by: Braxton Fuller
WVU fans will be glued to their screens as they watch their new head coach finish out his season.
As we await the tip-off of the NIT semifinal between UNT and UC Irvine, here’s a deep dive into some key stats for North Texas.
Defensive Analytics
We all know Ross Hodge is a defensive-minded coach, so let’s start with some defensive statistics:
• Defensive Rating: 101.0 (26th in the nation)
• Defensive Rebounding %: 72% (85th in the nation)
• Steal % (STL%): 12.1% (48th in the country)
• Block % (BLK%): 8.6% (212th in the nation)
• Havoc Kill Metric (HKM%)—Disruption: 20.7% (125th)
• Fouls Per Game: 15.2 (43rd in the nation—impressive for such a suffocating defense)
• Steals-to-Fouls Ratio: 0.48x (51st)
• Blocks-to-Fouls Ratio: 0.17x (228th)
Schematically, UNT runs a “no-middle” defense, designed to clog the paint and force ball handlers toward the baseline.
Defensive Summary:
Analytically, the numbers may not be the most eye-catching, but North Texas still plays at an elite defensive level. By some of the more basic statistics, Hodge has his team playing like a top-five defense in the country. As a matter of fact, they are 3rd in scoring defense nationally; giving up only 60.4 points per game.
Offensive Analytics
Now, here’s where concerns arise for Mountaineer fans evaluating their new head coach. The advanced offensive metrics are far from impressive—though WVU basketball isn’t exactly known for high-powered offenses.
Let’s break down the numbers:
• Offensive Rating (ORtg—points per 100 possessions): 112.9 (80th in the nation)
• True Shooting % (TS%): 56.5% (92nd)
• 2PT %: 50.1% (216th)
• 3PT %: 36.0% (64th)
• Assist Rate (AST%): 45% of made shots (327th in Division I)
• Turnover Rate (TOV%): 14.8% (205th)
• Offensive Rebounding % (ORB%): 32.6% (93rd)
• Free Throw Attempt Rate (FTA Rate): 35.8% (94th)
• Three-Point Attempt Rate (3PAr): 36.8% (236th)
• Pace (Possessions per 40 minutes): 59.8 (362nd of 364 teams)
From my film study, North Texas prefers to slow the tempo on offense. They rely heavily on the pick-and-roll and some motion offense, but they struggle with consistency in scoring. Rather than engaging in high-scoring shootouts, they thrive in low-scoring slugfests.
The Big Picture for WVU Fans
For West Virginia fans longing for the return of Bob Huggins, this hire should be exciting. Ross Hodge isn’t a Hall of Fame coach—yet—but he’s regarded as one of the brightest young minds in basketball. With time, he has the potential to build an impressive career.
His coaching style may not always be pretty or fun to watch, but at the end of the day, winning is what matters most. Hodge has a track record of success, winning 70% of his games when including his JUCO career.
I believe he’ll continue that success at West Virginia University.
Learn even more about Hodge by watching this recent episode of Hoops from the Hills, where a North Texas insider explains what Mountaineer fans are getting in the new coach.
Photo Credit: North Texas Athletics
