Ross Hodge Expects Faster Pace of Play, Gives Insight to WVU’s PG Position

After a year of often-stagnant offense, WVU basketball head coach Ross Hodge predicts a faster pace for the 2026-27 Mountaineers.

His confidence in faster play comes from the point guard position, where he believes freshman five-star recruit Miles Sadler and senior guard Finley Bizjack will quicken the pace.

“I think, naturally, the pace of play will pick up more this year just because of who’s at your point guard position. It’s kinda like your quarterback. Typically, if that position doesn’t wanna play fast, then you typically are not going to play fast,” Hodge said during his first media session in months on Thursday.

“So I think naturally it’ll pick up with, with Miles’ speed and Finley’s speed.”

Last season, WVU was led at the point guard position by senior Jasper Floyd, who was Hodge said “plays at his pace.”

“You get to know him and he’s, he moves, he plays at his pace, he eats pre-game meal at his pace… He doesn’t do anything fast, man,” Hodge said of Floyd after the team’s exhibition game against Wheeling University last year.

Sadler and Bizjack are two players who have earned high expectations ahead of their WVU debut seasons, as Sadler is a five-star point guard with a surplus of accolades and Bizjack comes off a season as Butler’s leading scorer with 17.1 points per game.

While no starters have been officially yet for WVU, it makes sense that those two are names that come to mind. Hodge also mentioned junior guard Joson Sanon when discussing the team’s pace of play.

“Also the, the length and athleticism in your front court even with like Mo (Sylla) and Amadou (Seini) and Aliou (Dioum) and Joson and Seydou (Traore) are both really good athletes. So naturally, I think the piece, the pace of play will pick up without even having to say anything.” Hodge added.

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