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As West Virginia prepares to face Stetson on Friday, two analysts have shared their final score projections. Both expect the Mountaineers to secure a decisive win.
Schuyler Callihan's Prediction: West Virginia 82, Stetson 59
Callihan notes that West Virginia made history earlier this week by holding an opponent to zero offensive rebounds and zero made free throws—a feat that has likely never occurred in college basketball. He boldly predicts that Stetson will grab at least one offensive board against the best rebounding team of all time and make at least one free throw.
In all seriousness, Callihan believes the Mountaineers will take firm control early. While Stetson had strong stretches against Clemson and South Carolina, they were outscored 49-24 and 42-25 in the first halves of those games. WVU's offensive playmakers can score quickly and build a comfortable lead. Even after a slow start against Niagara, Ross Hodge's squad still put up 43 points in the first half.
Christopher Hall's Prediction: West Virginia 97, Stetson 61
Hall expects a similar result to Monday's season-opening rout of Niagara. West Virginia's rebounding was a major concern after an exhibition game against Maryland, where they were outrebounded 48-37 and allowed 24 offensive rebounds. However, on Monday, WVU allowed zero offensive rebounds. Although the competition level has dropped since facing the Terrapins, Hall sees fundamental improvements, especially in defensive positioning.
West Virginia did start slowly against Niagara—possibly due to nerves from newcomers playing at the Coliseum for the first time—but quickly found their rhythm. The Mountaineers have plenty of offensive options, as shown in the opener when freshman Miles Sadler led all scorers and six Mountaineers reached double figures, with 16 points and nine assists. Hall predicts a similar balanced scoring effort as WVU rolls to a 97-61 victory.
Key Analysis
Both analysts agree that West Virginia's depth and offensive versatility will overwhelm Stetson. The Mountaineers' rebounding improvements, highlighted by their historic performance against Niagara, suggest they can control the glass. Stetson's struggles in first halves against power-conference opponents further support the prediction of an early WVU lead. While the competition level may be lower, West Virginia's fundamental progress and scoring balance make a lopsided result likely.
Originally reported by headtopics.