No. 21 West Virginia and Arizona Face Off in Exciting Rematch

West Virginia and Arizona are set to clash again, and a lot has changed since their first meeting during the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. Back in November, West Virginia pulled off an 83-76 overtime win, but now both teams have new dynamics to bring to the table. This time, they meet in Morgantown, W.Va., with West Virginia riding high on a seven-game win streak.

West Virginia: Rolling Without Their Star

The Mountaineers (11-2, 2-0 Big 12) are on fire, even without Tucker DeVries, who dominated the first matchup against Arizona with 26 points and eight 3-pointers. DeVries has been sidelined with an upper-body injury, but that hasn’t slowed West Virginia down.

What’s Working:
- They’ve leaned on Javon Small, the Big 12’s top scorer, who’s averaging 19.5 points per game.
- Defense has been key, with the Mountaineers ranking third in the conference in points allowed (62.5 per game) and first in 3-point defense (27.4 percent).
- Long, athletic defenders like Toby Okani (6’8”) and Jonathan Powell (6’6”) have been critical in shutting down opponents.

Coach Darian DeVries praised his team’s defensive grit:

“The guys do a great job covering gaps and getting out to shooters.”

The streak includes big wins, like a nail-biter against then-No. 7 Kansas and a blowout against Oklahoma State. West Virginia is back in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2022, and they’re not slowing down.

Arizona: Hitting Their Stride

The Wildcats (8-5, 2-0) have bounced back from a rocky start to the season with four straight wins, including a big road victory over then-No. 16 Cincinnati.

Rising Stars:
- Freshman Carter Bryant has been a revelation, scoring a career-high 14 points against Cincinnati while going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.
- Henri Veesaar, a versatile 7-footer, stuffed the stat sheet in the same game with eight points, eight rebounds, and stellar defense.
Star Power:
- Caleb Love, Arizona’s leading scorer, had an off game against Cincinnati (3-for-15), but before that, he averaged 26.7 points per game on nearly 60 percent shooting. Love also dropped 24 points in their first game against West Virginia.

Coach Tommy Lloyd is excited about the team’s growth, especially from Bryant:

“Carter has elite talent and elite character. His progress has been game-changing for us.”

What Happened Last Time

In November, West Virginia edged out Arizona 83-76 in overtime, thanks to DeVries’ electric performance. Caleb Love led Arizona with 24 points. This time, the Wildcats are looking for revenge, and the Mountaineers want to show they can win without their star sharpshooter.

What to Watch For

Why West Virginia Could Win:
- Momentum from their seven-game win streak.
- Home-court advantage in Morgantown.
- Their elite defense, which has been shutting down opponents’ shooting all season.
Why Arizona Could Surprise:
- Bench players like Bryant and Veesaar are stepping up big time.
- Caleb Love will be hungry to bounce back after a rare off night.
- They’ve already faced West Virginia once and know what to expect.

The Bottom Line

West Virginia is coming into this game with momentum, confidence, and a defense that’s tough to beat. But Arizona’s recent improvements and strong bench contributions make them a dangerous opponent.

Will the Mountaineers extend their win streak, or can the Wildcats turn the tables in Morgantown? Either way, this rematch promises to be a must-watch battle.

West Virginia Mountaineers vs Arizona Wildcats Picks and Predictions January 7th 2025