Hodge, Huff Attempt to Explain Slow Starts for WVU Basketball

WVU basketball found itself in a double-digit hole once more to start Wednesday’s 61-56 loss to Utah, opening down 18-2 after allowing two 9-0 runs.

Senior guard Honor Huff and head coach Ross Hodge gave their best attempts at explaining the phenomena, with Huff suggesting the team tries to “feel out” the game instead of starting fast.

“I think we just come out lethargic. I think we are trying to feel the game out, and when we do that, the other team is pressing… you have a team like that, that had nothing to lose, they, they come in here with reckless advantage and  they’re pushing it at us, and we don’t have a response because we’re not in tune with the physicality of that process of them and their offensive prowess,” Huff said in the postgame press conference.

Hodge partially agreed with Huff, saying urgency is most important in all aspects of the game.

“Maybe that’s fair. We’re certainly not playing with the level of desperation and urgency and aggression that you need, you know, on, on either end of the floor, primarily the defensive end of the floor… I don’t think that’s necessarily the feeling out part of it,” Hodge said.

“I think you have to play with a level of urgency in this league and, again, our margin for error is this thin. That’s the truth.”

One aspect that remained consistent throughout the game was WVU being out rebounded 38-28. At the end of the first half, it was 23-12.

Hodge mentioned rebounding and free throws as key to coming back from deficits, something the Mountaineers failed to do on Wednesday night.

“If you’re gonna get out rebounded by 10, yeah, then you can’t go 7-for-14 from the foul line. If you’re gonna miss 30 shots and only get seven offensive rebounds, yeah, you better make your free throws,” Hodge said.

WVU basketball will take the court again at 5 p.m. on Saturday when the team battles TCU on the road.

Find more coverage of Ross Hodge and WVU basketball at WV Sports Now.