West Virginia’s early-season schedule picture may be shifting again, and this time Kentucky has entered the conversation.
Earlier this offseason, The Field of 68’s Rocco Miller reported that West Virginia and North Carolina were “finalizing an agreement” to meet in a neutral-site game in Charlotte on Black Friday as part of the 2nd annual Dick Vitale Invitational. But on Tuesday evening, Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio reported that West Virginia and Kentucky are “in negotiations” to play in Nashville on Black Friday, with the Wildcats originally lined up to face Illinois that day.
There’s no update yet on where the North Carolina talks stand. But if West Virginia does wind up in Nashville against Kentucky, it would add another chapter to a series that has been played only 21 times before. Kentucky owns the edge at 16-5, and the Wildcats have taken the last three meetings.
West Virginia’s most recent win in the matchup came in one of the program’s biggest moments: the 2010 Elite Eight, when the Mountaineers beat Kentucky 73-66 to reach the Final Four.
The full history between the two programs stretches back more than a century, with the most recent games including Kentucky’s 83-76 win on Jan. 27, 2018, and the Wildcats’ 78-39 rout on Mar. 26, 2015.
West Virginia’s other wins in the series came on Mar. 25, 2010; Dec.
19, 1959; Dec. 20, 1957; and earlier in the 1940s and 1920s.
West Virginia’s schedule already includes a busy November and December slate. The Mountaineers open Nov. 2 against Niagara, then head to Las Vegas for the Players Era 8, where they’ll face Auburn on Nov. 17, followed by Kansas or UNLV on Nov. 18, and then Houston, Rutgers, Florida, or Notre Dame on Nov. 19.
After that, WVU is set for home games against Mercyhurst on Dec. 1, Virginia Tech on Dec.
5, Coppin State on Dec. 13, and Wake Forest on Dec. 19 in Greensboro, N.C. The Mountaineers also have a Dec. 9 road game at Pitt in PPG Paints Arena.
Their remaining home-only opponents are Arizona, Arizona State, Houston, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, while the away-only list includes Baylor, BYU, Colorado, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Utah.
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The latest move gives Douglas a fresh opportunity to matter right away, and the contract reflects that he is still viewed as a useful veteran piece in the secondary. Washington is bringing in a player who has shown he can step into a lineup and hold up, and the timing of the deal suggests there is a real chance for him to carve out an important role quickly. [Read more 🡒]