Jon Rothstein Argues Why WVU Basketball Will Be a ‘Top-Half Big 12 Team’

NCAA basketball analyst Jon Rothstein has been high on WVU basketball, including the Mountaineers in his “Rothstein 45” rankings.

While he has WVU etched at No. 38, he elaborated on why he believes the Mountaineers will succeed this season.

“Ross Hodge, somebody again, looks primed to take the Mountaineers to the NCAA Tournament. Completely revamped perimeter. Miles Sadler, a talented freshman. Joson Sanon, transfer from St. John’s. Finley Bizjack, a transfer from Butler and then up front you have Mouhamed Sylla from Georgia Tech. West Virginia, to me, looks like a top-half team in the Big 12 conference,” Rothstein said.

Rothstein has consistently been favorable toward this year’s WVU squad, also calling WVU a “Big 12 sleeper,” earlier this summer.

Recruiting wise, 247 Sports ranked WVU No. 10 in its overall recruiting class rankings. Those rankings include all committed players, both transfers and freshman. WVU is also ranked No. 16 among transfer classes and No. 13 in high school recruiting.

However, Rothstein’s latest comments follow the release of the Big 12 media preseason poll, which projected West Virginia to finish in 10th.

In Hodge’s first year, West Virginia finished the season at 18-14 with a 9-10 Big 12 record, including 0-1 in the conference tournament. The Mountaineers finished with three straight wins, culminating in a College Basketball Crown Championship.

Find more coverage of WVU basketball at WV Sports Now.