Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Kansas still top team entering conference play?

By Jason Kinander

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - DECEMBER 18: Lagerald Vick #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates a basket against the South Dakota Coyotes in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse on December 18, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - DECEMBER 18: Lagerald Vick #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates a basket against the South Dakota Coyotes in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse on December 18, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 04: Lamont West #15 of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts after a call during the second half of the game against the Florida Gators at Madison Square Garden on December 04, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 04: Lamont West #15 of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts after a call during the second half of the game against the Florida Gators at Madison Square Garden on December 04, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

9. West Virginia Mountaineers (7-4)

Previous Ranking: No. 8

Has there been a bigger disappointment in the Big 12 than West Virginia?

The Mountaineers, after starting the season ranked firmly in the Top-25, have looked really, really bad at times in 2018.

West Virginia sits at 7-4 heading into conference play, with losses to Buffalo, Florida, Western Kentucky, and Rhode Island.

Those losses aren’t horrible, but their wins haven’t looked much better either. On December 22nd, West Virginia beat Jacksonville State by just TWO points at home.

The Mountaineers surrendered 72 points to JSU, which just exemplifies how far their defense has fallen from recent years.

Losing Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles is tough, but there is absolutely no excuse for West Virginia to play such poor defense nonetheless, especially considering the “presence” of Esa Ahmad and Sagaba Konate down low.

West Virginia isn’t out of it yet. Bob Huggins will surely get his guys together, and he’ll find a way to make it work on defense.

However, this is a scary sight for West Virginia fans. It’s been a while since the Mountaineers have looked this poor, and for the first time in a couple of years, they’re in serious danger of missing out on postseason basketball.

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