West Virginia bolstered its defensive line ranks, which were hurt by outgoing portal exits and the departure of Dante Stills, with the addition of transfer Fatorma Mulbah. He committed to the Mountaineer program on Jan 12.

A graduate of Penn State, Mulbah (6-3, 296 lbs.) is hoped to help the Mountaineers in the interior of the defensive line. He has signed a grant-in-aid, and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Mulbah joins Devin Carter, Davoan Hawkins, Ja'Shaun Poke, Montre Miller, Michael Hayes and Kole Taylor as the official signees who are now enrolled at WVU for the spring 2023 semester, and eligible to participate in spring practice.

WVU has one more known transfer, safety Keyshawn Cobb, who has verbally committed and is expected to sign a grant-in-aid with West Virginia.

Fatorma Mulbah, Jr., DL, 6-3, 296, Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township/Penn State

2022 – Penn State

Played in 13 games, primarily on special teams ... Member of Penn State’s Rose Bowl team that finished 11-2 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten ... Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors ... Career statistics show 19 games played and four tackles

2021 – Penn State

Played in six games ... Recorded four tackles ... Two tackles vs. Rutgers and one each vs. Ball State and Villanova ... Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors

2020 – Penn State

Did not see game action

High School

Three-year lettermen for coach Joe Headen at Susquehanna Township High School ... Two-time team captain ...

Two-time all-conference selection as a junior and senior ... Team MVP as a senior ... Registered 51 tackles, 12 sacks , nine tackles for loss and four forced fumbles as a senior ... Three-star prospect by ESPN ... Ranked as the No. 49 defensive tackle and No. 3 prospect in the state by ESPN ... Also lettered in basketball and wrestling ... Captained the Susquehanna wrestling team

Devin Carter, Sr., WR, 6-3, 215, Clayton, NC/Clayton High School/NC State

Carter will have one year of eligibility remaining. Previously:

2022 - NC State

Played in nine games and finished with 25 catches for 406 yards and two touchdowns ... Averaged 16.2 yards per catch ... Long catch went for 52 yards ... Averaged 45.1 yards receiving per game ... Fourth on the team in receptions despite missing four games ... Fifth on the team in all-purpose yards ... Season high six catches vs. North Carolina and five vs. Virginia Tech ... Top performance was 130 yards receiving vs. North Carolina with one score ... Finished his time at NC State with 118 catches for 1906 yards and 10 touchdowns ... For his career, averaged 16.2 yards per catch

2021 – NC State

Averaged a team best 17.9 yards per reception ... Long reception went for 58 yards ... Third on the team in receiving yards and receptions ... Started 12 games and totaled 31 catches for 556 yards ... Finished with six touchdowns ... Two touchdowns vs. Wake Forest ... Participated on 620 offensive plays during the season, including 90 snaps vs. Clemson

2020 - NC State

NC State’s third leading receiver with 29 catches for 477 yards and two touchdowns ... Played in 12 games with 10 starts ... Averaged a team best 16.4 yards per catch ... Participated in 589 offensive plays ... First career touchdown came against Wake Forest ... Long catch went for 39 yards

2019 - NC State

32 receptions for 456 yards ... Averaged 14.3 yards per catch with a long of 55 ... Played in 12 games with 11 starts ... Participated on 708 offensive plays ... First 100-yard receiving effort came against Boston College with 140 yards, which was tops on the team in 2019 ... A season best six catches vs. Boston College ... Led team in receiving vs. Florida State and Boston College ... Co-recipient of the team’s Alpha Rising Award given to the player who shows exceptional improvement

2018 - NC State

Played in four games and had one catch for 11 yards ... Participated on 19 offensive plays

High School – Clayton High School

Career numbers included 160 receptions for 2,700 yards and 39 touchdowns ... 55 catches as a senior for 1,073 yards and 17 touchdowns ... Also rushed for two scores ... 78 catches as a junior for 1,167 yards and 15 scores ... Named Greater Neuse Offensive Player of the Year by the Raleigh News & Observer ... Played in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl and Shrine Bowl ... Ranked as a Top 33 prospect in the state of North Carolina

Davoan Hawkins, Sr., DL, 6-2, 286, Lauderdale Hill, Fla./Chaminade-Madonna High School/Tennessee State

Hawkins has one year of eligibility remaining. Previously:

2022 – Tennessee State

Finished career at Tennessee Tech with 92 career tackles (51 solo/41 assisted) ... Career numbers also include 18 tackles for a loss of 89 yards, eight sacks for a loss of 54 yards, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two block kicks ... For the season, he recorded 31 total tackles (16 solo/15 assisted), five tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries ... Recorded six tackles vs. Tennessee Tech, five tackles vs. Middle Tennessee and four vs. Jackson State

Fall - 2021 - Tennessee State

Played in 11 games ... Collected 29 tackles – 16 solo/13 assisted ... Tallied 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks ... Forced two fumbles and blocked two kicks ... Registered five quarterback hurries

Spring – 2021-COVID Season – Tennessee State

Played in all seven games ... Recorded 19 solo tackles and 12 assisted for a total of 32 ... Nine tackles for a loss of 39 yards and five sacks for a loss of 28 yards ... Registered two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery ... Recorded seven tackles in three different games during the season ... Top performance came against Eastern Illinois with seven tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks ... Earned Hero Sports All-American honors

2020 – Kentucky

Saw action in nine games ... Finished the season with three solo tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble

2019 – Kentucky

Played in one game as a redshirt freshman - did not record any statistics

2018 – Kentucky

Redshirted

High School

Rated a three-star prospect by ESPN ... Played on the offensive and defensive line ... Chaminade-Madonna won the 3A state championship in 2017 ... Registered 65 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 12 sacks as a senior ... Three-time first-team all-county selection

Ja’Shaun Poke, Sr., WR, 5-10, 173, Hampton, Ga./Dutchtown/Kent State

Poke has one year of playing eligibility remaining, but has a two-year window in which to complete it. Previously:

2022 – Kent State

Played wide receiver and returned kickoffs for coach Sean Lewis at Kent State

Saw action in eight games, starting the final five ... Finished the season with 31 catches for 362 yards and a touchdown ... Had 15 kickoff returns for 411 yards, averaging 27.4 yards per return, with a long of 46 yards ... Registered six catches for 105 yards, a touchdown and a long of 39 yards against Eastern Michigan ... Had five catches for 54 yards against Bowling Green ... Career-high 13 catches for 87 yards against Ball State ... Registered two receptions for 51 yards with a long of 46 yards against Akron ... Collected three catches for 57 yards with a long of 38 yards against Toledo ... Three kickoff returns for 97 yards with a long of 34 yards against Miami, Ohio

2021 – Kent State

Played in nine games and started seven, helping lead the Golden Flashes to the MAC championship game and an appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl ... Finished with 26 catches for 315 yards, a touchdown and a long of 42 yards ... Accumulated 24 kick returns for 565 yards, an average of 23.54 yards per return, with a long of 50 yards ... Had a touchdown reception against Wyoming in the bowl game; also had four kickoff returns for 84 yards with a long of 27 yards ... Registered three catches for 57 yards with a long of 41 yards and three kickoff returns for 72 yards with a long of 26 yards against Miami, Ohio ... Collected five catches for 33 yards with a long of 18 yards against Central Michigan ... Recorded four catches for 84 yards with a long of 42 yards vs. Northern Illinois ... Registered three catches for 54 yards with a long of 41 yards against Buffalo

2020 – Kent State

Played in all four games ... Finished second on the team in catches (21) and yards (326) ... Second on the team with three touchdown receptions ... Had career best seven catches for 124 yards against Buffalo

2019 - Kent State

Played in 11 games at wide receiver and on special teams ... Caught three passes for 30 yards and a long of 12 yards ... Had an 18-yard rush in win over Bowling Green ... Returned a kick in the bowl game win over Utah State for 33 yards

High School

Played defensive back for coach Niketa Battle at Dutchtown High ... During his junior and senior seasons, posted a combined 42 tackles with five interceptions ... Part of a 12-1 team his senior year that reached the Georgia “Elite 8� ... Named to the all-region 4-A first-team defense squad as a defensive back ... Also ran track and won the Georgia 5A State Championship in the 400m as a senior

Michael Hayes, r-Jr., K/P, 5-9, 189, Florence, S.C./West Florence/Georgia State

Hayes will have two years of eligibility remaining. Previously:

2022 - Georgia State

Played for coach Shawn Elliott at Georgia State ... Used as a kicker and punter who also handled the team’s kickoffs ... Played in 12 games and made 11-of-14 field goal attempts, hit 41-of-42 extra point attempts and averaged 42.0 yards on 56 punts with a long punt of 57 yards ... Also had 69 kickoffs for 4,433 yards with 47 touchbacks ... Had three or more touchbacks in 11 of the 12 games, including six against Southern Miss and five in three games ... Eight of his punts went for 50 yards or more, 18 resulted in a fair catch and he placed 17 inside the opponents’ 20-yard line ... Hit two field goals in three games and at least one in eight games ... Finished as the team’s leading scorer with 74 points, including 11 against Georgia Southern and 10 at James Madison

2021 – Georgia State

Named to the Pro Football Focus All-Sun Belt team ... Averaged 41.2 yards per kick on 59 punts ... Had a career long 66-yard punt vs. UL-Monroe ... Top games included 46.0-yard average on four punts vs. Army, 45.5 average on six punts vs. North Carolina and 45.2 average on six punts vs. Arkansas State ... Outstanding on kickoffs after taking over midway through the season

2020 – Georgia State

Averaged 40.4 yards on 50 punts in his first season, net of 39.6 ... Had eight kicks of 50 yards or more and nine punts downed inside the 20-yard line ... Top game was against Appalachian Sate, when he averaged 45.5 yards on six punts ... Season long of 58 yards vs. East Carolina and South Alabama ... With starting kicker Noel Ruiz unavailable against South Alabama, he handled punting, placekicking and kickoffs ... Averaged and netted 44.2 yards on four punts with two punts inside the 20-yard line, including a season-long 58-yard kick that was downed at the three-yard line ... Perfect on five placements, nailing four extra points and a 23-yard field goal, that gave GSU a 24-14 lead in the fourth quarter.

2019 – Georgia State

Redshirted

High School

Helped West Florence High School to an 11-2 record and the third round of the state playoffs ... Chosen for the North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl All-Star game ... Two-time All-Pee Dee selection by the Florence Morning News ... Palmetto Champions Specialist of the Year ... Made 64-of-65 extra point kicks and 6-of-8 field-goal attempts with long of 42 yards ... Recorded 72 touchbacks on kickoffs and averaged 40 yards per punt with a long of 50 ... Scored 170 points in his career, including 82 as a senior ... Also lettered two years in soccer

Montre Miller, r-Sr., CB, 5-10, 183, Blythewood, S.C./Westwood/Kent State

Miller will have one year of eligibility remaining. Previously:

2022 - Kent State

Started all 12 games at cornerback for coach Sean Lewis at Kent State ... Finished with 52 tackles, including 40 solo stops, two interceptions, eight pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery ... Had two assisted tackles and two pass breakups against Buffalo ... Finished with six solo tackles against Eastern Michigan ... Registered eight tackles, including five solo tackles, and two pass breakups against Bowling Green ... Accumulated eight solo tackles and had an interception against Akron ... Finished with five tackles, including four unassisted, forced and recovered a fumble against Toledo ... Had seven tackles, including five solo stops and assisted on a tackle for loss against Miami, Ohio ... Recorded four solo tackles and a pass breakup against Ohio ... Registered three solo stops, had an interception and a pass breakup against No. 1 Georgia ... Had three assisted tackles and a pass breakup against No. 7 Oklahoma ... Accumulated three tackles against Washington ...

2021 – Kent State

Started 13 games and helped lead the Golden Flashes to the MAC championship game and an appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl ... Finished with 47 tackles, including 39 unassisted, 2.5 tackles for loss, a team-leading four interceptions, nine pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery ... Posted three tackles against Wyoming in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl ... Had five tackles against Northern Illinois in the MAC championship game ... Registered four solo stops, an interception and three pass breakups against Miami, OhioHad three tackles, including two solo stops, assisted on a tackle for loss, broke up a pass against Northern Illinois ... Collected five solo tackles against Ohio ... Season-high seven unassisted tackles and a pass breakup against Western Michigan ... Finished with four solo stops and a pass breakup against Buffalo ... Registered three tackles against Bowling Green ... Had two solo stops and a pass breakup against Maryland ... Posted five tackles, including four solo tackles and two tackles for loss and a forced fumble at Iowa ... Recorded three solo tackles and three interceptions against VMI ... Finished with three tackles and a pass breakup against Texas A&M

2020 – Kent State

Played in all four games ... Registered two solo tackles

2019 - Kent State

Played in eight games and helped Kent State to a 7-6 record and a win in the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl ... Registered nine tackles including six solo stops ... Season best three stops in bowl game win against Utah State

2018 - Kent State

Played in four games and made one start while taking a redshirt ... Registered five tackles and two passes broken up ... Made collegiate debut at Bowling Green (10/30) ... Recorded first career start against Eastern Michigan (11/23) ... Set career-highs with five tackles and two passes broken up against Eastern Michigan (11/23)

High School

Played for coach Robert O’Connell at Westwood High ... Made 51 receptions for 606 yards and scored seven touchdowns as a senior ... During high school career made 125 catches for 1,652 yards and 18 touchdowns ... Team reached the second round of the state playoffs his senior year

Kole Taylor, Jr., TE, 6-7, 250, Grand Junction, Colo./Central/LSU

Will have two years of eligibility remaining. Previously:

2022 - LSU

Played tight end for coach Brian Kelly at LSU ... Had 32 career appearances with seven starts ... Saw action in 13 games, starting two, helping lead the Tigers to a 10-4 record, an appearance in the SEC Championship Game and a win over Purdue in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl ... Finished with five catches for 55 yards with a long catch of 26 yards ... Had two catches for 33 yards with a long of 26 yards against Florida ... Registered an 11-yard reception against New Mexico ... Had an eight-yard catch against Florida State

2021 - LSU

Played in 12 games, starting three times ... Starts came against McNeese, at Kentucky and Louisiana-Monroe ... Scored first collegiate touchdown on a 41-yard reception in win over Mississippi State ... The 41-yard catch was longest of his career ... Had career-best four receptions for 22 yards in win over McNeese ... Added a 5-yard catch against Arkansas ... Member of the 2021 SEC Academic Honor Roll

2020 - LSU

Played in seven games, starting two ... Caught six passes for 36 yards ... The result was a first down, which extended LSU’s game-winning drive ... Had three receptions for 11 yards vs. Florida and followed that with two catches, including a 20-yarder, the following week in win over Ole Miss ... First career catch came against Texas A&M

High School

One of the nation’s top tight end prospects in the Class of 2020 ... Outstanding all-around player from Grand Junction, Colorado ... Totaled 1,084 yards receiving and 18 touchdowns during his high school career ... Hauled in 25 catches for 331 yards and five touchdowns as a senior in 2019 ... As a junior, caught 29 passes for 510 yards and eight TDs ... Caught 18 passes for 243 yards and a pair of TDs as a sophomore

A match-up of the two most disappointing teams in the Big 12 comes up on Wednesday, when West Virginia travels to West Texas to face Texas Tech. Of course, in a league as good as the Big 12, someone has to finish last, and that doesn't necessarily convey awful status on teams competing to stay out of that spot, but there's no doubt that both schools had hopes of finishing much higher in the conference standings.

West Virginia (11-8, 1-7) at Texas Tech (10-9, 0-7)Wed Jan 25 7:00 PM ETUnited Supermarkets ArenaLubbock, TXTV: ESPNUNET: WVU: 30 / TT: 73Series: WVU 16-8Last Game: TT 60-53Twitter: @BlueGoldNewsFacebook: BlueGoldNewsWeb: BlueGoldNews.com

Coming off a trip to the conference finals and a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16, head coach Mark Adams thought he had rebuilt and reloaded his team for another run at similar status, but the Red Raiders have lost seven straight games for the first time in a decade. Add in a very unimpressive non-conference schedule, and the most Tech can hope for this year is a rallying finish for an NIT bid.

Kevin Obanor (6-8, 235 lbs.) has been a steady force for the Red Raiders this season. Averaging 14.7 points and 6.3 boards per game this season, he will finish his career in Lubbock as a member of the 2,000-1,000 club.

WVU, according to assistant coach Josh Eilert, must move the ball, especially from side to side, to have hope of cracking Tech's usually tough defense. The Mountaineers, as in many areas this year, have been wildly inconsistent in that play phase. Most recently, WVU did a good job of sharing and swinging the ball against TCU, which helped produced one of its most efficient offensive halves of the season, but fell back into too much dribbling in place against Texas, which resulted in 20 turnovers and a painfully stagnant attack, most notably in the second half.

* * * * * *

Tech forward K.J. Allen was a featured player in the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U, which followed the fortunes of East Los Angeles College, a juco in Monterey, California. That series, while over-dramatizing some situations, provides an excellent look at the trials and tribulations of those fighting for a chance at a scholarship at a four-year school while trying to overcome many personal struggles and setbacks.

It also, unintentionally, reflects the issues many Division I teams, such as West Virginia, are experiencing in trying to put together teams that see two-thirds of their rosters roll over from year to year.

* * * * * *

WVU is still trying to hang its hat on its NET and Kenpom ratings, but metrics only take you so far, and the Mountaineers are steadily dropping to the fringe or entirely off the lists of those making estimations of NCAA Tournament selections. Oklahoma State and Oklahoma are also falling fast, reflecting the fact that at least some wins have to accompany strength of schedule.

Did West Virginia overschedule this year? Would a couple of more wins, and a schedule that didn't include, say, Xavier and Purdue, have been better overall?

* * * * * *

WVU has, for several years, been listed as the 20th winningest team in NCAA Division I history. Now, according to Wikipedia, the University of Washington has 1,839 wins, one ahead of WVU's 1,838. If accurate, that drops the Mountaineers to 21st.

* * * * * *

One of the reasons for Texas Tech's mediocre play has been shortcomings in ball security. The Red Raiders have 273 turnovers against 267 assists, and that ratio is much worse in league games, with 106 turnovers outweighing their 74 assists.

West Virginia's propensity to turn the ball over is also well-known, so the team that is able to lessen its normal average of possession-enders could have an edge in this contest. After believing the turnover issue had been at least partially corrected after games of seven (Baylor) and 5 (Oklahoma), WVU has again gone on an error-filled streak, with a combined 35 in its last two games. That's tied for the highest two-game stretch this year (Kansas State and Oklahoma State).

* * * * * *

After starting off the season with a blistering 3-point shooting percentage of 48.2% (27-56), Erik Stevenson is just 7-36 (19.4%) in WVU's most recent seven games. A few rim outs have contributed to the fact that he's clearly struggling mentally with his overall game. He's being asked to do some things, like distribute the ball and create off the dribble, that weren't necessarily part of his game at previous schools, and his intense and combative style of play has also led to some frustration that may be carrying over into his shooting.

It's unfair to expect him to shoot 48% from 3-point distance, and it should be noted that his current mark of 36.2% at WVU is the best of his career. He has to find a way to not let his passionate style of play affect his shooting. That's a big ask, however.

A few short years ago, James Okonkwo was a teenager living in Maidenhead, England, trying to work his way up in the LTA, the premier organization for tennis in the United Kingdom.

Last month, Okonkwo found himself in Portland, Oregon, trying to find a way to slow down the Boilermakers’ 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey. What a difference a few years can make.

Okonkwo picked up tennis at the age of 6 from his older brother, who was accomplished in the game, as well. James was playing his way through tournaments trying to take the sport as far as possible when a teacher at his high school, Furze Platt Senior School, introduced him to basketball.

A rare American teaching in England, the educator was a fan of the game and the Philadelphia 76ers, and recognizing Okonkwo’s unique size recommended he give the game a shot.

“That’s when I started growing rapidly, but tennis is where I got my hand-eye coordination and my footwork,� he explained. “I think it was important that I did that before I started playing basketball.�

Okonkwo enjoyed the game, and he proved early on that he had the skills to succeed.

Opportunities to grow in the game, however, were limited in his home country.

“We don’t have AAU,� he noted of youth basketball in his home country. “When I was in high school in the UK, we didn’t do travel teams. We just played a game once a week. It’s like the fifth- or sixth-most popular sport in the UK, which is outrageous to me.�

In 2018, James’ brother, Oliver Okonkwo, headed to the University of Iowa on a tennis scholarship and James’ eyes were opened to a new possibility.

“My brother introduced me to the American market,� he said. “I was unaware that coming here was an option. I was 15-16 playing club basketball. I did that for three or four years. After my second or third year, my brother went to Iowa for tennis. Then I was like, ‘Oh, I could get a scholarship for doing this.’ He introduced me to that route.�

That path became more of a reality in 2020 when COVID cut the season short for Okonkwo’s club team.

With extra time on his hands, he took videos of his games that players’ parents had recorded and edited them into a highlight package. He put the highlights on YouTube, and the coaching staff at Beckley Prep in southern West Virginia liked what they saw. He was invited to come to the United States and play, and it was an offer he couldn’t refuse.

In August of 2020, he came to the Mountain State for the first time.

“I felt like I had to take it,� he said. “I came to the right state, because (WVU coach Bob Huggins) saw me, and it’s been wonderful since then.�

Okonkwo moved from Beckley to Morgantown in 2021, but a foot injury caused him to miss the first seven games of his rookie season and perhaps changed some of the plans for his freshman campaign.

“It would have been a lot easier if I didn’t get injured,� he admitted. “That kind of put a wrench in the works. At that point, I really didn’t know what was going to happen. I just rolled with the punches. After I got injured it was less clear.�

Sitting on the bench and watching wasn’t all bad, though. Okonkwo learned plenty about the college game and what would be expected based entirely on observation.

“Obviously, last year was just sitting back and taking in as much as I could,� he said. “Athletically, I’m pretty confident in all the plays and everything Coach wants me to do. I just want to go out there and get as much experience as possible so I can grow my on-court confidence, as well.

“The speed of Big 12 play is a lot more physical. It’s a lot more grueling on your body. We’re in West Virginia, so we’ve got to travel a lot more, as opposed to the Texas teams. Everybody needs to be on the same page and on point with what Coach wants us to do. Once that clicks, we’re going to be a monster of a team, because we’ve got great pieces.�

Okonkwo has appeared in 10 games for far this season with limited production. He’s averaging nine minutes per contest with 1.8 points and 1.9 rebounds, but every minute he’s on the court he’s getting more comfortable, not only with Big 12 basketball, but also his individual role.

“Obviously, I haven’t got much playing experience yet,� he admitted. “This year I’m just trying to get into my role and do what Coach brought me here to do – run to the rim, run down the court, get rebounds and block shots. I think I’m getting there over time.

“I think part of it is paying attention to the seniors, those who have more experience than you. The other part is getting the experience, because I’m not used to that environment yet. I’m just trying to get in the mindset of I’m in the game, I’ve got spots to be and I’ve got roles to fill.�

One of those roles earlier in the season was guarding Edey. Okonkwo played 14 minutes in that contest against Purdue and finished with two points and three rebounds.

“It’s actually been really helpful,� he said. “Guarding Edey, I went from not playing my first year to guarding a 7-foot-4, 290-pound monster. Staying locked in, not being concerned with who I have to guard but just slowing my defensive matchup down as much as I can has been the key. The more I play, the more efficient I’ll get in that aspect.

“It’s the importance of realizing that every team needs that one glue guy that holds everything together. I think I’m equipped for defense. I can box out. I’m strong. I’m athletic. I have a pretty good vertical, and my stamina is pretty good. I think if I can learn how to get to my spots a little better and learn how to learn the offense a little better, I think that will benefit the team.�

The move to the United States has proved fruitful to this point, and Okonkwo believes he’ll continue to grow as a player and as a person.

“Obviously, I’m always going to miss my family,� he said. “I got to see my brother down at Xavier, which was really nice. But when it comes to basketball and West Virginia, there’s nowhere else in the UK or America that could prepare me as much as they have here. I came in 219 pounds as a freshman, now I’m like 235 and I’ve grown into my frame. I don’t think anybody else could have prepared me like they have here.�

And his career as a tennis star? He’s confident he made the correct choice.

“I don’t think I’d be me,� he said. “I’d be a lot skinnier if I was a tennis player. I don’t think my longevity would be that good. There aren’t many 6-foot-9 tennis players around.�

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University women’s basketball team returns to Morgantown to play host to Texas Tech on Saturday inside the WVU Coliseum. Tipoff against the Lady Raiders is tabbed for 1 p.m.

Saturday’s game is a Gold Rush, and all fans are encouraged to wear gold. Additionally, there will be gold shakers given to fans in attendance. It’s also WVU’s Alumni Reunion Game, with former players being recognized on-court at the conclusion of the first quarter.

Saturday’s matchup with the Lady Raiders will be broadcast live on the Mountaineer Sports Network, including 100.9 WSZT-FM, with Andrew Caridi and John Antonik on the call. Fans also can listen to the game on the Varsity Network App.

Additionally, Saturday’s game also will be broadcast on ESPN+, with Eric Little and Meg Bulger on the call. Live stats and game notes will be available on WVUsports.com.

Tickets for Saturday’s contest can be purchased at WVUGAME.com or by visiting the Mountaineer Ticket Office, located inside the Gold Gate of the WVU Coliseum.

Sunday’s matinee marks the 22nd all-time meeting between WVU (12-5, 3-3 Big 12) and Texas Tech (15-4, 3-3 Big 12). West Virginia is 16-5 all time against Texas Tech, including 8-2 in games played in Morgantown.

WVU has won 14 of the last 15 meetings with TTU, dating back to March 6, 2015. That includes 11 consecutive unbeaten matchups with the Lady Raiders from Jan. 25, 2017-Feb. 23, 2022.

Last time out, the Mountaineers fell to Kansas, 77-58, on Jan. 18, inside Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. Despite leading by 14 at halftime, WVU couldn’t overcome KU in the second half and ultimately suffered the road defeat.

Junior forward Kylee Blacksten led WVU’s scoring efforts with 13 points, while senior guard Jayla Hemingway (12), sophomore guard JJ Quinerly (12) and redshirt sophomore guard Kyah Watson (10) joined Blacksten in double figures.

Quinerly and junior guard Savannah Samuel led WVU in rebounds, hauling in six boards apiece.

As a team, West Virginia finished the game shooting just 21-of-66 (31.8%) from the field, including 6-of-29 (20.7%) from 3-point range. Kansas shot 25-of-53 (47.2%) from the floor and 7-of-22 (31.8%) from beyond the arc.

On the season, Quinerly paces West Virginia in scoring, at 13.2 points per game. She is joined in double figures by Smith with 12.6 points per game.

The Mountaineers lead the Big 12 Conference in turnover margin (8.24) and steals per game (10.8). West Virginia also is second in the league in scoring defense, as it is holding opponents to just 57.5 points per game this season. WVU ranks No. 45 nationally in the category.