Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here but, for the uninitiated, we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, and don’t be a troll.

WHEN/WHERE

Date: Saturday, December 18, 2021

Tip-Off Time: 5:00 PM ET

Where: Legacy Arena at BJCC, Birmingham, Alabama

Solomon Crenshaw Jr. / Alabama NewsCenter

WATCH/LISTEN

Channel: CBS Sports Network | DirecTV 221, Dish 158

Announcers: Chick Hernandez and Pete Gillen

Online Streaming: CBS Sports Network with a valid cable subscription

Cord Cutters: Mountaineer fans can catch all the action on fuboTV. fuboTV is an over-the-top streaming service that carries all the major networks, including CBS, NBC, FOX, and now....the ESPN Disney networks! It also carries ABC, CBS Sports Network, FS1, SEC Network, and more. fuboTV comes with a cloud DVR feature, so you can record the game and watch it later.

Sign up for a free seven day trial of fuboTV, and get 15% off the base family plan, by following THIS LINK.

Radio: Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG (Radio Affiliates) | WVU Gameday App (Apple | Android) | XM 375, Sirius App 375

Radio Announcers: Tony Caridi and Jay Jacobs

Betting Odds: UAB -4, Total 133 points via DraftKings Sportsbook

Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

THE ENEMY

Where are they from? Birmingham, Alabama

UAB Creative

Series History: West Virginia and UAB will meet for the fourth time in school history. UAB holds a 2-1 series lead. The last meeting took place on Dec. 28, 1991, an 88-84 UAB win in the championship game of the Cable Car Classic in San Francisco, California. The series began on Feb. 3, 1987, in Morgantown with WVU coming away with a 79-64 victory

Record: 9-2

Record in 2020-21: 22-7 (13-5 CUSA)

Head Coach: Andy Kennedy (2nd season)

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP:

West Virginia Mountaineers: Jalen Bridges, Isaiah Cottrell, Taz Sherman, Sean McNeil and Kedarian Johnson

UAB Blazers: Jordan Walker, Quan Jackson, Jamal Johnson, KJ Buffen and Trey Jemison

PREGAME READING & UPDATES

Follow along with us on Twitter @smokingmusket for running commentary.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

Find a warm, comfortable spot, grab a favorite beverage or threeve, and join in on the running commentary, random observations, silly images, gifs, snark, wit, bitches, complaints, moans, groans, cheers, celebration and jubilation in the comments section below.

And, as always...