3:06pm: Hotline with Dave Weekley

WVU earns bye, draws Texas as Big 12 bracket finalized

IRVING, Texas — By virtue of upsetting Kansas in the regular-season finale, West Virginia claimed the sixth seed in the Big 12 tournament and received a first-round bye.

The Mountaineers (17-14), who play Thursday night in the late quarterfinal against Texas (22-9), likely need to win the tournament to garner an NCAA bid, though winning two games and reaching the championship round could put West Virginia back on the at-large bubble.

“We’re just trying to keep hope alive and keep the faith alive,” said freshman forward Devin Williams after Saturday’s 92-86 upset of the Jayhawks. “We’re farther than we were last year, and that’s a plus, but still we’re not ready for it to end.”

Even a rousing victory over RPI No. 2 Kansas only improved West Virginia’s RPI a couple notches to 80.

Behind 22 points and 13 rebounds against Kansas, Williams produced his third consecutive double-double and said the goal is clear heading to Kansas City.

“Win it all,” he said. “That’s the only mindset we can have, getting that ‘ship.”

First round—Wednesday 
7 p.m. No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Texas Tech
9:30 p.m.No. 7 Baylor vs. No. 10 TCU

Quarterfinals—Thursday    
12:30 p.m. No. 4 Iowa State vs. No. 5 Kansas State
3 p.m. No. 1 Kansas vs. Oklahoma State-Texas Tech winner
7 p.m. No. 2 Oklahoma vs. Baylor-TCU winner
8:30 p.m. No. 3 Texas vs. No. 6 West Virginia

Semifinals—Friday  
7 p.m. Thursday afternoon winners
9:30 p.m. Thursday night winners

Championship—Saturday                                                                                                                                         
9 p.m. Semifinal Winners

 





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