photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Devonte' Graham (4) drives against West Virginia guard Jevon Carter (2) during the second half, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Devonte' Graham (4) drives against West Virginia guard Jevon Carter (2) during the second half, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 at Allen Fieldhouse.

After five games of Big 12 play, four teams lead the pack and are tied for first place. There will be some more separation when two of those leaders, West Virginia and Kansas, meet at 8 p.m. Monday (TV: ESPN) at WVU Coliseum.

The Mountaineers (15-2, 4-1 in Big 12) won 15 straight games before their one-point road loss to Texas Tech — another team tied for the Big 12 lead — last weekend. Previously ranked No. 2 in the country, it was the program’s highest ranking since Jerry West’s senior season in 1959.

Known for its “Press Virginia” defense, WVU ranks third in the country with 19.9 turnovers forced per game. Texas Tech was the first team to commit less than 14 turnovers in a game all season.

“You would think a formula would be multiple ball handlers,” KU coach Bill Self said. “But we’ve had Frank (Mason) and Devonte’ (Graham) go up there and had problems with that. With (WVU guards Jevon) Carter and (Daxter) Miles out there, they create so much havoc.”

Heading into the Big Monday matchup, the Jayhawks (14-3, 4-1) have won nine consecutive true road games. In the KenPom rankings, West Virginia is 10th and Kansas is 11th. ESPN’s BPI places KU eighth and WVU 12th.

Fun fact: Starting this season by playing a game in Germany, the Mountaineers will log 28,254 miles of travel by the time they begin play in the Big 12 Tournament. Outside of their international game, their longest trip of the season was last weekend to Lubbock, Texas (2,930 miles round trip).

Series history: Kansas leads 7-4. The Jayhawks have a 1-4 record in Morgantown, losing their last four road games at WVU Coliseum.

BREAKING DOWN WEST VIRGINIA

TOP PLAYER

No. 2 — G Jevon Carter | 6-2, 205, sr.

photo by: Nick Krug

West Virginia guard Jevon Carter (2) celebrates a bucket and a foul with teammate Sagaba Konate during the first half, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 at Allen Fieldhouse.

One of the biggest reasons West Virginia’s press defense is so successful is the ability of Carter. He ranks second in the country with 3.59 steals per game, grabbing at least three in his last seven contests.

Beyond his defense (he’s second on the team with nine blocks), the Maywood, Ill., native is averaging 16.8 points, 6.5 assists and 5.4 rebounds to establish himself as one of the most well-rounded guards in the nation. He’s an 83.5 percent free-throw shooter.

Carter broke the school’s all-time steals record earlier this season, which was formerly held by Greg Jones (1979-83). He ranks 21st all-time in school scoring (1,404 points). He’s only the third player in Big 12 history to be named to the All-Defensive team in three seasons.

• “I always believed in myself,” Carter told NCAA.com’s Andy Katz. “I always had a certain group of people that believed in me. I’ve always worked as hard as I can just to be the best I could.”

SUPPORTING CAST

No. 15 — F Lamont West | 6-8, 230, so.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) and Kansas guard Frank Mason III (0) defend against a three by West Virginia forward Lamont West (15) during the second half, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 at Allen Fieldhouse.

A terrific offensive rebounder, West is averaging 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He’s made 33 percent of his 85 3-point attempts. He ranks second on the Mountaineers with 30 offensive boards.

West has scored in double figures in eight of the last nine games. His mom, Tonya, was a four-year starter at Purdue from 1993-96 and led the Boilermakers to a ’94 Final Four appearance.

No. 4 — G Daxter Miles Jr. | 6-3, 200, sr.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Devonte' Graham (4) defends against a drive by West Virginia guard Daxter Miles Jr. (4) during the second half, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Similar to Carter, Miles is another reason West Virginia’s press is so effective. Miles has 28 steals this year, which ranks sixth in the Big 12. He’s averaging 13.2 points, 3.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds, only shooting 27 percent from the 3-point arc.

From Baltimore, Miles is WVU’s top slasher, taking 33.5 percent of his shots at the rim where he is a strong finisher according to hoop-math.com. He crossed the 1,000-point plateau in December, becoming the 51st player in program history to accomplish the feat.

No. 50 — F Sagaba Konate | 6-8, 260, so.

Ranking second in the Big 12 in blocked shots (47), Konate (pronounced Kuh-NUH-teh) is still developing his offensive presence as he alters game with his length. He’s averaging 8.9 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds. In five Big 12 games, he’s recorded 15 blocks (seven vs. Baylor).

According to hoop-math.com, Konate only shoots 33.3 percent of his shots at the rim, preferring to attempt jump shots. He’s made 49.1 percent of his shots. From Mali, he moved to the United State prior to his junior year in high school.

No. 23 — F Esa Ahmad | 6-8, 230, jr.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Devonte' Graham (4) looks to make a move on West Virginia forward Esa Ahmad (23) during the first half, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 at WVU Coliseum.

Ahmad missed the first 16 games of the season because he didn’t meet NCAA eligibility requirements. In his return at Texas Tech, he had 18 points and six rebounds in 34 minutes off the bench.

Against Kansas last season, Ahmad totaled 47 points and 12 rebounds in 64 minutes. The Cleveland native averaged 11.3 points in the 2016-17 season.

ONE THING WEST VIRGINIA DOES WELL

Let’s go with the obvious: West Virginia knows how to force turnovers. Behind Press Virginia, the Mountaineers have forced 338 turnovers and only allowed 355 made field goals this season. Opponents are turning the ball over on 27 percent of their possessions, the second-best mark in the country.

Beyond the usual advantages of its press defense, the Mountaineers are the best free-throw shooting team in the Big 12. They’ve made 79.4 percent of their attempts in league play.

ONE AREA WEST VIRGINIA STRUGGLES

It’s hard to find many faults for a team that won 15 straight games prior to Saturday’s one-point road loss to Texas Tech. But if there was something to nitpick, the Mountaineers allow a lot of 3-point attempts. Opposing teams are shooting 34.7 percent from behind the arc, but they are averaging more than 20 attempts per game.

MEET THE COACH

photo by: Nick Krug

West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins has words for an official during the first half, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 at WVU Coliseum.

In his 36th season as a head coach, Bob Huggins is seventh on the all-time Div. I winningest coaches list with an 834-332 record. He was announced as a candidate for the Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

Back at his alma mater, Huggins has coached at West Virginia since the 2007-08 season. He’s guided the Mountaineers to three Sweet 16 appearances. During his college career at WVU, he averaged 13.2 points as a senior.

VEGAS SAYS…

West Virginia by 4.5. It’s the first time this season that the Jayhawks will enter a game as an underdog. KU hasn’t won in Morgantown since 2013 and it certainly won’t be any easier Monday. Unlike road games at Texas and TCU, I think Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles can matchup better against KU’s guards.

My prediction: West Virginia 78, Kansas 70. Bobby’s record vs. the spread: 8-8.