West Virginia men's basketball non-conference schedule finalized
By Joseph Smith
West Virginia men’s basketball has their full 2024-2025 non-conference schedule finalized.
WVU announced the schedule on Tuesday morning, with the slate highlighted by an in-state exhibition at the WVU Coliseum, seven additional regular season contests in Morgantown, a pair of rivalries, and a trip to one of the biggest early-season tournaments in college basketball.
The season kicks off hosting an exhibition against Division 2 opponent Charleston (WV), who finished last season at 29-5 overall, capturing a Mountain East Conference title and advancing to the Division 2 Sweet 16. They will be led by first-year head coach James Long, a WVU men’s basketball alumni and former staffer who has also coached WVU alum squad Best Virginia in The Basketball Tournament.
Coach Darian DeVries' first regular season game at WVU will be in Morgantown as well, with the Mountaineers hosting Robert Morris on November 4th. It will be the 22nd meeting between the two programs, with the Mountaineers leading the series 19-2. The two teams last met in 2010.
The Mountaineers will battle UMass on November 8th in Morgantown, as they look to avenge an 87-79 loss to the Minutemen last season. It will be the 43rd meeting between former Atlantic 10 opponents.
The 191st basketball edition of Backyard Brawl against Pitt is scheduled for November 15th at Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh -- Pitt won 80-63 last year in the Coliseum, but WVU won the six previous meetings.
West Virginia will return home to face Iona on November 20th in a first-ever meeting before taking a flight to the Bahamas over Thanksgiving for three games in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament scheduled for November 27th-29th. Current Big 12 opponent Arizona and former Big 12 opponent Oklahoma will also be in the field, as well as Davidson, Gonzaga, Indiana, Louisville, and Providence.
West Virginia will renew a former Big East rivalry with Gerogetown on December 6th in Morgantown during the Big 12-Big East Battle. It will be the 54th meeting between the two teams.
The Mountaineers will close non-conference action with three more home games -- North Carolina Central visits on December 10th, Bethune-Cookman on December 14th, and Mercyhurst on December 22nd.