Mountaineers Seek Redemption Against Bearcats in Midweek Showdown

WACO, Texas — The West Virginia Mountaineers are on a mission to regain momentum as they prepare to face the Cincinnati Bearcats in a key rematch Wednesday at 7 p.m. inside the WVU Coliseum. After overcoming a three-game losing streak, West Virginia (15-10, 6-8) is looking to secure a season sweep following their 63-50 victory against Cincinnati 16 days earlier.

West Virginia’s recent form has been less than ideal, with only one win in their last four games. In stark contrast, Cincinnati (15-10, 5-9) has found its footing with three consecutive victories before a recent loss to Iowa State. Both teams are in need of a win to improve their standings as they head into the season’s final stretch.

“They’re playing very well,” said Mountaineers’ head coach Darian DeVries. “It feels like they kind of found themselves over these last four games.” The first match in February marked a significant turning point for both teams, but the Mountaineers have struggled since, losing two close games by a combined seven points.

West Virginia’s recent losses have highlighted some concerning trends, particularly their struggles at the free-throw line. Over their last five games, the Mountaineers have been outscored by 44 points (80-36) on free throws and have attempted significantly fewer shots from the charity stripe compared to their opponents.

“There are certainly some fouls that are within our control that we have to do a better job with,” DeVries added. In their latest game, a 74-71 overtime loss to Baylor, the Mountaineers made 11 of 17 free throws while the Bears capitalized on 27 of 32 attempts.

In contrast, Cincinnati has struggled offensively throughout the season, currently sitting last in the Big 12 for points off free throws with only 245 scored to date. Meanwhile, West Virginia ranks near the bottom in both free throws made and attempted.

The primary threat for the Mountaineers will be Javon Small, who leads the team with an impressive free-throw percentage of 123 of 140 attempts. Small also starred in their first game against Cincinnati with a solid performance that included 19 points, nine assists, and two steals.

“Getting to the rim is a big part of that,” noted DeVries regarding their offensive strategy going into the rematch. “Javon gets there quite a bit, and he needs to keep attacking.”

On the other side, Bearcats guard Jizzle James, who entered the last game as Cincinnati’s top scorer, has significantly improved his play since that encounter. After struggling during the early season, he has averaged over 22 points in his last four games.

“James is playing at a high level,” DeVries said. “He’s making hard shots and putting a lot of pressure on us. We have to make sure to adjust our defense accordingly.”

Both teams will look for a win to bolster their chances as they head toward the postseason. The Mountaineers’ recent struggles in mid-week games, having won just five of their last sixteen such matchups at home, adds an additional layer of pressure to the upcoming game.

With both teams closely matched in the NET rankings, this rematch could prove critical for determining their seeding as the Big 12 tournament approaches. As the stakes rise, West Virginia will aim to regain its winning streak while Cincinnati seeks to further establish its resurgence.