Field Level Media
20 Nov 2023, 07:49 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)
West Virginia remains a largely unknown quantity entering Monday's game against SMU in the opening round of the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Florida.
The Mountaineers (2-1) have wins over Missouri State and Jacksonville State but also lost 73-65 to Monmouth on Nov. 10.
SMU (3-1) figures to be a good test for West Virginia in the Beach Division matchup. The Mustangs won their first three games before falling 79-66 to No. 13 Texas AM on Tuesday.
Chuck Harris scored a season-best 21 points against the Aggies and leads SMU with a 14.3 scoring average. Zhuric Phelps is averaging 13.5 points, and Tyreek Smith is contributing 10.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
"They have a lot of veteran talent on that team," West Virginia coach Josh Eilert said of the Mustangs. "They have good size and they have really good athletes. They're really deep. They're playing 10 guys, and the way they play is they kind of get up in you. They might turn the pressure up a little more on us, because they know we're short-handed."
The Mountaineers have played just eight players in each of their first three games. Only six are averaging more than eight minutes per game.
Leading scorer Quinn Slazinski (17.3 points per game) is averaging 34.7 minutes, while Jesse Edwards (14.3 points, 10.7 rebounds) averages 36 and Kobe Johnson (13.3 points) averages 34.7.
SMU won its first three games by an average of 22.3 points before being outclassed by Texas AM.
"We will get better," SMU coach Rob Lanier said afterward. "I expect us to really learn from this."
The tourney in Fort Myers represents the Mustangs' first games away from home.
"I expect them to fight when we get on the court Monday," Lanier said. "I really believe that in this group."
In West Virginia's most recent game, Johnson scored a career-high 19 points and Slazinski also scored 19 in last Monday's 70-57 home win over Jacksonville State, which followed the loss to Monmouth.
"Everybody bought in, and we had to turn the page and get that bad taste out of our mouth," Eilert said. "Nothing in what we do is going to be easy with a short-handed roster."
The winner of Monday's game will face either Wisconsin or Virginia in Wednesday's championship. The loser will play in the third-place game.
This is the first meeting between the Mountaineers and Mustangs.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Milwaukee Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Milwaukee Sun.
More InformationMADISON, Wisconsin: Tens of millions of residents across the Midwest and East Coast faced dangerously high temperatures over the weekend...
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza - Seven Israeli soldiers were killed in a large explosion in southern Gaza's Khan Younis area on Tuesday night,...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: Iran's top clerics are quietly accelerating succession plans for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was threatened...
BEIJING, China: Extreme weather is once again testing China's resilience, as intensifying monsoon rains trigger floods across major...
LONDON/PARIS: British and French authorities have warned people to stay safe as an early summer heat wave brings unusually high temperatures...
ANKARA, Turkey: Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) announced it would form a new...
MADISON, Wisconsin: Tens of millions of residents across the Midwest and East Coast faced dangerously high temperatures over the weekend...
Revealed CVO Launch Later Harley-Davidson is the worlds most recognizable cruiser and bagger motorcycle manufacturer. This quintessentially...
byDallas Cowboys Mailbag,Nick Eatman&Kurt Daniels (Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer...
Christian Watsons videos are as encouraging as they are awe-inspiring Wes Hodkiewicz Robert from Verona, WI I'll root for anybody...
The Lions retain most of a loaded roster that took them to a 15-2 record in 2024, especially on offense, but face the challenge of...
Bob Labriola The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization. MICHAEL WILLIAMS FROM...