3 Guys Before The Game - WVU Basketball - Cincinnati Preview (Episode 695)

The bracket is set. It’s tournament time. The West Virginia men’s basketball team enters the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 7 seed, earning a coveted first-round bye after closing the regular season with a win over UCF and getting a help from TCU’s victory over Cincinnati. For a team projected to finish 11th in the preseason, the Mountaineers have positioned themselves for a meaningful week in Kansas City. Their tournament run begins Wednesday against the winner of Tuesday’s matchup between Kansas State and BYU. In this episode, the “Guys” recap the regular-season finale against the Knights and examine what lies ahead in the conference tournament. They also preview the WVU women’s appearance in the Big 12 Championship game against TCU. As always, Hoppy delivers his Obvious Observations, and Brad dives into the numbers with Spreads on Stats to set the statistical stage for the Mountaineers’ postseason path.

The final game of the regular season will have a significant impact on what lies ahead for the WVU basketball team. A win on Friday against UCF will give the Mountaineers an opening round bye in next week’s Big 12 Championship in Kansas City. A victory would also give the Mountaineers the school’s second non-losing Big 12 record in the last five years. In this episode, the “Guys” recap Tuesday’s loss at Kansas State and preview the second regular season encounter with UCF. Hoppy Kercheval presents his Obvious Observations and listeners contribute with Textual Healing. 

Momentum matters this time of year, and the Mountaineer basketball team suddenly has it. Fresh off Saturday’s upset victory over No. 19 BYU, West Virginia enters the final week of the regular season with an opportunity to build postseason positioning. The Mountaineers travel to Kansas State on Tuesday before closing the regular season Friday night at home against UCF. In this episode, the “Guys” break down what fueled WVU’s win over the Cougars and preview the critical matchup with the Wildcats. Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, Brad Howe dives into Spreads on Stats, and listener questions and comments complete the episode with Textual Healing.

The Mountaineers return home searching for traction.West Virginia hosts No. 19 BYU on Saturday inside Hope Coliseum in a matchup between two programs trying to steady themselves in the rugged Big 12. WVU has dropped three straight, while the Cougars have lost six of their last nine.Even with an injury to standout Richie Saunders, BYU arrives with likely No. 1 NBA Draft pick AJ Dybantsa, who’s pouring in more than 25 points per game. The Cougars rank second in the league in scoring.Can West Virginia slow the tempo, defend at a high level, and protect home court?In this episode, the “Guys” preview the matchup and break down what went wrong on the recent road swing through TCU and Oklahoma State.Hoppy delivers Obvious Observations, and listener questions and comments close the show with Textual Healing

OUCH.That one stung.West Virginia’s shocking home loss to Utah delivered a painful hit to the Mountaineers’ postseason hopes.With five regular-season games remaining — including three on the road — WVU now faces a steep climb to stay in the NCAA Tournament conversation.In this episode, the “Guys” dissect what went wrong against the Utes and preview Saturday’s road test at TCU.Hoppy provides Obvious Observations with a football update, and listener questions and comments wrap up the show with Textual Healing.

The bubble talk is no longer hypothetical. With six Big 12 games remaining, West Virginia has officially entered the NCAA Tournament at-large conversation. The path is there — but so is the pressure. Saturday’s gritty, come-from-behind win at UCF may have changed the tone of the season. The Mountaineers showed toughness, late-game execution and the kind of resilience that the selection committee notices. Now comes another opportunity Wednesday night against Utah. In this episode, the “Guys” break down what flipped the switch in Orlando, analyze the remaining schedule and explain exactly what WVU must do to secure its postseason fate. Hoppy returns to the studio with a fresh batch of Obvious Observations, and listener questions and comments close the show with Textual Healing. The stretch run is here.

It’s a special edition of 3 Guys Before The Game. West Virginia football player Nick Krahe joins the show to discuss off-season workouts, leadership, and the mindset inside the Mountaineer program. The “Guys” also preview this weekend’s matchup between WVU and UCF, as the Mountaineers and Knights—along with No. 22 BYU—enter the weekend tied for sixth place in the Big 12. With a crowded middle of the standings, the stretch run will determine who rises from the logjam. Hoppy goes full “Show and Tell” with Obvious Observations, and listener questions and comments complete the episode with Textual Healing.

It’s a pivotal pause in the Big 12 grind for the West Virginia basketball team. Coach Ross Hodge’s Mountaineers finally get their first extended break of conference play—and it couldn’t come at a better time. WVU may have been showing some wear after a punishing stretch of six games in 18 days, capped by a four-thousand-mile roundtrip swing to Arizona. In this episode, the “Guys” look back at Sunday’s loss to No. 16 Texas Tech and take a hard look at what lies ahead in the Big 12 stretch run. Hoppy delivers his Obvious Observations, and listener questions and comments wrap up the show with Textual Healing.

A season sweep is on the line as the Mountaineer basketball team heads to Cincinnati on Thursday night. West Virginia edged the Bearcats 62–60 in Morgantown earlier this season, but Cincinnati has been formidable at home, posting an 11–2 record inside Fifth Third Arena, including a win over nationally ranked Iowa State. In this episode, the “Guys” dive into the numbers, break down matchups, and identify the keys to victory. Hoppy delivers Obvious Observations, and listener questions and comments complete the episode with Textual Healing.

Reality hits hard in the Big 12.West Virginia learned that lesson over the weekend as its perfect home-court run came to an end against a talented — and deceptive — Baylor team that arrived with just one league win. In this conference, it doesn’t matter who you play or where you play. Anyone can get you.So… what now?The challenges only ramp up with a Thursday night trip to Cincinnati, followed by a Super Bowl Sunday showdown at home against nationally ranked Texas Tech.In this episode, the “Guys” break down what went wrong in Saturday’s loss to Baylor, look ahead to a demanding week, and recap the WVU women’s impressive victory over Baylor in a clash of nationally ranked teams.Listener questions and comments wrap up the show.