— Story by Taylor Kennedy
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Mountaineers men’s basketball team will replace the Tennessee Volunteers in the Jimmy V Classic in Indianapolis.
Tennessee’s men’s basketball program has been dealing with numerous COVID-19 cases, including head basketball coach Rick Barnes.
The Volunteers were expected to play against Gonzaga. The Bulldogs were preseason ranked number one by the Associated Press (AP).
Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports first reported the news.
Sources: West Virginia is expected to replace Tennessee and face Gonzaga in next week’s Jimmy V Classic in Indianapolis.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 25, 2020
This will not be the first time WVU competed in the Jimmy V Classic. The Mountaineers have appeared in this yearly event three times in program history. They have lost all three times in this event.
The last time WVU competed in the Jimmy V Classic was back in 2018. The Mountaineers faced off against the Florida Gators at Madison Square Garden in New York City. WVU lost 66-56. The other teams the Mountaineers played against at MSG were Virginia (2015) and Davidson (2008).
When the Mountaineers take the floor against Gonzaga, it will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs. The last meeting came back in 2017 in the NCAA Tournament. WVU has yet to pick up a win against the Bulldogs. The other three meetings came in 2013 and 2012 twice (NCAA Tournament and beginning of 2012-13 season).
Fellow Big 12 member Baylor is also competing in this event against the Illinois Fighting Illini.
WVU and Gonzaga will meet on December 2nd at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, which is home to the Indiana Pacers.
WVU was originally scheduled to host Youngstown State on December 2, but the Penguins paused preseason practices due to COVID.