Coliseum’s Winning Streak Faces Baylor Challenge This Saturday
West Virginia University is set to play against Baylor on Saturday afternoon, aiming to maintain its impressive 16-game home winning streak. The Mountaineers have had significant success at home, but they will face a formidable challenge from the Bears, who have historically performed well at Hope Coliseum.
Historic Matchup: Coliseum’s Winning Streak Faces Baylor Challenge
Baylor has achieved notable success in Morgantown, boasting an 8-4 record in the Coliseum since West Virginia joined the Big 12 in the 2012-2013 season. This makes Baylor the most successful team in terms of wins in the arena for any Big 12 team. In comparison, the Mountaineers’ arch-rival Pitt has won 10 times in the Coliseum’s 56-year history.
- Baylor: 8 wins, 4 losses
- Pitt: 10 wins
- Connecticut: 6 wins, 4 losses (1988-2022)
West Virginia last posted an undefeated home record in 1982, achieving a 15-0 mark under coach Gale Catlett. The team ended that season with a ranking of No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll.
Current Season Overview
This year’s Mountaineers have already secured victories against several strong teams, including:
- Pitt
- Cincinnati
- Kansas (ranked 22)
- Colorado
- Kansas State
Looking ahead, West Virginia faces tough league matches against:
- Baylor (Saturday)
- Texas Tech (Feb. 8)
- Utah (Feb. 18)
- BYU (Feb. 28)
- UCF (March 6)
This season has been challenging for Baylor, who holds an overall record of 11-9 and a troubling 1-7 in Big 12 play. The Bears recently suffered a loss to Cincinnati, where they shot only 35.5% from the field.
Baylor’s Challenges and Key Players
Baylor’s coach, Scott Drew, has faced injury challenges that have affected the team’s depth. In a recent effort to bolster the lineup, the Bears added 2023 NBA draft pick James Nnaji, though he has seen limited action so far. Cameron Carr leads the team with an average of 19.6 points per game, but struggled in the recent game against Cincinnati.
- Top Scorer: Cameron Carr – 19.6 points per game
- Other Key Players: Tounde Yessoufou (16 points), Obi Agbim (14 points), Dan Skillings Jr. (10 points)
West Virginia’s team aims to continue building on its strong home performance and push for a favorable position in the Big 12 standings. Currently, the Mountaineers hold a record of 14-7 and sit in a tie with UCF for seventh place in the conference.
Game Details
The highly anticipated match is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday and will air nationally on ESPN2. Fans can also tune into the Mountaineer Sports Network for radio coverage beginning at 3 p.m. Tickets are still available for purchase through the Mountaineer Ticket Office.
Supporters are encouraged to arrive early to take advantage of special Happy Hour beverage pricing before tip-off. The clash between West Virginia and Baylor promises to be a crucial and exciting matchup in the landscape of college basketball this season.
