Jon Rotstein Shares WVU Basketball Preseason Ranking

CBS college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein revealed his preseason Big 12 rankings, where he has WVU placed at No. 8 in a post to X Wednesday.

WVU sits behind Arizona, Houston, Iowa State, BYU, TCU, Kansas and Oklahoma State.

Despite placing WVU in the middle of the pack for the conference, Rothstein has expressed belief in a higher ceiling for the Mountaineers. He called WVU a “Big 12 sleeper,” earlier this week.

“I love what this program has done from a perimeter perspective. Miles Sadler will be one of the better and more productive freshmen in the country. Joson Sanon on a wing, Finley Bizjak on a wing,” Rothstein said. “Those are two transfers from the Big East who have logged meaningful minutes and can score the ball.”

He also praised the signing of sophomore center Mouhamad Sylla, who Rothstein believes will be a solid Big 12 center.

“Sylla is a player from Georgia Tech… who again was highly thought of out of high school. He’ll be, in my opinion, one of the better post players in the Big 12,” Rothstein added.

Rothstein’s rankings come just one day after fellow analyst Jeff Goodman placed WVU No. 6 in his Big 12 preseason rankings. Goodman placed WVU behind Houston, Arizona, Kansas, Iowa State and Texas Tech, all proven Big 12 programs.

Earlier this offseason, 247 Sports ranked WVU No. 10 in its overall recruiting class rankings.

The 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.

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.