How Real is West Virginia's Recent Surge? We're About to Find Out

It's going to be a very important weekend for the Mountaineers.

Entering the weekend, West Virginia sits as a No. 9 seed in Joe Lunardi's ESPN bracketology and are ranked 19th in the NET.

Over the course of the next few days, we'll learn a lot about how real this recent turnaround is for the Mountaineers, who have won four of the last five. Saturday, they visit Texas (No. 10 in NET) and then will make the short drive up to Waco for a Monday evening clash with Baylor (No. 11 in NET). 

The reality is, winning on the road, particularly in this league, is difficult. And Bob Huggins knows that all too well. 

2022-23: 1-4

2021-22: 0-9 (Missed Tournament)

2020-21: 6-2 (Lost Second Round, No. 3 seed)

2019-20: 2-7 (COVID, Tournament canceled)

2018-19: 0-9 (Missed Tournament)

2017-18: 4-5 (Lost in Sweet 16, No. 5 seed)

2016-17: 5-4 (Lost in Sweet 16, No. 4 seed)

2015-16: 6-3 (Lost in First Round, No. 3 seed)

2014-15: 4-5 (Lost in Sweet 16, No. 5 seed)

2013-14: 3-6 (Missed Tournament)

2012-13: 3-6 (Missed Tournament)

Overall: 34-60 (.361)

As seen above, how the Mountaineers perform on the road in conference play is a good indicator of how "real" they are. They've never made the NCAA Tournament when winning three or less Big 12 road games. They would have had the big dance not been canceled a few years back, but still - in every other situation, it proves to be true.

Currently, WVU has one Big 12 road win - Texas Tech. Had they just hit free throws against Kansas State and Oklahoma, they would have two more. Had they not done "stupid things" as Huggs would say at Oklahoma State, they would have another. Had they not just went through the motions at TCU, they would have had another. 

"I've been really honest with them in that we put ourselves in a heck of a hole because we didn't make one, two-footers and we didn't make free throws," said Huggins. "We had chances to win at least three or four more games if we had just made free throws or taken better care of the ball. We just didn't man up and do what we needed to do, but we're manning up pretty good right now."

Winning just a couple of those games that they handed away would have them one road win away from reaching that magical number to essentially punch their ticket to the Big Dance. Instead, they have some work to do. 

Now, is it possible WVU makes the field if they don't win four Big 12 road games? Yes, of course. But reaching that number will certainly get the job done, especially with how much respect the league has. 

The final four road games? 

2/11 at Texas

2/13 at Baylor

2/25 at Kansas

2/27 at Iowa State

At worst, West Virginia needs to come away with a split on this upcoming two-game road trip to Texas. As we all know, winning at Kansas will take a herculean effort. 

So, why is a split good? It ensures at least one more win against a top 15 opponent and it would qualify as a Quad-I win. Dropping both games makes the path to 18 wins (the number Huggs believes it will take to get in) extremely difficult.

Sweeping a two-games-in-three-days set in conference play has happened just three times for WVU.  The last time was in 2015-16 against Kansas State and TCU. This two games in three day road trip scenario has occurred nine times since WVU joined the league. Below is a look at how they did each season, plus the number of times an a particular outcome happened.

Went 2-0: Three times

Went 1-1: Three times

Went 0-2: Three times

2022-23

KSU - L, OSU - L

2021-22

OSU - L, KSU - L

2020-21

OU - L, OSU - W

2019-20

KU - L, OSU - W

TCU - L, TEXAS - L

2018-19

N/A

2017-18

N/A

2016-17

TCU - W, Baylor - L

2015-16

KSU - W, TCU - W

2014-15

TCU - W, TTU - W

2013-14

TCU - W, TTU - W

2012-13

N/A

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