win over Iona.

Senior wing Tucker DeVries, a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year who followed his father to Morgantown, West Virginia, this offseason, chips in 13.5 points and 2.5 steals per game. The Drake transfer excels at disrupting passing lanes and can knock down 3-pointers (11-of-27, 40.7% this season).

“Pressure defense, very athletic and handsy and good rim protection,” Mark Few said of the Mountaineers. “And then very opportunistic on the offensive end. They got a great offensive player in DeVries, but they got some really nice shooters, so, kind of all the above.”

HOW TO WATCH GONZAGA VS. WEST VIRGINIA

Who: Gonzaga and West Virginia tip off the 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis

When: 11:30 a.m. PT/2:30 p.m. EST | Wednesday, Nov. 27

Where: Imperial Arena at Atlantis Resort | Nassau, Bahamas

TV: ESPN

Betting: Gonzaga -15.5 (-110); O/U 155.5 (-110)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

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After spending time watching Gonzaga closely, West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries feels like he has a great feel for Bulldogs senior guard Ryan Nembhard as he and the Mountaineers prepare for their matchup in the Battle 4 Atlantis event on Wednesday from The Bahamas.

DeVries, who was an assistant coach at Creighton from 2001-2018, has an idea of what to expect from Mark Few’s bunch based on the first time DeVries saw Few’s program up close in December 2017, when the Bluejays visited Spokane for a nonconference game at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Seven years later, DeVries noted the similarities between that group and the 2024-25 squad helmed by Nembhard.

Still, DeVries knows slowing down the Bob Cousy Award contender is no easy task.

“I mean he’s just a great player,” DeVries said of Nembhard on Tuesday. “He’s so well rounded and just terrific, unselfish and knows how to lead a team.”

Nembhard has the Bulldogs (5-0) operating at a high level to start the 2024-25 campaign. Gonzaga ranks No. 1 in adjusted offensive efficiency and boasts the lowest turnover rate in the country, according to KenPom.com, while its Canadian point guard ranks top 10 in total assists (47), assists per game (9.4) and assist to turnover ratio (47 to six, 7.83). Nembhard is also 7-of-16 (43.8%) from 3-point range and has excelled at drawing fouls. He’s 18-of-21 (85.7%) from the charity stripe and is on pace to nearly double his free throw rate from last season.

Nembhard’s made a jump from his junior year against some pretty good competition as well, having already diced up three teams that rank in the top 100 in defensive efficiency, including a top-five defense in San Diego State (32 assists to five turnovers against those opponents). The Battle 4 Atlantis will likely be more of the same, starting with a matchup against West Virginia senior guard Javon Small.

Through four games, Small paces the Mountaineers at 15.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. He’s 20-of-47 (42.6%) from the field and 10-of-23 (43.5%) from the 3-point line. After recording five steals in the 43-point win over Iona, Small is top 10 in the country in steals per game (3.0) and ranks top 25 in steal percentage (5.5%) according to KenPom. The South Bend, Indiana, native also finished with 23 points, five rebounds, five assists and one block to lead the Mountaineers to an 86-43 win over Iona.

“Connectivity is really more of a team thing, but Javon certainly is the guy that at both ends of the floor,” DeVries said of Small after the game. “He’s either one of the guys defensively, guarding the ball, dictating talk, or offensively, getting us started into whatever action we’re trying to do.”

Nembhard’s coach expects to see a “very athletic and handsy” West Virginia squad that’s also opportunistic on the defensive end of the floor. Small, along with 6-foot-7 senior Tucker DeVries (2.5 steals per game), helps create that identity with his tendency to overplay passing lanes and come away with steals for breakaway dunks the other way. He might not be up for the national awards that Nembhard is in contention for, though the 6-foot-3 Small could present challenges for the Bulldogs on both ends of the floor if he gets into a rhythm.

“He’s a good player,” Nembhard said of Small. “He can shoot it, score the ball pretty well … so we got our scout on him and we’ll do our best to take advantage of that.”

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