MORGANTOWN — The West Virginia University (WVU) men’s basketball team is grappling with a challenging early season after a series of missed opportunities. Following a recent loss to Wake Forest on December 16, 2023, the team’s record stands at 7-3, raising concerns about its prospects for the NCAA tournament. With rankings that reflect a need for improvement, the Mountaineers approach their upcoming game against Little Rock at Hope Coliseum on Tuesday at 19:00.
The metrics tell a troubling story. Currently, WVU is ranked 111th in the NET, a critical evaluation tool used by the NCAA selection committee for at-large bids. Other programs, such as Lipscomb and Winthrop, have surpassed the Mountaineers in this ranking. Additionally, WVU’s strength of schedule is alarmingly low, sitting at 300th out of 365 Division I teams. This situation is unlikely to improve significantly, especially considering Little Rock’s current NET ranking of 347th and Pomeroy position at 316th.
WVU has yet to secure a victory against teams ranked above them in the NET. Thus far, all seven wins have come against Quad 4 opponents, including a notable victory against rival Pitt, who has struggled in subsequent games. The Mountaineers need to bolster their resume, especially with only one remaining non-conference game against a higher-ranked opponent, Ohio State, later this season.
After the loss to Wake Forest, head coach Ross Hodge emphasized the importance of learning from setbacks. “What you have to be doing in situations like this is learning how you can win these games without playing as well as you would have liked to or shooting the ball as well as you would have liked,” Hodge stated. He acknowledges the need for both players and coaches to take ownership of the team’s performance.
WVU’s remaining non-conference schedule features Little Rock and Mississippi Valley State, both ranked in the lower tier of the metrics. Mississippi Valley State holds the lowest position in the Pomeroy ratings, which may not provide the Mountaineers with the necessary boost to enhance their standings.
As the season progresses, there are still 21 games left for WVU to turn things around. However, simply finishing in the middle of the pack within the Big 12 conference, currently the highest-ranked conference according to metrics, may not suffice for NCAA tournament consideration.
Hodge remains optimistic and focused on the challenges ahead. “We have to do a better job, have better plans and be able to put people in better positions to execute on both ends of the floor,” he said. “I think it’s more learning and growing than gaining confidence.”
The upcoming match against Little Rock will be crucial, as the Mountaineers strive to improve their standing and regain momentum in a competitive season.
