By: Clark Johnson | WV Sports Chat
Morgantown, WV – The WVU Men’s Basketball program has been anything but stable over the past few years. With three-straight seasons of coaching changes and major roster overhauls, the Mountaineers seem to have finally landed on a long-term solution in Ross Hodge. Despite lacking the flash of other hires last coaching cycle, the former North Texas head coach appears committed to building in Morgantown for the foreseeable future.
Now that the 2025-26 men’s basketball regular season is nearing its conclusion, fans from all across West Virginia are starting to formulate their opinions on Hodge’s first season. Sitting with a 16-11 record (7-7 Big 12), the Mountaineers are placed squarely on the bubble heading into March Madness. Barring a miracle, WVU will likely be left out of the big dance for the third consecutive season.
That begs an important question regarding Hodge; has his first season in Morgantown been successful?
The short answer is yes, it has been a successful first season for Hodge.
While fans generally aren’t happy with their team living on the bubble, the context of this situation has to be evaluated. Hodge came to Morgantown with a decimated roster following the departure of Darian DeVries. Utilizing the NCAA Transfer Portal, he had to rely solely on intriguing prospects from smaller schools to field a team this season. In a league as competitive as the Big 12, that is a trial by fire.
Given the circumstances, Hodge has had the 2025-26 WVU Men’s Basketball team competing. Sure, there have been games that have fallen apart down the stretch, but the team has been in virtually every game. That says a lot about the job Hodge has done. A season that could have easily turned disastrous remained both entertaining and engaging for fans.
It is easy to become frustrated when your team struggles. However, Mountaineer fans simply need to take a step back and assess the situation.
It will take time, but the 2025-26 will ultimately be a solid foundation for the Ross Hodge era in Morgantown.
(Photo by WVU Athletics)
