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West Virginia Mountaineers Await Lowly Utah Utes
Mountaineers look to continue late-season push for NCAA Tournament bid
Feb. 21, 2026 at 12:31am
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The West Virginia Mountaineers, currently on the NCAA Tournament bubble, are set to host the struggling Utah Utes in their final stretch of the regular season. After coming from behind to win two road games in the past 10 days, the Mountaineers are brimming with confidence as they look to solidify their postseason chances against the 1-11 Utes.
Why it matters
West Virginia is fighting to stay on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, and these final regular season games, including against the lowly Utah squad, will be crucial in determining their postseason fate. A strong finish could secure their spot in the Big Dance, while stumbling against an inferior opponent like Utah could jeopardize their chances.
The details
The Mountaineers have been led by senior guard Honor Huff, who averages 15.6 points per game, and senior forward Brenen Lorient (11.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg). They've also received clutch play of late from senior guard Jasper Floyd, who had 17 points in the comeback win over UCF. Utah, meanwhile, is led by junior guard Terrence Brown (20.4 ppg, 3.8 apg, 1.6 spg) and senior guard Don McHenry (17.4 ppg, 63 3-pointers).
- West Virginia hosts Utah on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
- The Mountaineers have two road comebacks in the past 10 days, rallying from 14-point deficits to beat UCF and Cincinnati.
The players
Ross Hodges
Head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Honor Huff
Senior guard for the West Virginia Mountaineers, averaging 15.6 points per game.
Brenen Lorient
Senior forward for the West Virginia Mountaineers, averaging 11.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Jasper Floyd
Senior guard for the West Virginia Mountaineers, leading the team with 47 steals.
Terrence Brown
Junior guard for the Utah Utes, leading the team with 20.4 points, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
What they’re saying
“This game becomes the biggest game you have been a part of. There is a lot of belief and confidence in this group. I'm thankful they allow me to coach them hard and they allow me to tell them the truth. Sometimes they might not always like the way it is said or what is being said, but they respect it. I appreciate them for that.”
— Ross Hodges, Head Coach, West Virginia Mountaineers
“Jasper hit some monster shots down the stretch and played tremendous defense.”
— Ross Hodges, Head Coach, West Virginia Mountaineers
“Again, going to the maturity process. It gets to the Big 12 and it's real. The maturity, like the focus, needs to get better.”
— Alex Jensen, Head Coach, Utah Utes
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
This game against the struggling Utah Utes represents a crucial opportunity for the West Virginia Mountaineers to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume and build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. A strong performance could go a long way in securing their spot in the Big Dance.
