Ross Hodge is making waves with his bold, game-changing approach to building the Mountaineers’ defense, and he’s got his eyes locked on one of the best in the business—Houston’s Kelvin Sampson. With Sampson’s defense becoming the gold standard in college basketball, Hodge is primed to elevate West Virginia’s defensive prowess to new heights.
Sampson has turned Houston into a defensive juggernaut, and Hodge is determined to replicate that magic at West Virginia. The Mountaineers have struggled at times defensively, but Hodge’s strategy promises to reshape the culture and put the team on a championship trajectory. By incorporating Sampson’s aggressive, physical style—emphasizing suffocating pressure, forcing turnovers, and dominating the boards—Hodge aims to make West Virginia’s defense a nightmare for opponents.
The transition isn’t just about X’s and O’s. Hodge is crafting a defensive mentality that demands intensity, grit, and relentless effort from every player on the floor. It’s about more than just shutting down scorers; it’s about creating an identity and an unstoppable force that can take over games.
And the timing couldn’t be better. West Virginia, with its passionate fanbase and rich basketball history, is ready for a defensive revolution. If Hodge can channel Sampson’s methods and make them his own, the Mountaineers will be a force to be reckoned with, not just in the Big 12 but on the national stage.
