West Virginia is peaking at the perfect time. After a dominant regular season, the Mountaineers have locked up the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, positioning themselves as the team to beat heading into postseason play.
Led by head coach Bob Huggins’ gritty style and a balanced, battle-tested roster, West Virginia has exceeded expectations in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball. With marquee wins over Kansas, Baylor, and Texas under their belt, the Mountaineers finished the regular season atop the Big 12 standings—an impressive feat given the league’s depth and physicality.
“This group has earned it,” Huggins said. “They’ve fought all season long. Now it’s about finishing the job.”
At the heart of WVU’s success is a dynamic duo: point guard Kerr Kriisa’s court vision and tempo control paired with forward Jesse Edwards’ presence in the paint. The Mountaineers boast one of the top defenses in the conference, smothering opponents with aggressive full-court pressure and forcing turnovers at a high rate. Their physicality on the boards and ability to grind out tough wins have defined their season.
But it’s not just the starters carrying the load. West Virginia’s bench has stepped up consistently, providing key minutes and momentum-changing plays. That depth will be crucial as they look to survive the gauntlet of the Big 12 Tournament and position themselves for a strong NCAA Tournament run.
“We’re not satisfied with just the top seed,” Kriisa said. “We want to leave Kansas City with a trophy.”
As the No. 1 seed, all eyes are on West Virginia. With momentum, motivation, and March magic on their side, the Mountaineers are primed for a serious title push.