West Virginia Heads to Cincinnati for Crucial Big 12 Rematch
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Conference play in the Big 12 doesn’t let up, and Thursday night’s showdown between West Virginia and Cincinnati is a prime example of how unforgiving this league can be. For the Mountaineers, it’s the start of a stretch where familiarity breeds intensity - the first of three matchups against teams they’ve already faced this season. And for both squads, it’s a chance to grab a much-needed win in a conference where every possession feels like it could swing the season.
Back on January 6 in Morgantown, these two teams played a tight one. Cincinnati had a five-point lead with under five minutes to go but couldn’t close the deal.
West Virginia clawed back and walked away with a 62-60 win, leaving Bearcats head coach Wes Miller visibly frustrated in the postgame. Since then, Cincinnati’s season has been a rollercoaster - wins over Colorado, Iowa State, and Baylor have been offset by losses to UCF, Arizona, Arizona State, and most recently, Houston.
That’s life in the Big 12, where even the middle of the pack is stacked with talent. At 11-11 overall and 3-6 in conference play, the Bearcats are still searching for consistency. Meanwhile, West Virginia sits at 14-8 overall and 5-4 in the Big 12 - right in the thick of the NCAA Tournament conversation, though a recent 63-53 home loss to Baylor didn’t help their case.
Mountaineers head coach Ross Hodge knows exactly where his team needs to improve. With an extra day of prep before the rematch, he and his staff focused on tightening up the details - especially on offense, where spacing has been a recurring issue in recent games.
“When you go back and look at our good possessions, there was usually really good spacing,” Hodge said. “That allows players to make decisive and aggressive decisions with the ball. The last couple of games, when we’ve gotten bogged down, spacing has been poor.”
That offensive stagnation has been noticeable. West Virginia hasn’t scored more than 60 points in any of its last three games - losses to Arizona, Kansas State, and Baylor. In a league where defenses are elite and possessions are precious, poor spacing can be the difference between a win and a missed opportunity.
Thursday’s rematch gives Hodge a chance to make adjustments based on the first meeting. But it’s a two-way street - Cincinnati has that same game tape and will be looking to flip the script.
“This is the first time we’ve played a team for the second time,” Hodge said. “You’re looking at the things they did that hurt us, and they’re probably doing the same. You’ve got to anticipate their counters and be ready to adjust.”
For Hodge, it’s not just about Xs and Os. It’s about the little things - the margins. In games like these, hustle plays matter just as much as execution.
“You’ve got to get loose balls, second-chance points, and continue to rebound the ball really well,” he emphasized. “You can’t get too singularly focused on plays and strategy, because you can lose the foundation of just competing.”
Turnovers were a major issue in the first matchup. West Virginia gave up 18 fast-break points, many of them off live-ball turnovers that turned into easy buckets for the Bearcats. That’s a stat that can’t repeat itself if the Mountaineers want to leave Cincinnati with another win.
“A lot of those were direct run-outs,” Hodge noted. “We’ve got to take care of the ball.”
Another key concern: keeping Cincinnati’s frontcourt tandem of Baba Miller and Moustapha Thiam off the offensive glass. Both are capable of extending possessions and creating second-chance opportunities - the kind that can swing momentum quickly in a low-scoring battle.
And speaking of defense, both teams bring it. West Virginia is holding opponents to 63.8 points per game, while Cincinnati isn’t far behind at 67.4. In a game where buckets will be hard to come by, avoiding breakdowns and limiting transition chances could be the deciding factor.
West Virginia has had some success at Fifth Third Arena, winning three of its ten trips to Cincinnati - including a 63-50 win last season. The Mountaineers also carry a three-game winning streak in the series and lead overall 14-12.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with Eric Rothman and King McClure on the call. For fans tuning in via radio, Tony Caridi, Brad Howe, and David Kahn will have the Mountaineer Sports Network broadcast starting at 6 p.m.
With less than a month left in the regular season, the stakes are climbing. For West Virginia, it’s about staying in the tournament picture.
For Cincinnati, it’s about finding traction in a brutal conference slate. And for both teams, it’s about showing they’ve learned from the first meeting - and proving they can win when the margin for error is razor-thin.