Men's Basketball: WVU Cracks Top 5
February 08, 2010 01:33 PM | General
February 8, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - It's been nearly 50 years since the last time a West Virginia University basketball team cracked the Top 5 in the national rankings.
On Dec. 4, 1962 the Mountaineers reached No. 3 in the polls when All-American Rod Thorn was playing for West Virginia.
This week, the Mountaineers are No. 5 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 4 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. West Virginia jumped ahead of tonight's opponent, Villanova, in the coaches' poll and is one spot behind the Wildcats in the writer's poll.
West Virginia has spent nearly the entire year in the Top 10, once falling to 11th for one week before returning. The Mountaineers have been ranked 37 times since January, 2005.
The Big East once again dominates the rankings this week with Syracuse ranked No. 2 by the writer's and No. 3 by the coaches.
Georgetown jumps up to No. 7 in the AP poll and No. 8 in the coaches' poll, while Pitt also remains ranked (23 in coaches' and 25 in writer's) after a 25-point victory over Seton Hall on Sunday.
All eyes will be on Morgantown tonight for West Virginia's Big Monday matchup against Villanova that will be televised nationally on ESPN at 7 p.m.
It is one of three Big Monday games for the Mountaineers this year.
