The Baylor Bears and the West Virginia Mountaineers continue Big 12 Conference men’s basketball action on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, in Waco, Texas.
Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. central. West Virginia (15-9, 6-7 in Big 12) and the Bears (15-7, 7-6) are not ranked.
Winning the Big 12 regular-season title is a pipe dream for both teams at this point in the season. But the game is still important. The Bears and Mountaineers are right on the cut line for the single byes in the Big 12 Tournament, given to the seeds Nos. 5-8.
Winning or losing this game could be difference between debuting in the first round on Tuesday or the second round on Wednesday.
Here is a preview of Saturday’s game.
How to Watch Baylor vs. West Virginia
Date: Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025
Time: 1 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN2
Site: Foster Pavilion, Waco, Texas
Baylor vs. West Virginia Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: Baylor -9
Current Line: Baylor -8.5
Over/Under: 134
Baylor vs. West Virginia Predictions
Just when Baylor thought it was finally, fully healthy, forward Josh Ojianwuna suffered a season-ending knee injury. He was the Bears’ leading scorer and their dirty work player, in the tradition of Mark Vital and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua.
The Bears are now at a significant size disadvantage. Ojianwuna was the only true big that played significant minutes. Without him against Houston, forward Norchad Omier played at the five, but he’s more suited for the four.
Unless Baylor can get something out of forward Jason Asemota, who is 6-foot-8 and doesn’t play much, the Bears are going to be playing small ball the rest of the way.
That means guards VJ Edgecombe, Robert Wright III, Jeremy Roach, Jayden Nunn, Langston Love and Jalen Celestine must play huge every game.
West Virginia has been in a slide since its epic win over then-No. 2 Iowa State in Morgantown. The Mountaineers are 2-5 since that loss, but they’re still hanging in there when it comes to the NCAA Tournament bracket. But a continued slide like this and they could play their way out of it.
WVU will have a size advantage on Baylor with forward Amani Hansberry and center Eduardo Andre, who combine for 10 rebounds per game. It’s an edge the Mountaineers can exploit.
But the Mountaineers go as guard Javon Small goes. He’s having an exceptional season, averaging 18.5 points per game and shooting 36% from the 3-point line. Baylor must slow him down.
Baylor 75, West Virginia 70
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Baylor (80.5% Chance of Winning)
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
