Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Texas Tech beats out Kansas for No. 1

By Jason Kinander

<> at United Spirit Arena on January 8, 2019 in Lubbock, Texas.
<> at United Spirit Arena on January 8, 2019 in Lubbock, Texas. /
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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 23: Esa Ahmad #23 of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts against the Villanova Wildcats during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 90-78. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 23: Esa Ahmad #23 of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts against the Villanova Wildcats during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 90-78. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

10. West Virginia Mountaineers (8-8, 0-4 Conference Play)

Previous Ranking: No. 9

No sugar coating here. It has been an absolutely disastrous first two weeks of conference play for West Virginia.

Bob Huggins’ group is 0-4, with losses to Texas and Oklahoma State. In fact, West Virginia played Texas Tech and Kansas State closer than the aforementioned two, losing by just three and two, respectively.

It is pretty clear how gaping the void left by Sagaba Konate is. Without Konate’s defensive presence, the Mountaineers have really struggled with their typically smothering defense, allowing 85 points to the Cowboys on Saturday.

Despite the losses, junior guard James Bolden has played considerably well, dropping 31 points against Oklahoma State.

However, past Bolden, there isn’t much else. Starters Esa Ahmad and Wesley Harris were benched for the Mountaineers game on Saturday, Ahmad has struggled mightily all season, especially with turnovers, and Huggins has been quiet in regards to the status of the senior.

Things won’t get any better for West Virginia, as they head to Fort Worth to take on #25 TCU on Tuesday, before hosting #7 Kansas on Saturday.

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