Ross Hodge Details Goals for Upcoming WVU Basketball Season

WVU basketball has high expectations this season, both from fans and from within the building. Head coach Ross Hodge elaborated on the process of meeting these goals in a podcast interview with CBS Sports at Big 12 Media Days.

Hodge spoke on the upcoming season with an awareness of the lack of a margin for error in the Big 12 after last year, where WVU spent a considerable portion of the season on the bubble and ultimately missed the NCAA tournament.

“Ultimately when you look at it, we were a win or two away from leaving no doubt and and, ultimately comes down to a possession or two, and kind of having to control what you can control,” Hodge said. “And put ourselves in position to be in that mix, and had some opportunities but didn’t take full advantage of them.”

Hodge called on his JUCO coaching experience and drew similarities between leading a team at that level and in Division I. He learned even though a player is on your team, they often have higher aspirations beyond that season.

Hodge said finding ways to balance personal and team goals is vital to the health of the team.

“Everybody’s coming into junior college with the picture of wanting to move on to bigger and better things. But how can we achieve our goals while also helping you achieve your goals,” Hodge said. “And I think it is a good message even in the upper levels of college basketball now. Hey, you want to be professional, you want to be an NBA player. How can we help you achieve that, but within a team concept where we all get what we want out of this?”

With a goal off this year’s roster being to make the NCAA Tournament, Hodge is confident the pieces are there to accomplish that. With a plethora of experience being brought to Morgantown, Hodge said the key is forming an experience together.

Find more coverage of WVU basketball at WV Sports Now.