West Virginia Mountaineers
Record: 26-8 (13-5 Big 12)
Head coach: Bob Huggins (9th season)
Season Recap: Despite all odds, West Virginia emerged from arguably the toughest conference in the nation as its second best team—behind No. 1 overall seed Kansas—losing in the Big 12 championship to the Jayhawks. The Mountaineers are unfazed by any opponent, with victories against Kansas, Baylor, Iowa State and Oklahoma. With a swarming full-court press, West Virginia leads the nation in steals this season, at 9.9 per game. The Mountaineers’ defense often wears out opposing guards, as West Virginia held the Wooden Award frontrunner Buddy Hield, who averages 25.0 points per game, to only six in the Big 12 semifinals with a 69-67 victory against Oklahoma.
The Mountaineers are one of the more offensively balanced team's in the pool, led by backup guard Jaysean Paige’s 13.9 points per game and forward Devin Williams, who averages 13.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game on the block. Although Paige is Huggins’ de-facto sixth man, expect the Jamestown, N.Y., native to be West Virginia’s go-to offensive player in crunch time.
How they make a run: The Mountaineers’ press defense frustrates opposing teams, and they get out in transition, overwhelming opponents in points scored off of turnovers.
How they falter: West Virginia falls victim to foul trouble as its guards are forced to dial back the defense, and opposing players hit their attempts from the foul line.
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