Feb 08, 2014 10:59 AM EST By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Maybe it's their similar colors, their position in underrated, basketball-starved states, or/and the fact that they once shared a conference, but there's always been something scary about playing West Virginia (14-9, 6-4) and Marquette (13-10, 5-5), as in, you don't want to play them, ever, even if that doesn't necessarily mean you won't win (especially this season). Probably, that's mainly due to their two head coaches, Bob Huggins and Buzz (-ed cut) Williams, respectively. One of those teams is playing at #8 Kansas (17-5, 8-1) today at 4:00. Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, it's the hotter of the two, West Virginia.

The Mountaineers have won three in a row, the most recent a 91-86 upset of #21 Oklahoma (17-6, 6-4). Also in that streak was a tough win at Baylor (14-8, 2-7) and a home victory against Kansas State (15-7, 5-4). In the super competitive Big 12, where five teams are currently ranked, every win is tough and to be treasured.

Kansas is always worth watching, if only for the fact that they possess two of next year's top five picks, including the potential #1 in either Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid (unless Jabari Parker sneaks in). Prior to the season, the Jayhawks actually had four players projected for the first round, but F Perry Ellis and G Wayne Seldon, Jr. have since dropped out, which is likely why they haven't been as good as projected. They've turned it around in the conference --besides a recent 11 point loss to #15 Texas (17-4, 7-2) -- and remain as dangerous as any team in the country (besides maybe Arizona, my pick to win it all).

West Virginia has some standout individual play as well in leading scorers Juwan Staten (18.1 ppg, 6.o rpg, 6.0 apg, 51 percent fgs) and Eron Harris (17.5 ppg). The junior Staten could be the nation's most improved player (with Florida forward Curtis Prather a close second) after a line of 7.6 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.3 rpg, and 38 percent shooting his sophomore year and probably would have made the Wooden mid-season top 25 list had it been compiled today (at the time, the Mountaineers were struggling).

I've been showing way too much love for West Virginia not to pick them, especially considering the 14 points Vegas Insider is giving them. WVU with the cover.

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Record: 11-15

Butler @ Creighton: L (picked Butler, +10.5)

UConn @ Memphis: L (picked Memphis, -7.5)

Depaul @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -17.5)

Pittsburg @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -5.5)

Creighton @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Baylor @ Kansas: W (picked Baylor, + 10.5)

Indiana @ Michigan State: L (picked Michigan State, -12)

Iowa @ Michigan: L (picked Iowa, + 1.5)

Colorado @ Arizona: W (picked Colorado, + 14.5)

Illinois @ Ohio State: W (picked Illinois, + 11)

Michigan @ Michigan State: W (picked Michigan, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Marquette: W (picked Villanova, -3)

Utah @ Arizona: W (picked Utah, + 15)

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State: W (picked Oklahoma, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Georgetown: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Michigan State @ Iowa: W (picked Michigan State, + 5)

St. John's @ Creighton: W (picked St. John's, + 12)

Iowa State @ Kansas: L (picked Iowa State, + 8.5)

Syracuse @ Wake Forest: L (picked Syracuse, -10)

Purdue @ Michigan: L (picked Michigan, -12)

Florida @ Mississippi State: W (picked Miss. State, + 15)

Duke @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -3)

Xavier @ Villanova: L (picked Xavier, + 10)

Nebraska @ Michigan: L (picked Nebraska, + 13)

Boston College @ Virginia: L (picked Virginia, -13)

Oregon @ Arizona: L (picked Arizona, -11)

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