Sure hope the Capital Classic satisfies local college basketball needs for a little while.

That's because Kanawha Valley teams West Virginia State, the University of Charleston, and WVU Tech will each be playing a men's and women's doubleheader on the road tonight.

West Virginia State will travel to Ohio Valley with the women's tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. and the men's for 7:30. The Yellow Jacket men (8-4, 4-1 West Virginia Conference) open a stretch against six straight opponents with a current conference record below .500 before playing back-to-back home games against UC and league-leading West Liberty State.

State coach Bryan Poore is worried about a letdown.

"I always do and probably always will as long as I coach," said Poore. "Any coach that says he knows his team is ready every night is probably lying. That's the challenge every coach has, to try and make sure his guys are ready."

If recent results are any indication, there may not be reason for much concern. West Virginia State has put up at least 100 points in three of its last five games (all wins) and Poore cites an improvement in the team's defense and a growing familiarity among his players.

The State women started the season 5-1 before losing five straight. The Yellow Jackets (6-6, 4-2) were able to pull out a victory over Wheeling Jesuit Monday and look to recapture their early success.

The University of Charleston women had little trouble holding onto their mojo this season. Despite a few trip-ups, the Golden Eagles (10-4, 6-1) have more conference wins than any other WVC team. With nothing but conference games remaining on the schedule, coach Sherry Winn knows the grind her team faces.

Sure hope the Capital Classic satisfies local college basketball needs for a little while.

That's because Kanawha Valley teams West Virginia State, the University of Charleston, and WVU Tech will each be playing a men's and women's doubleheader on the road tonight.

West Virginia State will travel to Ohio Valley with the women's tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. and the men's for 7:30. The Yellow Jacket men (8-4, 4-1 West Virginia Conference) open a stretch against six straight opponents with a current conference record below .500 before playing back-to-back home games against UC and league-leading West Liberty State.

State coach Bryan Poore is worried about a letdown.

"I always do and probably always will as long as I coach," said Poore. "Any coach that says he knows his team is ready every night is probably lying. That's the challenge every coach has, to try and make sure his guys are ready."

If recent results are any indication, there may not be reason for much concern. West Virginia State has put up at least 100 points in three of its last five games (all wins) and Poore cites an improvement in the team's defense and a growing familiarity among his players.

The State women started the season 5-1 before losing five straight. The Yellow Jackets (6-6, 4-2) were able to pull out a victory over Wheeling Jesuit Monday and look to recapture their early success.

The University of Charleston women had little trouble holding onto their mojo this season. Despite a few trip-ups, the Golden Eagles (10-4, 6-1) have more conference wins than any other WVC team. With nothing but conference games remaining on the schedule, coach Sherry Winn knows the grind her team faces.

"The hard part now is lack of practice time," said Winn. "They love it but I hate it. Now it's more mental than physical. Now when it's practice versus rest, I lean toward rest."

Winn also attributes the team's success of late to better help defense, the return of Katie Arick and Jennifer DeMeyer from injury and an increasing level of confidence. The women start at 6 tonight at Seton Hill.

UC's men come off a narrow loss to West Liberty. The Golden Eagles (7-4, 2-2) look to rack up some conference wins in the next five games against teams currently in 10th place or lower in the WVC. Charleston's two conference losses have come to WL and Alderson-Broaddus, both or which are 4-0 in the conference and share the league's top spot. Tipoff for the men is set for 8. 

As for WVU Tech, the men look to get back on the winning track after a six-game victory run was snapped at Rio Grande Saturday. WVU Tech (12-5) opens its Mid-South Conference schedule at St. Catherine (Ky.) at 8. The women's game starts at 6.

Tech's women (3-12) are also playing their Mid-South opener.

Reach Ryan Pritt at 304-348-1749 or jcantrellf...@aol.com.