Kentucky’s upcoming game against West Virginia is following an increasingly familiar pattern. Before walking the walk, opponents talk the talk: Kentucky can be beaten and — fill in the blank — is the team to do it.
West Virginia’s leading scorer, Juwan Staten, followed the script after the Mountaineers dismembered Maryland on Sunday night to advance to a Sweet 16 game against undefeated Kentucky on Thursday.
“Dev said it best, they put their drawers on the same way we put ours on,” Staten said in echoing the we’re-not-intimidated sentiment of teammate Devin Williams.
Like many previous opponents, especially in the Southeastern Conference and NCAA tournaments, Staten embraced the role of underdog against Kentucky.