Asti: Bouncing Back After Adversity Shows WVU Basketball Can Return to Glory

When Bob Huggins’ career ended unceremoniously, WVU basketball fans were left distraught. While watching Josh Eilert preside over arguably the worst season in program history, some began to wonder how long it would take for the Mountaineers to get back to relevancy. And when Darian DeVries left West Virginia after just one season, Mountaineer Nation was left feeling teased by a turn-around season and feeling as if they were led on.

Those feelings were all very valid at the time, but Ross Hodge has proved that the “doom and gloom” takes were never actually real. Any predictions that it would take West Virginia upwards of five years to even be competitive again after Eilert’s 9-23 record in 2023-24 were gross exaggerations to the reality of the situation.

It’s clear that with the right coach in place, WVU can be relevant without requiring a long journey to get there. As of March 2, Hodge has West Virginia at 17-13 (8-9, Big 12) and on the bubble. The season has been far from perfect and the roster is flawed, but the Mountaineers are playing meaningful games at the end of the season again.

After being snubbed at the end of last season, WVU is now right back in the same spot again one year later. While we can argue about which season was better, assuming both result in just missing out on the NCAA Tournament – DeVries’ group had an extra Quad 1 win and three top 10 wins to give it an edge over Hodge’s team, the fact remains a new coach brought in a completely new roster and has the Mountaineers right where they were when they were dumped by their ex.

Of course, if DeVries stayed and could build on the success of his year one, it’s likely the program is further ahead and firmly in “the dance” right now. But that’s not reality, and it’s clear DeVries had his eyes on other people while dating WVU.

Ironically enough, DeVries’ Indiana also has the same record as West Virginia with only a couple games left before conference tournament action gets underway.

Former WVU head coach Darian DeVries with his coaching staff and his son and former WVU player, Tucker DeVries, behind him during a game in January of 2025. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)

Hodge has tons of work ahead to get the program back to being a perennial March winner, but a season under his belt and a five-star recruit waiting in wings should provide an offseason about building off a plan already in place, rather than having to start from scratch.

And looking across the country, WVU has withstood turmoil better than some others. Maryland, a program with a similar history to West Virginia, watched their young coach walk out of the door after leading the Terrapins to their first Sweet 16 run in nine years. Kevin Willard left for what he viewed as a better job, much like DeVries felt he was leaving WVU for the greener pastures of Bloomington.

But unlike West Virginia, able to pivot without losing ground, Maryland has had to endure a forgettable season despite bringing in a veteran and more accomplished coach in Buzz Williams. That goes to show that even getting back to respectability isn’t guaranteed, and at least getting there in one year shows it is possible for West Virginia to become  a national contender in the not too distant future.

The moral of the story is this: while WVU basketball has seen better days than being victim to a bubble popping, even a school like West Virginia can turn things around quickly and rebound from tough times in this era of the sport. And with stability, the Mountaineers can climb back to the level of national contender once again.

Find more coverage of the WVU basketball program at WV Sports Now.

For a related story, WV Sports Now examines the pros and cons of WVU accepting a bid to a non NCAA Tournament.