WVU basketball: Texas needs win against Mountaineers for hope

The WVU basketball team has about as much momentum now than it did at the beginning of the season when it was still unbeaten in Big 12 play.

The Mountaineers have won three-straight games and have recently avenged losses against Texas Tech and Iowa State. Now, the WVU basketball team turns its attention to Texas.

West Virginia beat the Longhorns, 86-51, on Jan. 20 in Morgantown. Since then, Texas has had an up-and-down slate in the conference. The Longhorns suffered through a three-game losing streak last month and haven’t fully recovered.

The Longhorns are coming off a 10-point loss to Kansas. Obviously, nothing to hang their heads over but a win of that caliber probably would have locked up a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Texas is coming into the WVU basketball game with a conference record of 7-10 and an overall mark of 17-12.

More from Hail WV

• Every West Virginia potential March Madness venue in 2023 NCAA Tournament
• West Virginia March Madness Schedule: When do the Mountaineers play next? (Updated March 12)
• West Virginia vs. Kansas prediction and odds for Saturday, February 25 (Take Mountaineers as underdogs)
• WVU Football Recruiting: Mountaineers make Malik Hartford’s short list
• Previewing WVU basketball against Oklahoma State

Really, it’s mediocre. But the Longhorns do play in the toughest conference in the country and have nice wins against Butler, TCU, Texas Tech and Oklahoma. The total wins just aren’t there, though, and the rough stretches have outweighed the positives. But winning against West Virginia on Saturday certainly boosts the Longhorns’ credentials to at least be on the bubble come Selection Sunday.

Texas probably doesn’t have the all-around talent to win the Big 12 Tournament and secure an automatic bid, but stringing together a few postseason wins wouldn’t hurt its chances of getting over the hump. For the Longhorns to keep their dream alive, the tournament will start on Saturday.

West Virginia really has nothing to gain or lose from this game. Right now, the WVU basketball team is alone in second place in the Big 12 Conference standings. Texas Tech is third with a conference record of 10-7, as the Mountaineers are 11-6. To keep the Red Raiders at bay, the Mountaineers would need to beat Texas and secure that No. 2 seed. Texas Tech plays TCU at home on Saturday.

Next: All-time WVU basketball team

Since the WVU basketball team is far and away the more talented and respected team in this upcoming match up, it should win by double digits.