RIDER GAMEDAY
Who: Rider (2-1) at West Virginia (3-2)
When: Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, W.Va.
TV/ Radio: AT&T Sportsnet/ 107.7 FM The Bronc
Last Time Out: Rider def. Wagner, 89-65; West Virginia def. Valparaiso, 88-76
Series History: West Virginia leads, 2-1
Background: The Broncs travel to Morgantown for the first meeting between these two schools since the 1978-79 season. Rider does it full of confidence after dispatching its last two opponents by an average margin of 22 points.
Press Virginia: Under the guidance of Bob Huggins, the Mountaineers earned that moniker for their 40 minutes of full-court pressure. But after graduating guard Jevon Carter (selected 32nd overall by the Memphis Grizzlies) from last year’s Sweet 16, there’s been an adjustment period through the first five games. WVU let Valparaiso hang around until late in the second half in its last outing and Rider, which ranks seventh in adjusted tempo, according to KenPom, and averages 82 points per game, will challenge a defense that’s allowed 90 points in two of five contests. In fact, the Mountaineers might see a little bit Rider’s Devine Eke slams down a dunk against Coppin State during Monday night’s game at Alumni Gymnasium. of the themselves in Wednesday night’s visitor. Broncs coach Kevin Baggett has made the press a point of emphasis this season for his group. “I want to for 40 minutes,” he said. “If you get in foul trouble, you have to take it off, but I want to do it. I’m looking for us to set the tone and stay aggressive, but it depends on the game and depends on the situation.”
Big Chance: The Broncs whiffed on an opportunity for a signature win in the season opener when they let a game they led for the majority of the first half at UCF get away. This presents another chance for a headline-grabbing victory and it’s not as though this group doesn’t
The Mountaineers feature four doubledigit scorers, led by senior Esa Ahmad at 17 points per game. Ahmad is coming off a 30-point eruption against Valparaiso in which he connected on 12-for-15 from the floor. Sagaba Konate, a 6-8, 250-pound junior forward, will be tough for Rider to handle, especially if center Tyere Marshall can’t stay out of foul trouble, which has been problematic for him throughout his career. WVU averages 81.4 points per game and nine made 3s, and if both teams plan on pressing for 40 minutes (Rider forces 17 turnovers per game and WVU coughs it up 15.6 times), this could end up a high-scoring shootout.