There are certain anniversaries you don’t circle on the calendar, but when they arrive, you can’t help but look back.
It’s been one year since Darian DeVries left West Virginia University, and the reflection is unavoidable. Not in a nostalgic, feel-good kind of way, but more in the sense of revisiting something that felt like it should have worked. At the time, it did work – at least briefly. Read more: Watch what you wish for: Revisiting Darian DeVries’ exit from WVU
A season that built belief
The frustration surrounding West Virginia basketball a year ago was not about what came before DeVries. It was about what happened during his lone season in Morgantown.
His team had seemingly done enough to extend its season. After navigating the transfer portal and building around key pieces like Javon Small, West Virginia positioned itself as an NCAA Tournament team. The resume was there – along with the expectations.
And then, it wasn’t.
The Mountaineers were left out of the NCAA Tournament, a decision that sparked frustration across the fan base and added fuel to what already felt like a program on the rise. That is what made everything that followed hit even harder.
A promising start cut short
Despite the disappointment of Selection Sunday, there was still momentum. DeVries had brought structure, identity and a modern approach to roster building. In a short amount of time, it felt like West Virginia had found someone who understood how to win in the current era of college basketball.
I’ll be honest – I liked the hire as it looked sustainable and felt like the start of something. Which is why the exit felt less like a step forward and more like something being taken away before it had a chance to fully develop.
The cost of doing business
When Indiana University made its move, it did so aggressively. The reported buyout totaled approximately $6.15 million, including about $4.67 million tied directly to DeVries’ contract with West Virginia. Additional costs included reimbursement for what WVU paid to hire him away from Drake University, along with other associated expenses.
In practical terms, Indiana did not just hire a coach. It absorbed the full cost of the transaction. West Virginia was compensated financially, but the impact on the program extended beyond dollars. The Mountaineers were once again searching for continuity, just as it appeared to be taking hold.
The Tucker timeline
Then there is the portion of the story that continues to generate conversation.
Tucker DeVries played eight games for West Virginia before suffering a shoulder injury early in the season. He was initially ruled out indefinitely, then later shut down for the season, with surgery announced in February. Because he appeared in less than 30% of the team’s games, he qualified for a medical hardship waiver, preserving an additional year of eligibility. There is no evidence of wrongdoing. Injuries are part of the sport, and medical decisions are made with long-term health in mind.
Still, the timeline raised natural questions. Not accusations, but curiosity – particularly when viewed alongside what came next. Because that extra year did not take place in Morgantown.
A familiar ending
DeVries left for Indiana. Tucker followed.
That reality is not unusual in today’s college basketball environment. Coaches and players move together, and the transfer portal has reshaped how rosters are built and maintained.
Even so, the situation was difficult for West Virginia fans to ignore. What makes it even more notable is how things unfolded afterward. Despite the financial investment, the expectations and the fresh start, Indiana and West Virginia finished with the same regular-season record. There was no dramatic turnaround, no immediate validation – just an outcome that looked strikingly similar on both sides.
Perspective one year later
This is not simply about frustration. It is about perspective.
Indiana identified its preferred coach and paid a premium to secure him. That is the reality of modern college athletics.
Related: Bumpy start won’t halter Coach Hodge’s success at WVU
For West Virginia, however, the situation still prompts reflection. For a brief moment, it felt like something meaningful was building. There was structure, momentum and a belief that the program was moving in the right direction.
In the end, WVU will move forward the way it always does. This is a resilient fan base, one that doesn’t flinch when things get reset. The resurgence of this program is coming, but it will take something this place has been craving – commitment. For now, it looks like Ross Hodge understands that. And in Morgantown, that already feels like a step in the right direction.
