Game Preview: Cowboys host #14 West Virginia

There are no off days in the Big 12 as Oklahoma State heads back home to take on 14 ranked West Virginia.

It's been over a month since the Cowboys and Mountaineers last met, and a lot has changed. WVU was red hot at 14-1 after a 77-60 drubbing of Oklahoma State on Jan. 9, while the Pokes were still trying to find an identity and a leader. Oklahoma State would later go on to find that leader in Jawun Evans, but now the sensational freshman is done for the year. Meanwhile, West Virginia is playing for the two seed in the Big 12 tournament.

WVU is led by their 6-9 forward, Devin Williams. Williams is second on the team in scoring, 13.3 points per game, and leads the team in rebounding with nearly nine boards a game. Leyton Hammonds did a good job on Williams last time around, holding the junior to 12 points on 2-9 shooting. Williams did make his presence felt at the free throw line, going 8-9, and led the team with nine rebounds.

West Virginia is one of the more unique teams in the country, and also one of the deepest. The Mountaineer bench goes nine deep, which is ideal for a team that loves to apply pressure at all times. Without Evans, Tyree Griffin will handle most of the defensive pressure, but that hasn't seemed to bother the 5-10 guard. Griffin has done an admirable job in Evans' absence, as the sophomore is averaging a little over two turnovers a game, while playing nearly 38 minutes a night. If the Pokes are to have any chance at the upset, they can't afford to turn the ball over against this pesky WVU defense.

West Virginia comes in losers of three out of their last five games, while Oklahoma State will try to snap a three game skid.