The University of Arizona men’s basketball team (8-5, 2-0 in Big 12) is set to play West Virginia University in the WVU Coliseum Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 5 p.m. The Wildcats are coming off their second conference win of the season, a 72-67 victory on the road against the No. 16 University of Cincinnati on Jan. 4.
History vs. West Virginia
Arizona holds a series 3-3 against West Virginia, with the most recent victory going to West Virginia earlier this season. The Wildcats fell 76-83 in overtime against the Mountaineers in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, marking their third and final game for the month of November.
The game came down to overtime minutes where West Virginia was able to pull ahead and secure the win. Dating back to the program’s first match in 1948, resulting in another loss for Arizona, the Wildcats secured three wins: 1950, 1968 and 1992. With the most recent match resulting in a win under West Virginia’s belt, the upcoming game looks to be highly anticipated.
West Virginia players to watch
West Virginia is led by head coach Darian Devries who was appointed to the position in March of 2024. He is in his first season abiding by a five-year contract with the program. Prior to his arrival, Devries led Drake University as head coach from 2018-2024, earning six 20-win seasons for the program.
Coach Devries’ son, Tucker Devries, a 6-foot-7 senior guard and forward, plays a large role in the game for West Virginia. He followed his dad to WVU after playing three seasons under him at Drake University. Devries is second in scorers on his team, averaging 14.9 points per game. Additionally, he grabs 4.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game to go along with 14 steals this season.
In the last matchup against Arizona, Devries contributed 26 points, leading his team in scoring while securing a season high. He also had four rebounds and six assists. Devries had a standout night, impressively shooting 8-for-12 from the three and 8-for-16 from inside the paint, adding high numbers to West Virginia’s points during the match.
Javon Small, a senior guard, currently leads the Mountaineers in scoring and assists, averaging 19.5 ppg, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. Prior to West Virginia, Small played for Oklahoma State University where he earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors after he averaged team highs of 15.1 points and 4.1 assists in 33 minutes of play per game.
In West Virginia’s Battle 4 Atlantis matchup against Arizona, Small scored 14 points and eight assists, three more than any other player on the court for either team. As a Mountaineer, he’s collected 63 assists and grabbed 70 rebounds so far this season, the second highest on his team. Small’s versatility and impact on both ends of the floor make him a crucial playmaker and possession asset under the basket.
Wildcats to watch
The Wildcats are led by head coach Tommy Lloyd who is in his fourth season leading Arizona. Lloyd has achieved numerous successes in his career, including being named 2022 Pac-12 Coach of the Year, 2022 USBWA National Coach of the Year. Additionally, he has recorded 88 wins throughout his first three seasons, the second-most in NCAA history.
Freshman forward Carter Bryant has been moving onto the court and making significant contributions. In Arizona’s last game against No. 16 Cincinnati, Bryant put up 14 points, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and 3-of-3 from 3-point range. He also grabbed four rebounds as Bryant finished as the second highest scorer for the Wildcats in the match.
In Arizona’s most recent match against West Virginia, Bryant was able to bring down six rebounds in the 11 minutes he was on the court. Standing at 6-foot-8, his height is a huge asset for the Wildcats underneath the hoop and around the perimeter to create openings.
Caleb Love, a fifth-year guard and former Tar Heel from the University of North Carolina, has been improving his numbers in recent games. Against West Virginia, Love led the Wildcats with 24 points. Notably, he had three steals, six rebounds and two assists. All around, Love’s efforts did not go unnoticed.
Love leads the Wildcats in scoring this season, averaging 16.3 points per game. He has also made the most 3-pointers on the team, with a shooting record of 32-for-104. This was evident in the Wildcats’ match earlier in the season against the Mountaineers, where Love made 4 3-pointers, earning 12 points in that category.
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