Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
LAS VEGAS – For the West Virginia men’s basketball team, stepping on the court each game is never solely about the game.
It’s about something bigger, something that stretches far beyond the court, beyond the locker room, and even beyond Morgantown.
“When you decide you’re going to come play at West Virginia, you don’t just play for your program and for your university, you play for an entire state,” head coach Ross Hodge said.
Even during trying times, that idea has defined this Mountaineer team all season, and it showed again in their come-from-behind 82-77 overtime win over Stanford on Thursday in the Crown Tournament. In a game filled with momentum swings, standout performances, and late-game pressure, it was WVU’s identity, not its talent, that earned them a spot in the semifinals.
Hodge has seen a lot of teams over the years, but this group stands apart because of their drive, hard work, and their bond with each other.
“At the end of the day our group is about as resilient of a group that I’ve ever been around,” he said. “Again, whether it’s a tough loss or you know, games where we’re not playing very well and we look just kind of down and out, they have an ability to stay together and keep playing for each other.”
That tenacity has become a defining trait of this Mountaineer squad and that mentality mirrors the state they represent. Through highs and lows, WVU has leaned on togetherness, a quality that was intentionally built from the beginning.
“When we started hitting the portal, we wanted to recruit guys that have been part of winning and loved basketball and loved each other,” Hodge said. “Typically, if that’s your makeup and you really love basketball and you really love being around other people, you’ll have an ability to stay together through really tough times.”
Despite not making the NCAA Tournament, that foundation has paid off. Even when facing elite individual performances like Ebuka Okorie’s 34-point night, WVU never backed down from the challenges.
“Ebuka’s an incredible player,” Hodge said. “He’s everything we thought he was going to be and, we did everything we could to keep the ball out of his hands and he still still had 34 points. At the end of the day our group is about as resilient of a group that I’ve ever been around, whether it’s a tough loss or games where we are not playing well and we look down and out. They have an ability to stay together and keep playing for each other.”
The Mountaineers found a way to win, relying on composure and trust in each other and their coaches when it mattered most.
“When the shot’s not falling like that, you have to counter with something and I think we did a good job of getting the ball into the paint,” senior guard Honor Huff said.
That adaptability showed up in key moments, but it was the belief within the group that ultimately made the difference.
“All we said was believe. We’re going to win this game,” Huff said.
That mindset has become a rallying cry for a team that refuses to fold, no matter the situation. Whether WVU is down 20 or two, Hodge’s group never hangs its head and stops. The Mountaineers keep grinding.
And they’re not doing it alone.
Even miles away from home, WVU fans made their presence felt, showing up and supporting their state’s team. That shows just how deep the connection runs.
“Even if you look at it tonight, just an incredible, pro WVU crowd. On opposite, you couldn’t be too much further than Morgantown,” Hodge said.
For the first-year head coach, moments like that don’t go unnoticed.
“And again, you’re always thankful when you have a fan base that’s as loyal and as passionate as ours,” he said. “When you have opportunities to reward them, you really appreciate that.”
It’s a relationship that is truly special to college athletics. It is a team that reflects its state, and a state that shows up for its team.
“And I think that’s what this group has done,” Hodge said. “We’re we’re not perfect. We have stretches during games when we’re certainly not perfect, but their ability to stay together and and be at their best actually when they’re counted out is special.”
As the Mountaineers continue their postseason run, the focus remains the same. Not just winning games, but representing something larger every time they take the floor.
For the residents of the Mountain State, playing for WVU represents so much and embodies the state’s identity. There is no professional team in West Virginia and wearing the old gold and blue is special.
For this group, it’s never just basketball; it represents the logo on their chest. They embody the blue collar work ethic of the state’s residents.
The Mountaineers face Creighton on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET in the semifinals of the College Basketball Crown.
Photo credit: WVU Athletics
