Coppin St. @ West Virginia preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 12, 2009 ) Coppin St. 43, West Virginia 69

No. 10 West Virginia lost its season opener but has been on a tear since, winning nine straight games. That doesn't mean that coach Bob Huggins is satisfied, of course, as his team prepares to host Coppin State on Wednesday.

The Mountaineers led Pittsburgh by 18 points at halftime on Saturday before holding on for a 69-60 victory in a performance that left Huggins particularly peeved. "I hope they do better on their finals than they did tonight," said Huggins, after his team got outrebounded by six and committed 25 fouls. Jevon Carter led the way with 19 points and Daxter Miles Jr. added 15, while Lamont West notched 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Mountaineers. The next victim for West Virginia appears as if it will be Coppin State, which has lost its first 11 games and ranks last in Division I (out of 351 teams) in scoring and assists.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet

ABOUT COPPIN STATE (0-11): The good news for Coppin State is that it scored a season-high 74 points in its last game while the bad news is that it still lost by seven. Also, the team has had seven days to regroup after its season-opening losing streak extended to 11 against UMBC, which knocked down 14 3-pointers and outrebounded the Eagles, 43-35. Karonn Davis averages 9.8 points - tops among the Eagles' healthy players - and registered a season-high 22 against UMBC.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (9-1): All of Carter's shooting percentages - from the field, the foul line and the 3-point line - plus his points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals - are up from a season ago. The senior guard has scored at least 13 in every game, is averaging a team-high 19.4 and has made multiple 3-pointers in six straight games. Miles was a threat from 3-point range in each of his first three seasons but is just 8-of-42 from long range this season, including 2-of-16 in the last three outings.

TIP-INS

1. Mountaineers F Sagaba Konate has 29 blocks - three more than all of his teammates combined.

2. West Virginia F Teddy Allen is 1-of-14 from 3-point range to begin his career.

3. Mountaineers G James Bolden is 8-of-13 from long distance over the last three contests.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 89, Coppin State 52