West Virginia vs Kansas Jayhawks: Predictions, Odds and Roster Notes

Where: Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, KS

When: Saturday, February 16th at 4:00 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): ESPN

West Virginia Mountaineers (Away)

Head Coach: Bob Huggins {Overall: 10-14 .417 W-L% | Conference: 2-9, 9th in Big 12}

The West Virginia Mountaineers have had a difficult schedule to navigate all season long. While the Mountaineers were able to maintain a solid record against inter-conference competition, they’ve struggled in the incredibly competitive Big 12.

Since West Virginia began taking on Big 12 competition, they have struggled to compete. They began their intra-conference schedule on a five game losing skid, followed by a three game losing skid. Two wins against Oklahoma and Kansas gave them relief, but they’ll be going up against a Kansas team seeking revenge.

In their previous win over the Jayhawks it took some last second heroics from an unexpected source to win the game. Sophomore guard Jermaine Haley started the game and finished 5-5 for 13 points on the match. He also sealed it with a game-winning drive. The Mountaineers were excellent from the field and had 11 steals to help them keep their lead. They’ll need to play with the same intensity if they want to take another one from Kansas.

Kansas Jayhawks (Home)

Head Coach: Bill Self {Overall: 19-6 .760 W-L% | Conference: 8-4, 2nd in Big 12}

The Jayhawks have put together a brilliant season so far and have been able to bring themselves to second in the Big 12. Massive wins over Villanova, Tennessee, and Oklahoma prove the Jayhawks season is certainly not a flash in the pan.

Against Big 12 competition the Jayhawks have been excellent. In conference the Jayhawks are 8-4 and looking to avenge an early season loss to the Mountaineers. A lot of things went right for West Virginia in their last match, so the Jayhawks will be sure to tighten the screws in the rematch.

Offensively and defensively the Jayhawks performed great against the Mountaineers in their last match. They were superior shooting the ball and on the glass. Where the Jayhawks lost was their inability to take care of the ball. Dedric Lawson led the team with 7 turnovers, contributing to the teams 18 overall in the loss. They only lost by a point, but they’ll be wary of West Virginia’s scrappy defence when they take them on again.

West Virginia Mountaineers Roster Notes

F Sagaba Konate – 22 Dec 2018 – (Knee) is out indefinitely.

F Esa Ahmad – 11 Feb 2019 – (Disciplinary) is out for the season.

F Wesley Harris – 11 Feb 2019 – (Disciplinary) is out for the season.

Kansas Jayhawks Roster Notes

F Silvio De Sousa – 5 Nov 2018 – (Eligibility) is out for the season.

G Marcus Garrett – 11 Feb 2019 – (Ankle) is listed as questionable.

G Lagerald Vick – 9 Feb 2019 – (Personal) is out indefinitely.

C Udoka Azubuike – 6 Jan 2019 – (Hand) is out for the season.

Head-to-Head: Jermaine Haley (WVI) vs Dedric Lawson (KAN)

Jermaine Haley

Guard-Forward | 6-7, 215lb (201cm, 97kg) | Sunrise Christian Academy | Burnaby, BC, Canada | Sophomore

3.8 PPG | 1.8 APG | 3.0 RPG | 0.8 SPG | 0.0 BPG | 1.7 TOV | .471 FG% | .211 3P%

Dedric Lawson

Guard-Forward | 6-9, 235lb (206cm, 106kg) | Hamilton HS | Memphis, TN | Junior

19.4 PPG | 1.9 APG | 10.6 RPG | 1.2 SPG | 1.1 BPG | 2.4 TOV | .506 FG% | .345 3P%

Both teams are riddled with roster adjustments. While the concern be injury, eligibility, or disciplinary, both the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Kansas Jayhawks have had to shuffle their lineups. In this match, they will likely be depending on two energetic forwards to lead them.

Canadian Jermaine Haley has seen a real bump in minutes since 2019 began. After averaging 15 minutes per game until the end of December, Haley’s minutes per game has jumped to an astounding 23.5. Haley is a big playmaker who, in Huggins’ offence, is the initiator for the play but rarely the finisher. He’s not a great shooter, but his grittiness and size allows for some surprising baskets inside.

Dedric Lawson has been a scoring machine for the Jayhawks and will feature more with the absence of Esa Ahmad and Wesley Harris. He’s a productive combo-forward with a good set of all-around skills. He can get on the glass and score facing or back-to the basket. While his shooting needs to improve overall, he’s taken massive steps to rectify that weakness.

West Virginia Mountaineers at Kansas Jayhawks Predictions and Odds

The odds makers have the Kansas Jayhawks favoured over the West Virginia Mountaineers by 16, with an over/under of 110.