Amanda Knapp
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team has had a rich history in college basketball, with notable wins and appearances in several conferences. The team's conference affiliations have varied over the years, including the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Big East. More recently, they are associated with the Big 12 Conference, showcasing their dominance in college basketball across different eras. The Mountaineers have a long-standing rivalry with the Pittsburgh team, with 184 games played between 1906 and 2012, and another with Penn State, with WVU leading the series 66-53. The team has also achieved success in the NCAA tournament, making appearances 31 times and posting impressive wins and streaks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conference | Big 12 |
| Nickname | Mountaineers |
| Colors | Old Gold & Blue |
| Notable Rivalries | Virginia Tech Hokies, Pittsburgh, Penn State |
| NCAA Tournament Appearances | 31 |
| NCAA Tournament Record | 38-31 |
| Notable Wins | #2 Ohio State Buckeyes, #3 Gonzaga, #7 Kansas, #2 Iowa State |
| Notable Players | Miles McBride, Javon Small |
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What You'll Learn
West Virginia Mountaineers: The team
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the team representing West Virginia University in men's basketball. Their nickname is the Mountaineers, and their colours are old gold and blue. The team has had notable wins over the years, including upsetting the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes in 2019 and defeating #3 Gonzaga in 2024. They also broke Kansas' conference opener 33-game win streak in 1991 with a narrow 62-61 victory in 2024.
The Mountaineers play in the Big 12 Conference and have had success in their division, finishing sixth in the conference in the 2010-2011 season with an 11-7 record. They earned a 5th seed in the NCAA tournament that year, one of eleven Big East Conference teams selected. They defeated Clemson in the second round but lost to Kentucky in the Round of 32.
The team has a long-standing rivalry with Pittsburgh, with 184 games played between 1906 and 2012. They also had an interstate rivalry with Penn State from 1906 to 1991, with WVU leading the series 66-53. The Mountaineers have another interstate multisport rivalry with the Virginia Tech Hokies, which includes basketball.
The Mountaineers have a strong history in the NCAA tournament, appearing 31 times with a combined record of 38-31. In one notable season, they posted a 23-8 record, including an 11-2 conference record. They swept the Southern Conference tournament but lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Villanova.
The West Virginia Mountaineers have had many successful seasons and have represented their university and state proudly in men's basketball. They have achieved notable wins, competed strongly in their conference, and fostered intense rivalries with neighbouring states.
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Big 12 Conference
West Virginia University's basketball team, the Mountaineers, compete in the Big 12 Conference. The Big 12 Conference was founded in February 1994 when all eight members of the former Big Eight Conference joined forces with half of the members of the former Southwest Conference. The Big 12 Conference sponsors championship competitions in a variety of NCAA-sanctioned sports, with basketball being one of only three men's sports with full participation by the entire conference.
Over the years, the Big 12 Conference has seen several members come and go. In 2011, Colorado and Nebraska left the conference, followed by Missouri and Texas A&M in 2012. That same year, TCU and West Virginia joined the conference. In 2015, the Big 12 added several affiliate members for wrestling, including Air Force, Northern Colorado, and North Dakota State. The conference continued to expand with the addition of Fresno State and Northern Iowa as wrestling affiliates in 2017 and the return of former member Missouri as a wrestling affiliate in 2021.
The Big 12 Conference has undergone further changes in recent years as part of the NCAA conference realignment. For the 2023-2024 season, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF joined the conference, while Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah came on board for the following season, along with the return of Colorado. At the same time, Texas and Oklahoma left the Big 12 as part of their transition to other conferences.
Today, the Big 12 Conference continues to foster competition and sportsmanship among its member institutions, with West Virginia University proudly representing the state of West Virginia in the realm of collegiate athletics.
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NCAA tournament appearances
The West Virginia Mountaineers, whose colours are Old Gold and Blue, have had a successful basketball programme over the years. They have appeared in the NCAA tournament 31 times, with a combined record of 38–31.
In the 2011 NCAA tournament, the Mountaineers earned a 5th seed in the east region, one of a record eleven Big East Conference teams selected. They defeated Clemson Tigers in the second round to advance to the Round of 32, where they faced the Kentucky Wildcats. Despite leading at halftime, the Mountaineers lost the game 71–63.
In one notable season, the Mountaineers won the first six games, but lost the seventh to #7 Duke. They then lost the following two games but finished with a victory over Army in the Los Angeles Classic. They then went on another seven-game winning streak, including a win over #5 Villanova, before losing to Virginia Tech. They started another winning streak of four games, but lost to New York University. They swept the Southern Conference tournament with a Championship win over Virginia Tech but lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Villanova.
More recently, in 2019, West Virginia upset #2 Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cleveland Classic. In 2024, they defeated #3 Gonzaga at the Battle 4 Atlantis, the first of three straight overtime games in the holiday tournament. They also beat #7 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, breaking their conference opener 33-game winning streak dating back to 1991. In 2025, West Virginia defeated #2 Iowa State with Javon Small scoring 27 points.
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Rivalries: Pittsburgh, Penn State, Virginia Tech
West Virginia University (WVU) has had a long history of rivalry with Pittsburgh, Penn State, and Virginia Tech. The term "Backyard Brawl" is often used to refer to the rivalry between WVU and Pittsburgh, mainly due to the close proximity of the two universities, which are separated by about 70 miles along Interstate 79. The football rivalry is the 14th oldest in the United States and the basketball rivalry has heated up in recent years, with both teams being among the best in the country. The rivalry between WVU and Pittsburgh has been intense, with several notable incidents, including a game in 2010 where West Virginia fans threw objects at the Pittsburgh team, injuring an assistant coach. The rivalry was dormant for a few years as the two universities moved to different conferences in 2012 and 2013. However, in 2021, WVU sold out the WVU Coliseum for the first time in November for a matchup against Pittsburgh.
WVU and Penn State also have a long history of rivalry, particularly in football. The two schools, along with Pittsburgh, were considered part of the "tri-state district Big Three" and competed annually for the "district Big Three championship." This rivalry became three distinct head-to-head matchups after the loss of the Old Ironsides Trophy, which was awarded to the champion, in 1984. In recent years, the two schools have renewed their rivalry, playing each other in 2023 and 2024, with Penn State winning both games.
Additionally, WVU and Virginia Tech have a competitive history in football, with a series of games played between them. While there may be a rivalry between the two schools, it is not as well-documented as the rivalries with Pittsburgh and Penn State.
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Key wins and losses
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team has had several notable wins and losses throughout its history, competing in the Big 12 Conference and previously in the Atlantic 10 and Big East Conferences.
One of their key wins came on December 29, 2019, when they upset the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes 67-59 at the Cleveland Classic. This win was fueled by Freshman Miles McBride, who scored 21 points. Another significant victory occurred on November 27, 2024, when West Virginia defeated #3 Gonzaga 86-78 in overtime at the Battle 4 Atlantis. This game marked the beginning of three consecutive overtime games for WVU in the holiday tournament.
On December 31, 2024, the Mountaineers achieved another notable win, defeating #7 Kansas 62-61 at Allen Fieldhouse, ending Kansas' 33-game conference opener win streak dating back to 1991. West Virginia continued their strong run with a victory over #2 Iowa State on January 18, 2025, with a final score of 64-57. Javon Small's 27 points led the team to break Iowa State's 12-game win streak.
The Mountaineers also hold a historic rivalry with the Pittsburgh basketball team, with 184 games played between 1906 and 2012. This rivalry is West Virginia's most-played men's basketball rivalry, and it has led to some memorable matchups. Additionally, West Virginia had an interstate rivalry with Penn State from 1906 to 1991, during which WVU led the series with 66 wins to Penn State's 53.
While the Mountaineers have had many successes, they have also experienced some notable losses. For example, they lost to #7 Duke 65-69, ending their six-game winning streak at the start of one season. They also fell to Virginia Tech 82-85 and suffered a defeat against New York University before finishing the season with three consecutive wins. In one of their NCAA Tournament appearances, they lost in the first round to Villanova, the same team they had defeated earlier in the season.
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team has a passionate fan base, with supporters known for their dedication and hospitality. While some fans have gained a reputation for unruly behavior, the team's successes and failures have captured the attention of West Virginia and beyond.
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Frequently asked questions
The West Virginia Mountaineers are in the Big 12 Conference.
Old Gold and Blue.
31 times.
7. The Mountaineers achieved this feat twice in the same season.
WVU has an interstate rivalry with Penn State and a multisport rivalry with Virginia Tech.
