The 16-3 (8-0) sixth-ranked Houston Cougars are in Morgantown Wednesday to face the 13-6 (4-4) West Virginia Mountaineers. The Coogs took care of the Eers in a 70-54 win at Fertitta Center two weeks ago. The (still) “Head of the Snake” Javon Small scored all 13 of his points in the first half but finished with eight assists.

The Mountaineers could not figure out how to defend Houston big-man J’Wan Roberts, who finished with 22 points in the game. The WVU big men could not guard him one-on-one, and when they tried to double-team him, he found the open shooter. Roberts has been killing it since that game. The Mountaineers have likely been practicing how they will defend Roberts for days. It will be very interesting to see how they try to defend him on Wednesday night.

As UH saw in spurts in the previous game, West Virginia has a dangerous team. They won their Big 12 opener at Kansas and upset Iowa State after the loss in Houston. But since beating the Cyclones, they have lost two in a row to inferior teams. WVU Coliseum will be insane for this game, and WVU can’t afford to lose three straight and fall under .500 in the conference.

Houston needs to be ready from the opening tip, but no one is better at keeping their team as focused as Coach Sampson.

West Virginia National Rankings

• Net – #43; Houston Ranked #2
• Kenpom – #48; Houston Ranked #2
• AP Poll – #Others Receiving Votes; Houston Ranked #6
• Coaches Poll – #Others Receiving Votes; Houston Ranked #5

WVU Offensive Rankings (Top 50 in Nation)

#43 – Three Point Attempts Per Game: 27.6

Mountaineer Defensive Rankings (Top 50 in Nation)

#10 – Three Point Percentage (Defense): 28.5%

#20 – Scoring (Defense): 64.4

#36 – Field Goal Percentage (Defense): 40.07%

#44 – Blocks Per Game: 4.7

West Virginia Offense Notes

• Javon Small makes them go at all times. He is an elite three-level scorer (19.6ppg), one of the best in the Big 12. He had 13 points at the half at Fertitta Center but went 0/3 in the second half (he did assist on six of WVU’s 9 field goals, though).
• The Mountaineers are a good pick-and-roll/pop team. Eduardo Andre will roll, and Amani Hansberry is great at rolling OR popping, depending on how the Coogs defend him. In the last game, Hansberry had a one-man “kill shot,” where he went on a 12-0 run by himself.

Mountaineer Defense Notes

• I would feed J’Wan very early and see how they plan on guarding him. I can’t imagine that they will play him one-on-one again. I would not be surprised to see them throw more zone defense at the Coogs and force them to take contested outside shots. Patience will be key if they do.
• They are a top-notch shot-blocking and rebounding team. Houston out-rebounded them at Ferttita Center and will need to do the same in Morgantown.

WVU Personnel Report

(* Indicates Probable Starters)

*#7 – Javon Small – 6’3″ – SR – Guard – (East Carolina – Oklahoma State) – 20ppg, 5rpg, 5apg, 2spg.

• Head of the Snake: One of the best guards UH has faced thus far. If he gets hot, you better throw two guys at him often and get the ball out of his hands;
• Elite scoring PG
• Solid three-point shooter – 46/133 (35%);
• Great at getting downhill to score in the paint or draw fouls.
• Top 50 National Rankings: #24 – Points Per Game (19.6); #20 – Minutes Per Game (36); #28 – Free Throw’s Made (101); #40 – Free Throw Percentage (88.60%); #48 – Points (373)

*#11 – Jonathan Powell – 6’6″ – FR – Guard – 9ppg, 2rpg.

• Long/athletic guard;
• I LOVE the confidence and edge he plays with;
• Good long-range shooter – 42/113 (37%);
• Solid finisher in the paint.

*#10 – Sencire Harris – 6’4″ – SO – Guard – (Illinois) – 6ppg, 5rpg.

• LEFTY;
• Extremely thin guard;
• Loves to drive left;
• Not a good three-point shooter; 4/41 (9.8%).

*#5 – Toby Okani – 6’8″ – 5th – Guard – (UIC – Duquesne) – 8ppg, 4rpg.

• Big/athletic guard;
• Not a great shooter – 11/43 (26%);
• At his best off the bounce and getting into the paint.

*#0 – Eduardo Andre – 6’11” – 5th – Center – (Nebraska – Fresno State) – 6ppg, 5rpg, 2bpg.

• Extremely long/defensive specialist/post player;
• Elite shot-blocker;
• Solid rebounder on both ends of the court;
• Solid finisher in the pick and roll;
• He travels a lot on his catches, and If I were coaching at UH, I would point it out very early in the game to the officials;
• Top 50 National Rankings: #36 – Blocks Per Game (1.83).

#12 – Tucker DeVries – 6’7″ – SR – Guard/Forward – (Drake) – 15ppg, 5rpg.

• Big guard; Talented three-level scorer;
• Coach’s son;
• Unlikely to play, but you never know…He’s really good;

#13 – Amani Hansberry – 6’8″ – SO – Forward – (Illinois) – 10ppg, 6rpg.

• Big/strong forward off the bench;
• Getting better every game;
• Capable three-point shooter; 22/71 (31%);
• Can pick-and-pop or pick-and-roll depending on the defense;
• Pretty patient in the post; Can score with either hand when around the basket.

#1 – Joseph Yesufu – 6’0″ – 5th – Guard – (Kansas – Drake – Washington State) – 4ppg, 2rpg.

• World traveler;
• Smaller combo guard;
• Really good three-point shooter;
• Solid at driving to the basket and making tough layups; Likes to go “iso” and drive to score/draw a foul.

#8 – Jake Auer – 6’0″ – 5th – Guard – (Rockhurst) – 2ppg, 1rpg.

• Smaller/walk-on guard;
• Plays limited minutes;
• Sniper from three-point land; 7/12 (58%);
• He’s “limited” athletically; Whoever he’s guarding better have the ball in their hands and ready to attack. I could be wrong, but he’ll not get in the game against UH. He is a defensive liability.

#3 – KJ Tenner – 6’0″ – FR – Guard – 3ppg, 1rpg.

• Has been playing more lately;
• Not very productive;

Keys to Victory

1. Keep Javon Small under his average (again). Small averages 20 points per game, so if the Cougars can keep him under 15 points, they have a good chance of winning.
2. Game of runs. Kansas was the best example of this all season – basketball is a game of runs. West Virginia made a few runs in the first match-up, so limiting those runs in WVU Coliseum will be important. Do not let them get confident.
3. Adjust to their strengths. UH allowed Small to play to his strengths in the first half and Hansberry to take and make the wide-open pick and pop threes in the second half of Game 1. They will need to adjust quicker and take away whoever is hot for them.
4. Win the boards and turnovers. The Coogs have been fantastic at rebounding on both ends and creating tons of turnovers. They are also one of the best teams in the nation at getting deflections, which ultimately lead to turnovers.
5. Toughest team wins. West Virginia fans are insane and will be rowdy in Morgantown. They will look to pull another upset over a top-10 team in front of their home crowd. UH will have to be the tougher of the two teams: be the first ones on the floor for a loose ball, take charges, deflect passes, and block shots.