NCAA Basketball: Villanova's struggles, 2K Classic outcomes and other takeaways

NCAA Basketball: Villanova’s struggles, 2K Classic outcomes and other takeaways

By Brian Rauf | Nov 18, 2018

VILLANOVA, PA - NOVEMBER 14: The Villanova Wildcats bench looks on in the final moments of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Finneran Pavilion on November 14, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Michigan defeated Villanova 73-46. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 23: Head coach Bob Huggins of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts during the second half against the Villanova Wildcats in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2) West Virginia is in trouble

Another team that has vastly underperformed to this point in the season in West Virginia, who dropped to 1-2 on the year following their loss to Western Kentucky in the Myrtle Beach Invitational.

The Mountaineers clearly miss both Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles Jr. on the offensive end. They rank just 227th in the country in effective field goal percentage (47.9 percent) and are turning it over at the alarming rate of 26.3 percent of their possessions, which is a lowly 341st in the country.

While obviously not to that extent, ugly offense isn’t exactly anything new for West Virginia under Bob Huggins. They are all about defense and their press, and while the press is still effective, the Mountaineers have been well below their normal standard. Opposing guards have been able to get into the paint with ease and they’re only average when it comes to forcing turnovers (188th in steal percentage).

Now, both Buffalo and Western Kentucky are good teams and both will be in the NCAA Tournament, so it’s not like these are terrible losses. However, it’s also clear that WVU is taking a much bigger step back this year than we all expected. Don’t be surprised to see them finish in the bottom half of the Big 12.

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