Josh Peter

USA TODAY Sports

HOUSTON — When a reporter asked Buddy Hield if Villanova would be the toughest team Oklahoma has faced this season, he resisted rolling his eyes. Oklahoma beat Villanova 78-55 in December.

“Nah, they’re not the toughest,’’ Hield said Thursday. “West Virginia is the toughest team we’ve faced all year.

On March 11, in the Big 12 tournament semifinals, West Virginia held Hield to six points on 1-for-8 shooting from the floor and beat Oklahoma 69-67.

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“They just made it uncomfortable,’’ Hield said. “As soon as I caught it, they sent a guy after me to trap me."

That’s been less effective for other teams who don’t regularly use a trap, said Hield, who added that he expects to face a competitive Villanova team.

“They’re a completely different team now and better defensively,’’ he said, “so it’s going to to be a tough battle."