Virginia @ West Virginia preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 3, 2016 ) West Virginia 66, Virginia 57

West Virginia's 23-point loss to Texas A&M in its season opener spurred the 19th-ranked Mountaineers to work on several things before their next big test. It's safe to say they've accomplished their mission - for the most part - as they carry a seven-game winning streak into Tuesday's home encounter with No. 15 Virginia.

Despite the team humming on both ends of the court, West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins is still finding areas in which he'd like his team to improve; even a 102-69 win over NJIT on Thursday gave Huggins something to fret about after the game. "We can't give up 34 points in the paint to those people," Huggins told reporters. "We just can't turn people loose in the middle who can finish at the rim or pass it to the wings who are open outside." Those weaknesses will almost certainly be magnified against a Virginia team that has reeled off eight consecutive victories to open the season on the strength of the nation's best defense. Tuesday's winner gets temporary bragging rights, with the all-time series even at nine wins apiece.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT VIRGINIA (8-0): The Cavaliers are surrendering a Division I-low 50.8 points per game and have been consistently stingy at their own end of the floor, allowing more than 55 points just once all season. Second-year guard Kyle Guy paces the offense at 16.6 points per game and bounced back nicely from a five-point effort in a Nov. 24 win over Rhode Island, averaging 19 points on 15-of-29 shooting in consecutive victories over Wisconsin and Lehigh. Senior forward Isaiah Wilkins is off to a blistering start to the year, averaging 8.6 points on 64.3 percent from the floor while leading the team in rebounding (6.8).

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (7-1): The Mountaineers love to press - it was a major reason for their 66-57 win over Virginia at Charlottesville last season - but Huggins can't be pleased with the recent results, with West Virginia having surrendered at least 78 points in two of its past four games. Averaging nearly 90 points per game is a great mitigator, however, with Jevon Carter (19.0 ppg) leading four players in double figures. Carter has been one of the most well-rounded players in the Big 12 so far this season, contributing 5.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds while leading the nation by a wide margin in steals (36).

TIP-INS

1. Carter is averaging 27 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals over his past two games.

2. West Virginia's plus-23 average scoring margin is fifth-highest in the nation.

3. The Cavaliers (8.9) are one of just five Division I teams averaging fewer than nine turnovers per contest.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 59, Virginia 56