MORGANTOWN, WV – West Virginia has two interesting games this week as part of a 15-day stretch of four home games.
The Mountaineers face the 5-3 Navy on Wednesday night, which lost 82-70 at VMI, and then take on UAB 7-1 on Saturday night.
Navy is No. 108 in this week’s NET rankings, with early-season wins over William & Mary, Princeton, UC San Diego, Youngstown State and Mount St. Mary. Senior forward Tyler Nelson leads the Midshipmen with a scoring average of 15.1 points per game.
Senior forward Daniel Deaver put up 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds, while junior guard Austin Inger added 10 points per game.
The Navy, coached by Penn State graduate Ed DeShellis, went 21-11 and finished second in the Patriot League last year.
“Nearly all of the service teams have executed really well,” West Virginia coach bob hudgens Say. “They just don’t have the size and scale that guys in our league have, but they’re skilled and disciplined.”
The last time the Navy played in the arena was on Feb. 5, 1972, during Hudgens’ freshman season at Ohio University. Before that, the pair played in the NCAA East Tournament at Madison Square Garden in 1960, with West Virginia going 94-86.
Wednesday night’s game is designated as the 81st Men’s Basketball Appreciation NightYingshiThe anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, which severely damaged the U.S. Navy battleship USS West Virginia. The battleship was hit by as many as nine enemy torpedoes, tearing apart her forward hull and damaging her rudder. It was eventually salvaged and restored.
There will be several military salutes throughout the game, and tickets are only $15 and $10, depending on seating location. Veterans and active duty military can purchase tickets for as little as $5.
Wednesday night’s game will be televised nationally on ESPNU (Mark Neely and Mark Adams) and will start at 7 p.m. TIP Mountaineer Sports Network radio coverage begins at 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s UAB race is the family day of the year, which means four tickets and a $25 coupon for just $65. UAB has one of the most dynamic players in the country, 5-foot-11 guard Jordan “Jelly” Walker, who averaged 20.3 points and was the American League Player of the Year last season.
The former Seton Hall and Tulane standout averaged 25.7 points per game for coach Andy Kennedy’s Trail Blazers, which are now on a 76-68 victory over South Alabama on Sunday. 7-1 lead. UAB also had victories over South Florida and Georgia, with its only loss being a 93-85 loss to Toledo.
So far this season, the Blazers have scored at least 80 points seven times.
“I’ve seen UAB a few times, and obviously Andy was my assistant, and one, he’s a really good coach, and two, he’s a really good recruiter,” Hudgens said. “Last year, the little guy gave us an absolute fit, and this year he’s even better. A lot of his stuff last year was around the basket, and now he’s pulling up and shooting. When they can go up and down, he’s great.
“They’re big inside and they’re going to be one of the most talented teams in our game,” Hudgens said.
Walker scored 13 points in West Virginia’s 65-59 win over Birmingham last year.
“These two games will be different types of games, but both will be fun,” Hudgens said. “As we go through our league, that’s our league. No one plays the same.”
West Virginia sits at No. 11 in this week’s NET rankings despite an 84-74 loss at Xavier on Saturday night. The Mountaineers outscored Florida State by 29 early in the season and outscored Pitt by 25.
WVU’s four-game home game also includes highlights against Buffalo on Dec. 18 and Stony Brook on Dec. 22.
The Buffalo game is another family day.In addition, WVU will formally recognize bob hudgens, Inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame this summer. Climbing enthusiasts will have the opportunity to pose for photos with Hudgens’ Hall of Fame jacket, ring and trophy.
As part of Ugly Sweater Night, the Stony Brook competition will give Mountaineer fans a chance to show off their ugliest sweaters before Christmas.
Tickets for all four games can be purchased at WVUGAME.com or by calling the Mountaineer Box Office toll-free at 1-800-WVU GAME.
