MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In Ross Hodge’s first season as West Virginia head coach, the Mountaineers were ahead of four of 365 Division I programs in adjusted tempo, a metric KenPom.com measures based on possessions per 40 minutes that takes into account opponents.
Hodge doesn’t expect history to repeat itself in 2026-27.
While WVU works in 11 new players for the upcoming campaign, it’s expected that true freshman Miles Sadler, a 6-foot guard and one of the more decorated recruits in program history, will often lead the attack.
“Naturally, the pace of play will pick up more this year just because of who’s at your point guard position,” Hodge said. “It’s kind of like your quarterback. If that position doesn’t want to play fast, then you typically are not going to play fast.”
Jasper Floyd was the Mountaineers’ primary point guard last season, and it was no secret he preferred a methodical pace of play, often walking the basketball up the court and no stranger to playing in the post.
While Sadler has yet to play at the collegiate level, the 170-pound guard has quickness that stands out on tape and is a plenty capable ball-handler whom the Mountaineers hope can set teammates up for success through his playmaking ability.
The head coach has been impressed with Sadler’s mentality and maturity in the early stages.
“He’s a very confident player, but his humility and humbleness is also what makes him special,” Hodge said. “His willingness to be coached. He’s a great teammate and endears himself to his teammates. He’s easy to pull for and he knows he has to get a lot better. He’s not coming in here like he has all the answers and has it all figured out. He’s talented and competitive. He has a great competitive spirit, but his willingness to be coached and be a good teammate and not have it all figured out is probably what’s jumped out.
“Those characteristics usually allow talented players and talented people to get even better at a rapid rate.”
Hodge noted Finley Bizjack, a guard with scoring prowess he showcased at Butler, should factor into the team upping its pace, along with numerous other additions to the roster, though many of them won’t be tasked with ball-handling.
“Naturally, it’ll pick up with Miles’ speed and Finley’s speed and also the length and athleticism in your front court with [Mouhamed Sylla], Amadou [Seini], Aliou [Dioum]. Joson [Sanon] and Seydou [Traore] are both really good athletes,” Hodge said. “Naturally, the pace of play will pick up without even having to say anything.”
Yet in three years as a head coach at the Division I level, Hodge has never had a team play remotely fast.
In his two seasons in charge at North Texas, the Mean Green ranked 360th of 362 and 362nd of 364 teams, respectively, in adjusted tempo.
Hodge believes tempo mostly is dictated to what best suits a particular team, and more importantly, leads to the best shot selection.
“For me personally as a coach, you’re always trying to generate the best shot you can on each possession and sometimes that may only take one pass,” Hodge said. “Sometimes that could take more of the shot clock. It’s really trying to figure out what are good shots for you as a group and that’s part of the learning curve that you have with a newer group is getting everybody to understand shot selection is not equal opportunity.”
West Virginia’s roster is likely to change in the near future, and with Friday’s ruling from a U.S. District Judge in Colorado that all high school class of 2022 athletes who used their fourth season of eligibility are eligible for a fifth season of competition in the 2026-27 athletics year, there is a possibility the Mountaineers could bring back a player or two from last season thought to be through with college basketball.
While that ruling is sure to be challenged by the NCAA, should it stick, it would allow forward Brenen Lorient and guard Treysen Eagelstaff one more season of college eligibility, though West Virginia has one open roster spot at present.
Whether or not Lorient and/or Eaglestaff plays a second season at West Virginia, Hodge expects the Mountaineers to carry a different look.
“The first thing without even watching any sort of basketball take place, the size, length and speed is probably something that would jump out to the naked eye,” he said. “A little bigger, a little stronger, a little faster and then the experience from the Power 5 level is different.”