WVU basketball set to carry high expectations into upcoming season

It's no secret that the West Virginia Mountaineers just put together an incredible offseason haul. The Mountaineers posted top recruiting classes in both the transfer portal and at the high school level, and have been named as one of the top winners of the offseason. So it's no surprise that expectations seem to be high as the program enters the 2026-2027 season.

Now, the school year getting close to starting – and that marks the start of preseason workouts for college basketball teams across the country. So those who follow the sport are turning their heads toward what they expect to see on the hardwood this coming year. And it's becoming clear that the college basketball world is expecting an improvement from the Mountaineers in their second season under Ross Hodge.

Preseason rankings indicate a strong second season under Ross Hodge for the West Virginia Mountaineers

Many outlets are dropping their preseason rankings for the Big 12, and it's looking like that huge offseason haul is resulting in rising expectations for the Mountaineers. After they finished seventh in the Big 12 last year, Jeff Goodman at The Field of 68 has the Mountaineers ranked sixth this season in his preseason rankings.

And Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports technically has the Mountaineers projected lower in his preseason power rankings than where they finished last season, putting them at eighth overall. But his additional analysis shows that he thinks West Virginia has a pretty high ceiling this season, picking them as his preseason Big 12 sleeper.

"I think year two for Ross Hodge at West Virginia is going to be a really, really big year," Rothstein said."I love what this program has done from a perimeter perspective...there is enough right now in year two on the roster in West Virginia for a sizeable jump for West Virginia under Ross Hodge.

The Mountaineers put in some serious work this offseason, and people across the country who follow the sport seriously have taken notice. Now, Hodge and the Mountaineers will need to put together an impressive season to deliver on the hype. And for a program with the history that WVU has, it's safe to say anything return to the NCAA Tournament after a three-year drought will feel like a disappointment.

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