MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia climbed to No. 2 in the men’s AP poll on Monday, the program’s highest ranking since 1959.
The Mountaineers (14-1, 3-0 Big 12) received 12 of 63 first-place votes, trailing only top-ranked Villanova. They won their 14th straight game by beating Oklahoma 89-76 on Saturday.
That elevated West Virginia to a height not achieved since early in Jerry West’s senior season.
MORE: Complete AP Top 25
“It’s certainly an exciting time for our storied men’s basketball program, the great state of West Virginia and Mountaineer Nation,” coach Bob Huggins said. “However, our guys know that we play in the toughest basketball conference in the country and they know what is ahead of them each and every night when we take the court in the Big 12.”
The league’s depth may be too much for the Kansas dynasty, with No. 8 Texas Tech and No. 9 Oklahoma also ranked above the No. 12 Jayhawks. Tech won at Allen Fieldhouse 85-73 on Saturday, the Red Raiders’ first win their in 18 tries.
TCU is the conference’s other ranked team at No. 16.
The Mountaineers host Baylor on Tuesday night at 7.
Allen top newcomer
West Virginia freshman forward Teddy Allen was named the Big 12 Conference newcomer of the week after averaging 21 points in 21 minutes off the bench during wins at Kansas State and Oklahoma.
He shot 73.9 percent from the field and 88.9 percent from the free throw line.