Today on Main Street, our daily guide to the best game around, we look at West Virginia at Pittsburgh
The Summary: Life on the bubble is hard. While Pittsburgh should feel comfortable with their chances of getting into the NCAA's this season after just missing out last year, West Virginia's situation is a bit more iffy. Both Pitt and West Virginia are tied in the Big East at 8-5, along with a host of others, in a bottle jam at the middle of the conference. After winning seven in a row, West Virginia has gone 2-2. Pittsburgh is a program on the rise, but has suspect losses to cellar dwellars in the Big East like Seton Hall and St. John's.
The Stakes: Staying out of the WNIT and going to the Big Dance. West Virginina was the Cinderella of the Big East Tourney last season, upsetting team after team before getting beaten in the championship game by UConn. They did not play well at the beginning of the season, but have improved their overall record to 17-9. Pittsburgh started the season on a tear, winning their first 12 games and being ranked. Then they went 3-5. They have gone 5-1 since and stand at 20-6 overall. Last season Pittsburgh finished in the WNIT Final Four.
The Series: Pitt won last season's meeting, but West Virginia leads the all-time series 19-14.
The Say: While this game is hardly a marquee matchup, it is important to understand life on the bubble for two mid-level Big East teams. The Big East will likely get six teams in the NCAA's. UConn, Marquette, Louisville and Rutgers are locks, while Pitt, West Virginia, Notre Dame, South Florida and DePaul are all battling for the final two spots. Tonight's game will go a long way in helping narrow those final two teams down. Pittsburgh is at home and should win this game, but it will be close. West Virginia is very capable of pulling off the upset at a place where Pitt has had some bad home losses. Final word: Pittsburgh by less than five points.
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