On April 2nd tonight, West Virginia takes on Stanford in the college basketball crown quarterfinals at 8 p.m. Eastern from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The Mountaineers finished 18-14, missing the big dance, while Stanford's 20-12 after a quick ACC tournament exit. Win here, and WVU advances to Saturday.
Stanford's a slight 1.5 favorite per the odds, but ESPN's VPI gives West Virginia a 64.4% shot to pull it off. The Mountaineers stumbled late, dropping 5-7, including a turnover-filled Big 12 tournament loss to BYU. Stanford heated up with 6-8 before falling to Pitt, who dominated the boards in paint. Key battle was freshman star Abuka Okori for Stanford, dropping 22.8 a game against West Virginia's Jasper Floyd.
Without Amir Jenkins' post-shoulder surgery, Floyd can't have four fouls. On the flip, Honor Huff's legs are fresh off the break, and Big's Brennan Lorient and Harlan Obioha could feast inside, where Stanford struggles from. 2. By the numbers, Stanford scores more at 76 a game, but allows 72.7, while WVU clamps down at 64.8 allowed, on elite two-point defense.
These teams met once back in 1959, um, Jerry West dropping 27 and grabbing 21 in a Mountaineer blowout. Coach Ross Hodge had three weeks to scheme, so expect WVU to grind the paint and harass from deep. If they control Okori and dominate inside, this one's theirs in a low-scoring battle. Mountaineers by 7.