Could Ross Hodge be a better defensive coach than Bob Huggins?

The West Virginia Mountaineers are about to enter their second season under Ross Hodge, and the hype surrounding the program is very real. Hodge led the Mountaineers to a College Basketball Crown championship, and then oversaw an offseason recruiting haul that saw the program named one of thebiggest offseason winnersin all of Division 1 basketball.

But moany West Virginia fans still will be measuring Hodge by the standard set during the long tenure of Bob Huggins, who led the program from 2007-2023 before a tumultuous, scandal-driven departure from the program. Huggins led the Mountaineers to national relevance for more than a decade on the hardwood – but there is one surprising facet where he might be outmatched by Hodge.

Ross Hodge coaches a more efficient defense for WVU basektball than Bob Huggins

If you asked most West Virginia fans which facet of a Bob Huggins-led team was at West Virginia, the most common answer you'd likely receive is "defense."

Huggins drilled a tenacious defensive approach every single season, and when the Mountaineers struggled in the early 2010's following the beginning of his tenure, he pioneered the famous "Press Virginia" approach that kept the Mountaineers competing a high level.

But when you look at the stats, it's possible Ross Hodge will usher in an even better era of defense for the West Virginia Mountaineers. During his first season with the Mountaineers, Hodge's defenseranked No. 18 in the nationin adjusted defensive efficiency. That finish is better than 12 of the 16 defenses that Huggins put on the floor during his tenure with the Mountaineers.

Now, of course, the level of defensive talent across the country differs from year-to-year, and Hodge has yet to hit the defensive peak that Huggins reached multiple times during his tenure. But for his first season and a roster pieced together in the late stages of the portal, it's quite impressive to see the level of defense the Mountaineers fielded last season.

And with the level of talent Hodge as added to the roster, things will likely only improves as he continues to helm the program. So while Huggins is a West Virginia legend and should not be overlooked, don't be surprised if we're discussing Hodge's defenses in a similar vein to how we discuss Huggins' defenses in the near future.

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