Ross Hodge on WVU Basketball Handling Long Break in Between Games

The WVU basketball team has not played a game since Dec. 22, 2025.  From their latest victory against Mississippi Valley State to their upcoming matchup against Iowa State, the Mountaineers will have a total of 11 days off.

Long breaks at the end of the year are common due to the holidays, but various NCAA teams, including Big 12 teams such as Iowa State, Arizona, and Houston, have played since Christmas. Head coach Ross Hodge recently spoke on the advantages that come from having such a long break, particularly when it comes to family.

“I can lean on my own experience from this semester, kind of having to do a separate family thing with my family, spending a good majority of this first semester back in Texas. These guys being away from home, it’s nice to be able to spend time with your loved ones and your family,” Hodge said in a recent press conference.

“I think we all feel pressure, I’m sure everybody in here wants to do special things for the people you care most about in this world. If you want to do something special with your family, put your phone down, and give them your undivided attention and your undivided time. That’s the most valuable thing in the world is time,” Hodge added.

While they got a chance to recover mentally, the team was able to get more work done on a physical level.  Coach Hodge spoke on the added work the players were able to get during the break.

“We got much needed practice time this last week.  Because we missed so much time with this group via injury early with Jackson [Fields] and other guys in the fall.  We didn’t get a lot of time to just have those really hard physical practices, and that’s what this last week allowed us,” Hodge said.

WVU basketball will end their long break on Jan. 2 when they face Iowa State in their Big 12 opener at 7 p.m.

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