What Does Crown Title Mean for WVU Basketball Program?

WVU basketball ended the season on a three-game winning streak after defeating Oklahoma in the College Basketball Crown title game 89-82. While any team would choose March Madness over playing in any other postseason tournament, head coach Ross Hodge is treating this title as a chance to build the program’s future.

At the end of the day, the Crown gave WVU a chance to keep winning, which head coach Ross Hodge emphasized in the postgame press conference. He shared his high hopes, which this tournament win could act as a foundation to reach for.

“Nothing ever comes bad from winning. Winning can be contagious in a lot of ways, and use these experiences to hopefully put you in position to one day be playing in the game tomorrow night,” Hodge said.

Hodge provides something important, something the program hasn’t enjoyed in five seasons: stability. For the first time since 2021, there won’t be a head coaching change for West Virginia. Pairing a tenured head coach with a winning standard is a step in the right direction.

The Mountaineers were hit-and-miss this season, as Hodge shared his beliefs on how close WVU was to making the NCAA Tournament. There were collapses and close losses, but WVU managed to end the season on a high note. While College Basketball Crown titles aren’t the standard, Hodge says it is a good stepping stone and gives this season’s players fond memories.

“It’s not the ultimate goal as a program or university but it sets a standard but it sets a great standard and expectation moving forward,” Hodge said. “And these guys, when we are playing in Final Fours and winning national championships, these guys will know that they started it and they’ll look back on it and know they laid the foundation for what is to come.”

Ross Hodge Argues Why WVU Basketball Was Close to Making NCAA Tournament

Is the College Basketball Crown below the standards of an historic program like WVU? Sure. However, it would’ve been a miracle for WVU to jump right back into the Sweet 16 after the past four years. Hodge is well aware of the expectations that come with leading the program.

The Crown allows the program to go approach the offseason with momentum and add the trophy case. Now, the only way to truly establish this as a foundation for the future is to take advantage of the momentum.

Editor’s Note: The Crown title marks the third time in the history of WVU basketball the Mountaineers have ended a season by winning a tournament championship: 1942 NIT (WVU claims this as a national championship due to the NIT being more prominent at the time) 2007 NIT 2026 College Basketball Crown.

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