MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU Men’s Basketball is getting closer to the start of the 2026-27 season, and head coach Ross Hodge is beginning to get a better look at what his roster can become.
The Mountaineers recently hit the court for the first official practice of the season Monday, although Hodge said the team has already put in plenty of work leading up to it.
With the regular season approaching, Hodge likes the mix of youth and experience on his roster.
“It’s got a great blend of youthful excitement and still have some experienced players,” Hodge said. “That combination lends itself to a lot of learning on all fronts, but also some maturity to help those young guys along the way.”
That combination has been noticeable throughout the preseason, with Hodge praising the older players for helping the younger members of the roster adjust. Read more: WVU Men’s Basketball: Hodge talks athleticism, young players, and building 2026-27 roster.
Hodge likes WVU’s athleticism
One of the biggest differences Hodge sees with this year’s team is its ability to play above the rim.
Hodge pointed to players such as Amadou Seini and Aliou Dioum as players who can create more vertical pressure around the basket. He also mentioned Brenen Lorient as an established high-level athlete.
“Those guys can put more vertical rim pressure on a defense,” Hodge said.
That athleticism also carries over to the defensive end.
Related: WVU basketball teams get look at 2026-27 Big 12 schedules
Hodge believes West Virginia has multiple players capable of defending at a high level in the Big 12, specifically pointing to Seydou Traore and Joson Sanon.
“Seydou, I thought he did as good a job on anybody last year in the entire league of when he guarded Honor (Huff),” Hodge said. “And that really jumped out to me that with his size and length and then had the foot speed to run with Honor. And so there’s no reason he can’t be one of the best defenders in the Big 12.”
Hodge also sees similar potential in Sanon, while Lorient gives the Mountaineers another versatile option defensively.
With experience and potential front line, Hodge believes WVU has the size and fluidity to cover plenty of ground defensively.
Young players developing
West Virginia also has several young players who have made progress throughout the summer.
Hodge specifically discussed Miles Sadler, Amadou Seini, and Jelani McKoy, who played together at Bella Vista Prep in Arizona.
According to Hodge, the trio has developed better routines while learning how to balance the demands that come with playing college basketball.
“They’ve all developed quality routines and habits,” Hodge said. “How are we going to balance weight room, classes, workouts, practices, the demands of the physical parts of what’s required of these young guys nowadays?”
Hodge believes one of the biggest positives has been their willingness to listen and be coached.
He singled out Sadler in particular, pointing to the freshman’s talent and willingness to learn.
“He’s been gifted with a lot of talent,” Hodge said. “But his willingness to be coached and not walk around like he has all the answers is what allows those guys to get better quickly.”
Sadler’s speed could also give WVU another way to push the pace this season.
Hodge said the Mountaineers naturally have more speed and more players capable of running the floor, but Sadler will have to learn how to control that speed.
“The challenge for, I think, Miles with his speed is harnessing his speed at times and using it as a weapon and not allowing it to maybe get himself in some trouble,” Hodge said.
WVU still figuring out its rotation
With the season still weeks away, Hodge is not ready to lock in a starting five.
He said the coaching staff will likely begin focusing more heavily on those decisions three or four days before the first exhibition game.
For Hodge, however, the starting lineup is not necessarily the most important part of building the team.
Instead, he is focused on how different combinations work together.
“Who’s coming in with who?” Hodge said. “Do you have enough shooting? Do you have enough defense? Do you have enough rebounding? And how do you merge it all together?”
Hodge pointed to his previous teams as examples of why a player’s role cannot always be determined simply by whether they start.
He also believes West Virginia has multiple players who can serve as offensive hubs.
Martin Somerville can play either guard position, while Lorient and Buchanan can serve as secondary playmakers because of their passing ability.
Hodge expects opposing defenses to try to take the ball out of WVU’s guards’ hands, creating opportunities for those secondary playmakers.
“If you’re going to put two people on player A and he passes it to player B, can player B make a three-point shot?” Hodge said. “Or can player B then drive that ball and can he pass it to someone that can make?”
For Hodge, the more options WVU has offensively, the more difficult the Mountaineers can be to defend.
“The more ways you can win a game, the better,” Hodge said.
West Virginia will keep working toward finding those combinations as the season approaches, with Hodge emphasizing there is still plenty of time for the roster to develop before the games begin.
