While the West Virginia Mountaineers have struggled through ups and downs in Ross Hodge's first season at the helm of the program, prominent figures across college basketball are finding themselves admiring the work he has done so far.
Things haven't been all sunshine and rainbows for WVU, as they went 1-4 against power conference opponents in non-conference play, and they have suffered blowout losses in league play against No. 1 Arizona, No. 8 Iowa State, and No. 10 Houston.
But there have also been plenty of positives to focus on this season as well. The Mountaineers are currently 5-3 in Big 12 play, good enough to currently sit eighth out of 16 teams in the league, and they do have a Quad 1 victory over the No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks to their name. And just after the team's most recent win over Kansas State, Hodge labeled it his 'favorite' win yet.
WVU Basketball, Ross Hodge Garner Attention For Strong Start
While everything hasn't been perfect, it's easy to see the things to be excited about with Ross Hodge as a head coach and for the Mountaineers overall. And one person who has taken notice of what Hodge is doing in Morgantown is Fran Fraschilla.
Fraschilla is a legendary figure in college basketball, having spent eight years as a Division 1 head coach before transitioning into a career as a college basketbal analyst with ESPN, where he primarily covers the Big 12.
Recently, Fraschilla shared his praise for the work Hodge has done this season, and indicated that he believes Hodge could lead the program to great things as he settles in with the program.
“WVU hoops is now 14-7 and 5-3 in the Big 12 Conference. Only losses are to Iowa State, Houston, and Arizona," Fraschilla said. "I believe they can get to 9-9, maybe 10-8. Ross Hodge put a roster together quickly and has embraced the great people of the state. Bright future!”
In the long-term, Fraschilla's confidence should inspire WVU fans that Hodge is the right man to lead the program, as few men understand better what it takes to achieve sustained success as a head coach at the highest levels of college basketball.
And in the short-term, if Fraschilla's prediction for a final Big 12 record for West Virginia proves correct, they will be right back in the hunt for the NCAA Tournament this season, and a near-lock for the NIT if they miss the tournament but choose to explore other postseason options.