(Mike Carey pregame Zoom conference)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The WVU women’s basketball team will play just their second game in 19 days Saturday night when they welcome No. 17 Texas to the Coliseum. Tip time is set for 6 p.m.
After some last second schedule shuffling due to COVID issues at Kansas and Kansas State, the Mountaineers visited Oklahoma on 48 hours notice and defeated the Sooners in Norman, 90-72 Sunday afternoon. The win was West Virginia’s first at OU and improved their record to 7-2, a third of the way through the regular season.
“I think we are a pretty good team,” said WVU head coach Mike Carey. “I don’t say that a lot. But I like this team. We can score the basketball a lot better than we could last year. We need to become consistent. You have some nights you are not going to shoot well and that is why the defense has to continue to improve.”
Carey has been able to utilize the same starting lineup in all nine games and three more bench players have played in each contest. As the team enters the heart of Big 12 play, Carey hopes to get more production from his reserve players.
“I would like to give the starters a little bit more rest. And I keep telling the people coming off the bench that you determine playing time and you determine how long you are in there. If they come in and play defense, rebound and take care of the basketball, they are going to get more minutes. I would love to continue to play the bench and go as deep as we can.”
The Longhorns (8-1, 2-0) are in their first season under veteran head coach Vic Schaefer. He was previously the head coach at Mississippi State and the Mountaineers defeated the Bulldogs last year in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. UT’s lone loss this season came against No. 12 Texas A&M. The Longhorns own league victories over Kansas State and Iowa State.
“Texas is very talented. They have some great players. We’ll see where we are at on Saturday.
“They are going to play man-to-man defense and press some. They’re going to go into the paint. I think at Texas (Schaefer) has more talent overall than what he had at Mississippi State.”
Junior Charli Collier is currently averaging 23.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, making her one of only five players nationally to average a 20-and-10 double-double this season.
“You have to be aware of where she is at all times. We’re going to have to get people to her. I saw a mock (WNBA) Draft the other day and if she came out this year, she would by the number one choice. She is that good. She is a pro player. She looks a lot quicker this year and a lot stronger.
“Whoever ends up guarding her better stay intense and realize they will lob to her at any time on the floor.”