West Virginia Basketball: three takeaways from the loss to Baylor

Jan 31, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Taz Sherman (12) drives on Baylor Bears guard Matthew Mayer (24) during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Taz Sherman (12) drives on Baylor Bears guard Matthew Mayer (24) during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
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MORGANTOWN, WV – JANUARY 11: Pauly Paulicap #1 of the West Virginia Mountaineers celebrates a play in the second half during a college basketball game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at the WVU Coliseum on January 11, 2022 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV – JANUARY 11: Pauly Paulicap #1 of the West Virginia Mountaineers celebrates a play in the second half during a college basketball game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at the WVU Coliseum on January 11, 2022 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Despite the loss, West Virginia improved tremendously since Saturday

Even when it got difficult, the Mountaineers fought through the eighth-ranked Baylor Bears.

This was the first time since January 11th that West Virginia has held the lead going into the second half. The Mountaineers had the 8,000+ crowd at Ferrell Center silenced for most of the first half.

West Virginia has been unable to maintain any kind of lead in these past few games, and their ability to do so against Baylor should have Mountaineer fans thrilled.

Even though West Virginia fell in the end, Mountaineer fans should be pleased with the game overall. February will be an exciting month for the Mountaineers as they battle to end this losing streak and potentially make the NCAA tournament the following month.

The Mountaineers will play their next game on Saturday, February 5th, looking for revenge against No. 14 Texas Tech, whom they lost to earlier this season.