University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn MBB To Meet West Virginia In BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle
6/2/2021 1:17:00โฏPM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 8 In Morgantown
UConn Athletic Communications / June 2, 2021
NEW YORK โ The UConn men's basketball team will renew its rivalry with West Virginia University on Wednesday, Dec. 8, in Morgantown as part of the 2021 BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle. The leagues jointly announced the matchups today.
It will be the first participation for UConn in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle since it rejoined the BIG EAST last season. Game time and television coverage will be announced at a later date.
UConn and West Virginia were BIG EAST rivals for 17 seasons, from 1995-96, when the Mountaineers joined the conference, until 2011-12, the final year West Virginia was a member before leaving for the Big 12.
UConn has an overall record of 16-6 against West Virginia, 15-4 while both were members of the BIG EAST. The teams have met only once since West Virginia left the league, a 78-68 Mountaineer victory on Nov. 23, 2014, in the championship game of the 2014 Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan.
UConn went 15-8 in 2020-21, finishing third in the BIG EAST at 11-6 and earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament, bowing to Maryland. West Virginia finished 19-10 last season, finishing tied for third in the Big 12 at 11-6, and defeated Morehead State in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Syracuse in the second round.
The BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle, entering the third season of a four-year contract, pits the 10 teams of the Big 12 against 10 of the 11 teams in the BIG EAST, but the games are not all held on the same day. In 2019, the BIG EAST had an 8-2 advantage in the games. In 2020, the leagues had an even 3-3 split, with the other four games cancelled due to COVID-19.
2021 BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle
Dec. 1 -- Texas Tech at Providence
Dec. 2 -- Kansas at St. John's
Dec. 4 -- Iowa State at Creighton
Dec. 5 -- Xavier at Oklahoma State
Dec. 7 -- Butler at Oklahoma
Dec. 8 -- UConn at West Virginia
Dec. 8 -- Marquette at Kansas State
Dec. 9 -- Texas at Seton Hall
Dec. 12 -- Villanova at Baylor
Dec. 18 -- TCU at Georgetown
