West Virginia Jumps into the Coaches Poll

The Mountaineers climb into the top 25 of the Coaches Poll

Christopher Hall | Jan 7, 2025

West Virginia University basketball / Christopher Hall - West Virginia on SI

The West Virginia Mountaineers entered the Coaches Poll on Monday, vaulting up to No. 23.

The Mountaineers have won seven consecutive games which includes wins over then No. 24 Arizona, a Georgetown team on cusp of entering the top 25 and a season statement win at No. 7 Kansas last week.

West Virginia’s success can be credited to the effort on the defensive end of the floor. Defensively, the Mountaineers rank second in the Big 12 Conference, seventh nationally, in defensive field goal percentage and third in the league in scoring defense, 19th nationally, and first in the conference in blocks,11th nationally.

The Mountaineers are led by guard Javaon Small and he’s making a case for Big 12 Player of the Year. The senior is averaging a league leading 19.5 points per game and is ninth in assists at 4.8 per game and his 2.0 steals per game ranks fifth.

West Virginia forward Tucker DeVries, the teams second leading scorer (14.9 ppg), has missed the last five games with a shoulder injury and forward Amani Hansberry, the leading rebounder (6.3 rpg) and is third on the team in scoring at 10.3 ppg) was sidelined with an injury in the win over Kansas.

The Mountaineers (11-2, 2-0) are back in action Tuesday night and welcome the Arizona Wildcats (8-5, 2-0) to the WVU Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. EST and the game will broadcast on ESPN+.