WVU Basketball: Mountaineer opponent revealed for Big 12/SEC Challenge
By Phil Poling
The WVU basketball program will play host to the University of Kentucky on January 27, 2018, in the fifth installment of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
These two teams last met in the Midwest Regional Semifinal in 2015, with the Wildcats dominating 78-39. That was a young Mountaineers squad, though; Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles, Jr. were freshman.
Miles, Jr. is a senior now, and after some NBA workouts and evaluations, Jevon Carter decided to withdraw his name from the 2017 NBA Draft.
“I’m excited about coming back to West Virginia and playing with my teammates for my senior season,” Carter claimed after his decision.
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Thankfully for coach Bob Huggins, he’ll have a full attack next January when squaring off with John Calipari and the Wildcats.
This Challenge will be a good measuring stick for both teams in January, especially if you take note of March Madness; 11 Big12/SEC teams earned NCAA Tournament bids, while six (Baylor, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, WVU) advanced to at least the Sweet 16.
The Mountaineers will return an experienced group, but Calipari can’t claim the same. The maestro at recruiting the one-and-done player, UK will surely be rolling out some youth after freshmen Bam Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk spent just a single season under Calipari.
Will WVU’s press adapt without Nathan Adrian? Will Kentucky’s youth be able to handle the experience of Carter and Miles, Jr.? Can the Mountaineers match the athleticism Calipari’s crew will undoubtedly bring to the table? Who will lose their voice first? Huggy Bear or Cal?
The times and specific channels for all the Big12/SEC Challenge games will be announced later, but all of them will be available on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or on the ESPN app.