It’s another year and another head coaching change at West Virginia as Ross Hodge takes over the program for the 2025-26 season.
The former North Texas head coach has two unique ties to the Big 12. First, WVU athletic director Wren Baker was the athletic director at UNT before he took over the Mountaineers. Second, Hodge was Grant McCasland’s top assistant at UNT before McCasland took the job at Texas Tech.
Here is a preview of the West Virginia Mountaineers.
West Virginia Mountaineers
2024-25: 19-13, 10-10 in Big 12, tied for seventh place. Lost in the first round of the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament. Did not play in additional postseason action.
Head coach: Ross Hodge replaced Darian DeVries when DeVries took the job at Indiana. Hodge succeeded Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland at North Texas and went 46-24 in two seasons, taking the Mean Green to the NIT both seasons.
Big 12 history: West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012 from the Big EAST. The Mountaineers have not won a Big 12 regular season title but reached the Big 12 Tournament title game three straight seasons from 2016-18.
2025-26 Schedule: Click here for the full Big 12 men’s schedule.
West Virginia 2025-26 Roster Review
Gone: Javon Small (18.6 PPG), Tucker DeVries (14.9 PPG), Amani Hansberry (9.8 PPG), Jonathan Powell (8.3 PPG), Toby Okani (8.2 PPG), Joseph Yesufu (6.4 PPG), Sencire Harris (5.9 PPG), Eduardo Andre (5.0 PPG), Ofri Naveh (2.6 PPG in 2023-24), KJ Tenner (2.4 PPG), Jake Auer (1.9 PPG), Haris Elezovic (0.5 PPG).
Returning: C Abraham Oyeadier (redshirted last year).
Incoming transfers: F Treysen Eaglestaff (18.9 PPG at North Dakota), G Honor Huff (15.3 PPG at Chattanooga), G Chance Moore (13.0 PPG at St. Bonaventure), F Brenen Lorient (11.7 PPG at North Texas), C Harlan Obioha (9.2 PPG at UNC Wilmington), G Jasper Floyd (9.0 PPG at North Texas), F Jackson Fields (7.2 PPG at Troy), G Morris Ugusuk (5.9 PPG at South Carolina), G Niyol Hauet (Weber State, redshirt)
Incoming freshmen: G Amir Jenkins (Top 100 recruit), G Jayden Forsythe (Top 100 recruit), F DJ Thomas, F Evans Barning Jr., G MJ Feenane
Projected Starting Lineup
G Jasper Floyd: Played for UNT last year and can run Hodge’s offense.
G Honor Huff: Chattanooga transfer poured in the points for the Mocs last season.
F Brenen Lorient: Played for Hodge at UNT last season
F Treysen Eaglestaff: Averaged nearly 20 points per game last year. Mountaineers need him to produce like that.
C Harlan Obioha: Gives the Mountaineers size and scoring inside.
Starting Lineup Crashers
G Chance Moore: High-volume scorer for the Bonnies last year who can start in three-guard or four-guard lineups.
Lineup Competition
Hodge took over a quality team at North Texas after McCasland left for the Red Raiders two seasons ago. This is a completely different situation. Hodge is basically the coaching version of a house-flipper in this case. There isn’t a single point returning from last season’s team, so every position is open during camp. Floyd’s and Lorient’s experience with Hodge gives both an inside track to the starting lineup but expect Hodge to roll out different lineups early to try and figure out what works before conference play begins. As many as nine players could start by January.
Early Prediction
Hodge is the fourth different head coach in Morgantown in four years. All Mountaineers fans want is a little stability. Last year a relatively new team was a middle-of-the-road team in this conference and might have gotten an NIT berth had it not been for the coaching change. WVU’s talent will dictate how much of a factor it will be in the Big 12 race. Receiving a non-NCAA Tournament postseason berth would be a win.
