Ross Hodge Details Strategy of Challenging Young Center Mouhamed Sylla

One of the top new additions recruited by WVU basketball head coach Ross Hodge was sophomore center Mo Sylla. As a project player believed to have a high ceiling, Hodge has high standards for the young big man.

Prior to transferring to WVU, Sylla had played in just 12 career games after being sidelined with an injury for most of his freshman season. Hodge said it was important to him to establish trust with Sylla before truly pushing him.

“So he’s still a very young player and a lot of this is new to him,” Hodge said in a press conference on Wednesday. “And so a new environment I had to build a level of trust between myself and him that you kind of got to get to the trust part before you can get to the really, really pushing.”

The process worked, and Hodge said Sylla has been open and responsive to Hodge’s coaching and constructive criticism. He added he was pleased with Sylla’s second-half performance against Stetson when he finished with 11 points while going 7-8 from the free throw line.

“He’s allowed me to coach him hard and coach him direct, challenge him. And he’s responded in a lot of ways. I thought he had a great response even in our game the other day, had a really strong second half, strong finish, stepped up there and made free throws.” Hodge said.

Hodge also mentioned developing Sylla’s motor, encouraging him to reach into his “reserve tank” when he feels fatigued. Sylla said he has been open to improving in that area as well.

“He’s telling me I need to go hard. Like, I be going hard. He tells me the way you going hard is not enough, so you need to go hard enough. So I feel like every time he challenges me, I be answering right,” Sylla said during his own media session.

Answering Hodge’s call has been key for Sylla, and he said he intends to keep responding to Hodge’s challenges.

“I feel like he expects me to do more, like, and I kind of feel it and I’m ready for everything. Like everything he challenges me, I’m ready for the answer,” Hodge said.

WVU basketball will be back in action at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, when it hosts Mercer.

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