The West Virginia Mountaineers turned themselves into a topic of college basketball discussion on Saturday.
WVU welcomed the No. 22 Kansas Jayhawks into the Hope Coliseum in Morgantown for a Saturday afternoon Big 12 showdown. Most people expected entering the game that Kansas would be headed home by Saturday evening with a win, as the Mountaineers entered just 2-5 against Power 5 competition this season, while all four losses the Jayhawks had suffered on the season had been to Top 25 opponents.
But despite everyone's expectations, as well as entering as the better underdogs, the Mountaineers did the improbably and upset the ranked Jayhawks in an 86-75 victory that advances them to 11-5 on the season and 2-1 in Big 12 play.
Quickly following the upset win, the college basketball world on social media reacted to the result. From West Virginia fans to college basketball media members, there was no shortage of folks that walked away from Saturday's clash between the two Big 12 powerhouses unimpressed by what they saw.
WVU fans in particular that had reservations about Ross Hodge as a head coach after some tough losses over the past two months got to see what a team built by his vision looks like when firing on all cylinders, and this statement win over a blue blood and premier conference opponent went a long way into easing concerns about the future of the program under his leadership.
Check out some of the reactions to Saturday's win on Twitter, formerly known as X, just below this story.
WEST VIRGINIAAA ๐ฃ๏ธ @WVUhoops takes down No. 22 Kansas in Morgantown! pic.twitter.com/P1qmiAGPVF
โ FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 10, 2026
West Virginia Basketball.
โ Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 10, 2026
Tougher than a long weekend at your in-laws.
Ross Hodge coached circles around Bill Self in that second half.
โ Andrew Corbett (@AndrewwCorbett_) January 10, 2026
Some really good offensive sets utilizing Huff as a screener.
WHAT A GAME, what an effort. Ainโt a bad start to the Big 12 schedule this week. LetโS Go @WVUhoops
โ Charles Wesley Godwin (@CharlesWesleyG) January 10, 2026
Great day to be a Mountaineer wherever you may be!
โ Emmitt Matthews Jr. (@THEDOOSKIE) January 10, 2026
You were incredible today Mountaineer Nation. Enjoy the win! Lets Go! https://t.co/k5Qzfinh32
โ Wren Baker (@wrenbaker) January 10, 2026
Death. Taxes. Beating Kansas at the Coliseum. Hell yeah @WVUhoops
โ Wes Uhler (@WesleyUhler) January 10, 2026
Asked Kansas Basketball to keep a lead pic.twitter.com/X73eLRkZsd
โ ๐ฟ๐๐ง๐ง๐ฎ๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐ช๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ง (@DPOYHicks) January 10, 2026
Itโs a great day to be a Mountaineer! pic.twitter.com/2djLyQW302
โ Adam Crowley (@_adamcrowley) January 10, 2026
Ross Hodge was elite in that second half. Pressed all the right buttons.
โ Schuyler Callihan (@Callihan_) January 10, 2026
You know Bill Self hates the Coliseum ๐คฃ he said I'm tired of losing here I'm getting a technical ๐คฃ #WVU
โ Country Roads Webcast (Jorden) (@WVUCountryRoads) January 10, 2026
https://t.co/JRSQXw2ekh pic.twitter.com/I57pKjuKJP
โ Hulk Hogan (WVU) (@PokeyHogan) January 10, 2026
Anyone who said Hodge wasnโt the guy after 15 games can get up outta here
โ The Coal Country Podcast (@coalcountrywvu) January 10, 2026
Hodge straight up out-coached Self in the second half of that game. Was not a fluke.
โ The Smoking Musket (@smokingmusket) January 10, 2026
This has to be more than an Eilert Year blip, have to seize the momentum from this.