WVU Men’s Basketball has finished its exhibition schedule, giving head coach Ross Hodge and the Mountaineers three games to see what is working and what needs to improve before the regular season.
WVU lost to Maryland before responding with wins over Glenville State and Wheeling. The 98-55 win over Wheeling on Wednesday gave the Mountaineers a strong finish to the preseason, but the biggest takeaway goes beyond the final score. Read more: What WVU Hoops learned from three exhibitions, and what still needs work.
The team has shown improvement in its offensive flow, defensive adjustments and rebounding. Now, WVU needs to make those improvements more consistent as the competition gets tougher.
WVU’s offense is finding its rhythm
One of the most noticeable improvements across the three exhibitions has been WVU’s offensive flow.
The Mountaineers scored 103 points against Glenville State and 98 against Wheeling. Those performances showed the team’s ability to spread the scoring around, but the offense has also gone through stretches when shots were not falling and possessions became more difficult.
Senior guard Finley Bizjack said the team made progress in two important areas against Wheeling; responding after halftime and moving the ball more effectively.
“Against Glenville State and Maryland, we didn’t come out good out of the second half,” Bizjack said. “And I feel like today we had a better response coming out of the second half. But other than that, I feel like our offensive flow got a little bit better too.”
WVU scored 53 points in the second half, pulling away after taking a 45-28 lead into halftime.
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Bizjack also pointed to the importance of moving the ball and getting to the next action. Rather than relying on individual plays, WVU wants to create better opportunities by keeping the offense moving.
The Mountaineers have already shown they can put up points. What they learned during the exhibitions is that maintaining their rhythm for a full game will be just as important as their scoring potential.
Avoiding extended scoring droughts and responding when an opponent makes a run will be two things to watch once the regular season begins.
Defensive adjustments and rebounding are encouraging signs
Defense was another area where WVU showed progress, particularly in the win over Wheeling.
The Mountaineers forced 20 turnovers, recorded 10 steals, and held the Cardinals to 55 points. They also won the rebounding battle 43-21, limiting Wheeling’s chances to extend possessions.
Hodge said he saw improvement in WVU’s ability to defend the ball and force opponents into difficult decisions.
The matchup also gave the Mountaineers a chance to adjust to a different offensive style. Wheeling’s five-out offense pulled defenders away from the basket, requiring WVU’s bigger players to defend on the perimeter.
Hodge said the team got better at keeping the ball in front of its defenders as the game went on. That adjustment matters because WVU will face opponents throughout the season who try to stretch the defense and create driving lanes.
The improvement against Wheeling is a positive sign, but it also gives the team something to build on. WVU cannot expect every opponent to struggle against its defense, and the Mountaineers will need to communicate and stay disciplined when facing more experienced offenses.
Rebounding is still a concern despite WVU’s strong performance against Wheeling. The Mountaineers controlled the boards in that game, but they were outrebounded by Maryland in their first exhibition. That inconsistency is worth watching as the regular season begins.
WVU has shown it can win the rebounding battle, but it will need to make that effort a regular part of its game to limit second-chance points and create more opportunities in transition.
The next test is whether the Mountaineers can maintain that defensive activity and rebounding advantage against teams that are better equipped to challenge them.
Hodge sees room to improve before the season
The exhibitions gave WVU a look at its potential, but Hodge has made it clear that the team still has work to do.
One encouraging sign is the way the players have responded to coaching and worked through different challenges. Hodge said he believes the group has potential, which will be important as the team gets more comfortable playing together.
“I think our ceiling to improve is high,” Hodge said.
WVU’s balanced scoring against Wheeling was another positive. Five players reached double figures, led by Miles Sadler with 15 points. Bizjack added 14, while Joson Sanon, Mouhamed Sylla and Keonte Greybear each scored 11.
Having multiple scoring options gives Hodge flexibility, but the team will need to keep developing those options as opponents begin preparing specifically for WVU.
Sadler’s adjustment to the college game is also worth watching. Hodge has pointed to his progress with decision-making around the rim and on defense, while emphasizing that he still needs to control his pace and improve his rebounding.
Those are the kinds of smaller improvements that can make a difference over the course of a season.
Hodge believes his team is ready to begin playing games that count, even if it is far from the end goal.
“I think we’re ready for the regular season,” Hodge said. “I think we’re ready to play. I mean, we’re not anywhere close to a finished product, but I think we have what we need to play the game on Monday.”
The three exhibitions gave WVU a chance to identify what it does well and where it still needs work. The offense has shown its scoring potential, the defense has made adjustments, and the rebounding has been encouraging.
The biggest question now is consistency. WVU has shown flashes of what it can be, but the Mountaineers will need to put those pieces together for longer stretches when the regular season begins, starting on Monday, November 2 against Niagara.
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