After a disappointing trip to Charleston, South Carolina, West Virginia looks to regroup Wednesday when it returns home to face Mercyhurst.
WVU went 0-2 in the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic, beginning with a 70-67 collapse Friday against Clemson. The Mountaineers led 52-41 with 10:57 remaining before giving up back to back wide open threes to Carter Welling and ultimately losing control. Clemson went on to win the tournament, leaving WVU with a missed opportunity to build momentum.
Sunday’s third place game against Xavier was another setback. WVU’s defensive rotations broke down as the Musketeers shot 16 for 25 from three point range. Forward Jovan Milicevic hit five of his first six attempts from deep and finished 5 for 8. Despite the struggles, first year WVU coach Ross Hodge, known for his defensive identity, is expected to address the breakdowns and reset the group ahead of Wednesday.
Mercyhurst (3-4), led by longtime head coach Gary Manchel, travels to Hope Coliseum with a 1-4 road record this season. Manchel, in his 23rd year, has produced 10 top ten defenses and owns a 388-235 record at the school. Although the Lakers have had a slow start, Manchel’s track record includes seven 20 win seasons at Mercyhurst and 10 overall in his career.
Guard Bernie Blunt III is Mercyhurst’s top scoring threat and poses a matchup challenge for WVU. Blunt averages 16.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists. He scored 27 against Loyola Chicago, shooting 42 percent from three and going 12 of 15 at the free throw line. Guard Jake Lemelman adds another perimeter threat, averaging 14 points on 47.5 percent shooting and 36.7 percent from deep.
Forward Qadir Martin anchors the Lakers defensively. He has 14 blocks this season and averages two per game. Mercyhurst also averages 7.4 steals, a product of Manchel’s aggressive defensive approach.
For WVU (5-2), the matchup offers a chance to regain rhythm. Senior guard Honor Huff has been the team’s most consistent scorer, but the Mountaineers need additional creation and spacing from the rest of the backcourt. Guards Jasper Floyd, Treysen Eaglestaff and freshman Amir Jenkins will play key roles in establishing offensive balance.
WVU’s frontcourt of freshman DJ Thomas and seniors Harlan Obioha and Brenen Lorient must use their physicality to control the paint. When the Mountaineers generate interior touches, ball movement improves and perimeter shots follow.
Defensively, WVU must clean up its issues guarding high ball screens and defending the arc. If the Mountaineers reestablish their identity on that end, they should be in position to respond with a strong performance at home.
Join Cody Burton on Play by Play, and Dom Brusco on Color Commentary, with Pre-half-post coverage by Ben Stautzenbach, Nico Caretto, Connor Roberts, and Brayden Laslo.
Tipoff is set for 3 pm, Pregame starts at 2:30, The broadcast can be heard locally on 91.7 FM in Morgantown, online at U92TheMoose.com, on the TuneIn app and on Alexa-enabled devices.