Ross Hodge has secured his first win as the head coach of the Mountaineers. West Virginia defeated Mount St. Mary’s in their season opener by a final score of 70-54. Here are ten rapid reactions as we look back on Tuesday's win.
1. Jasper Floyd Saved WVU
The truth is, if Jasper Floyd didn’t put forth the performance that he did, West Virginia may have been upset by Mount St. Mary’s. Fortunately for WVU, Floyd made his presence felt from start to finish in this one and was impactful on both sides of the ball. In 32 minutes, Floyd scored 25 points, dished out four assists, and had five steals. He controlled the game offensively and, in many ways, led the charge defensively alongside Brenen Lorient.
2. Concern over Treysen Eaglestaff
Treysen Eaglestaff managed to score just one point, making 1-of-3 free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt. He only attempted three shots in 26 minutes played. Eaglestaff is adjusting to finding himself in the offense alongside other talented scorers at WVU, whereas at North Dakota, the offense ran through Eaglestaff, who averaged nearly 19 points per game last season.
3. DJ Thomas Impresses
Freshman DJ Thomas certainly didn’t play like a freshman in the season opener. He scored seven points in 19 minutes and was a strong presence on both sides of the floor. As Head Coach Ross Hodge noted postgame, Thomas is taking advantage of his opportunity to see the floor with Jackson Fields currently sidelined with an injury.
4. No Jayden Forysthe?
Among the other freshmen hoping to make an impact this season is the sharpshooting Jayden Forsythe. Though he was in uniform, Forsythe did not play against Mount St. Mary’s.
5. Free Throw Woes
West Virginia got to the charity strip early and often but made only 23-of-35 attempts. If you take away Honor Huff’s 7-for-7 from the line, they shot just 16-of-28 (57%) on the evening. On nights where Treysen Eaglestaff is struggling to find his offense, knocking down free throws becomes all the more important.
6. Brenen Lorient is Vital
Brenen Lorient could and should be mentioned right alongside Jasper Floyd for his crucial performance in the season opener. With Obioha struggling and saddled with foul trouble, Lorient hauled in 13 rebounds in 35 minutes while also scoring 11 points to pick up a double-double. Lorient’s play was terrific. He is a vital part of this team’s identity offensively and defensively.
7. Chance Moore & Jackson Fields were missed
Both Chance Moore and Jackson Fields figure to be consistent contributors for the Mountaineers this season. Moore is forced to sit out the first five games, and Fields is still working his way back from off-season surgery.
8. Harlan Obioha was Quiet
While foul trouble kept him out of the game at times, Obioha did not have a very impactful 17 minutes played. All five of his points came at the free throw line, and the 7-footer had just two rebounds. Obioha’s involvement in the offense as a willing passer will lead to open looks for Honor Huff and Treysen Eaglestaff.
9. Ross Hodge's Rocky Debut
Of course, Ross Hodge is happy to collect win number one of the season and his first as a Mountaineer, but there are undoubtedly things for this team to work on. As expected, a team playing on November 4 will not look the same in March. Hodge, his staff, and these players should not be satisfied with this performance but rather strive for improvement.
10. Not a Pretty Win
A win is a win. This one just wasn’t very pretty. West Virginia led by just six at halftime and led by the same total with just a few minutes left before pulling away for a 16-point victory. Again, if it wasn’t for the performances of Jasper Floyd and Brenen Lorient, we may be having a different conversation.