WVU basketball: Win against Cowboys needed to keep pace in Big 12

The WVU basketball team escaped Oklahoma State with a victory earlier in the season. Both teams have evolved since then and another match up awaits.

The Cowboys come to Morgantown on Saturday with a 14-10 and the Mountaineers are still in the top 20 with a record of 18-6.

West Virginia has taken a lot of loops and turns since that first game against OSU, which opened the Big 12 slate for both teams. There have been winning streaks and losing streaks, and right now, the WVU basketball team seems to have found some solid footing.

West Virginia is playing better than it had during a rough stretch at the end of January. At one point the No. 2 team in the country, the Mountaineers are almost reinventing themselves. Jevon Carter, arguably the best player on the team and the most polished all-around point guard in the country, is changing his role a bit.

Instead of being the go-to scorer the past two games, Carter is taking a step back and creating more opportunities for his teammates. In the past two wins against Kansas State and Oklahoma, he combined for almost 20 steals. He is also still a master on defense.

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In the road win against Oklahoma, Lamont West emerged as a scoring threat. He poured in 17 points to lead the way and he will need to be that kind of player against the Cowboys. West has a unique ability to score in the paint and make an impact on the wings. His versatility can be tough to defend when he’s on top of his game.

There has probably not been a more talked-about player on the WVU basketball team this season than Sagaba Konate. The sophomore has strong shoulders and amazing athleticism to jump out of the gym. His blocks have been on highlight reels on many national outlets and his dunks can shake the entire arena.

Right now, the WVU basketball team is looking up at Kansas and Texas Tech in the Big 12 Conference standings. The Mountaineers have lost to both teams, but will see them both again in the near future. Until then, West Virginia needs to win just to keep pace with the Jayhawks and Red Raiders.

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A win against the Cowboys on Saturday will improve team and fan morale as this season has put a lot of pressure on everybody. The good news is, the WVU basketball team remains in pretty good shape.