Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As the regular season comes to a close, West Virginia believes its greatest strength heading into March might not show up on the stat sheet.
For the Mountaineers, it’s the bond inside the locker room.
Head coach Ross Hodge believes the teams capable of making postseason runs usually share one common trait — they genuinely enjoy being around each other.
“It’s a team that wants to be around each other and legitimately wants to keep going,” Hodge said.
That mindset becomes especially important this time of year, when the long season begins to take its toll and some teams start thinking about the offseason rather than extending their season.
“And there’s a lot of teams around the country that do not want to keep going,” Hodge said.
For the Mountaineers, the goal is the exact opposite.
According to Hodge, the best postseason teams aren’t just playing for wins. They’re playing for more time together.
“You’re fighting for like one more film session, one more plane ride, one more bus trip,” he said. “And the teams that I’ve been around that have had the level of success that we’ve had, they enjoy being around each other this time of year.”
That mentality has helped define a WVU team built largely through the transfer portal, with players who chose to come together for one season under a first-year head coach.
Despite the unfamiliar starting point, the group quickly developed chemistry through the challenges of a demanding Big 12 schedule.
The Mountaineers experienced both highs and difficult moments throughout the season, but when things got tough the team banded together and helped build the bond that now carries them into postseason play.
For senior guard Honor Huff, the season and Senior Night were emotional milestones.
“I mean, it’s been obviously a bumpy road as all things are in life, but it’s a special moment,” he said. “I’ve been in college for a minute and there’s not a better feeling than what you do after a win here and singing that and be able to evoke yourself with emotion in a positive way. I can’t thank Coach Hodge enough and this staff for allowing me to display my talents even further on the highest stage and the vision they had in me from my first phone call with Coach Hodge. So, I’m just thankful to be in this situation. I mean, not a lot of people get to say they played at the high major level or even division one basketball. So, I’m thankful for my teammates and, you know, this group and even you guys for being a part of my journey.”
Despite being a bubble team for the NCAA Tournament, WVU has a positive mindset heading into March.
“I feel like all of us are just trying to put our best foot forward going on cuz now it doesn’t matter,” senior Chance Moore said. “It’s 0-0 for everybody and we’re just trying to get as many wins as we can for all you guys.”
The players have also carried the lessons from Senior Night into tournament preparation.
“It’s it was a very emotional day for us, but, after, you know, the ceremony and whatnot, we just try to, you know, get a win for the fans, get a win for the guys and I execute and just go out swinging the best as possible,” Huff said.
When it comes to staying focused on postseason goals, Huff said every team enters the tournament on equal footing.
“It’s 0-0,” Huff said. “It no one’s home, no one has a home court advantage. So, everyone’s fighting for the same thing even. Obviously, the top teams are solidified but even they’re playing for something. So, we all have something to play for and I think ours is just we have to come with a little bit of an edge especially because like you said we’re fighting for something bigger.”
Those shared experiences — wins, losses, and the grind of Big 12 play — have helped shape the identity of the team.
Teams that make deep postseason runs often rely on strong guard play and the ability to win difficult games, but the foundation still comes back to chemistry.
For the Mountaineers, that chemistry is what keeps the focus on extending the season for as long as possible.
Because at this point in the year, every extra game means something more.
Another practice. Another road trip. Another chance to stay together. Another chance to represent your state.
Photo credit: WVU Athletics
