West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Ross Hodge is entering his second season at the helm after going 21-14 (9-9) in his debut season. The team has been on the bubble of the NCAA's postseason tournament for the past couple seasons, as the Mountaineers have received a March Madness bid since 2023, when they lost to Maryland in the first round of the dance.
Now, West Virginia is aiming to return to the tournament in an expanded field (now 76 teams), which still is no easy task while competing in the Big 12.
Why this can be a special year
As stated, this will not be an easy task for the Mountaineers when you consider the competitiveness of their conference. But despite the Big 12 being tough, and that's an understatement, head coach Ross Hodge and his Mountaineers have actually built a very respectable roster this summer.
According to 247 Sports, West Virginia ranks third in Big 12 transfer rankings, just behind Arizona State and the juggernaut Houston Cougars. This transfer class includes three 4-star recruits in 6-foot-5 guard Joson Sanon from St. John's, combo-guard Finley Bizjack from Butler, and 6-foot-10 big Mouhamed Sylla. These guys will all play significant roles for the Mountaineers this season.
In addition to the standout transfers, coach Hodge was also able to secure high school recruit Miles Sadler, who ESPN ranks as the 18th best in the 2026 class, as well as Amadou Seini, who stands at 7-feet tall and ranking 82nd in the 2026 high school class.
Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that Ross Hodge going 21-14, and 9-9 in conference play in his first season as a power conference coach is widely swept under the covers—especially considering his roster was not particularly on the more impressive side.
How the Mountaineers can return to March
First thing's first, health. This team will have a tough time squeezing by in the Big 12 if they are battling injuries, which has been a West Virginia theme at times this decade. Secondly, they are going to have to win some tough non-conference games. The Mountaineers are going to have to face a plethora of power four, and actually competitive power four teams, between the Players Era 8 Tournament, the Dick Vitale Invitational and Holiday Hoopfest.
They are already confirmed for matches against Auburn, North Carolina and Wake Forest. Lastly, they will likely have to replicate their in-conference play from a season ago. The Big 12 is simply too competitive of a conference to afford an in-conference record below .500.
This all being said, Mountaineer fans should be excited for the season to start and to cheer on the new faces that will be taking the floor this fall.
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