West Virginia's Relentless Effort Frustrates Opponents

UCF coach Johnny Dawkins explains why the Mountaineers are so hard to put away.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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West Virginia's men's basketball team is known for its relentless effort and energy on the court, which makes them a difficult opponent to put away, according to UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins. Dawkins discussed how the Mountaineers' defensive intensity and ability to execute their game plan for the full 40 minutes allows them to erase large deficits and pull out close victories, even when their offense is struggling.

Why it matters

West Virginia's gritty, never-quit style of play has been a key factor in their success this season, as they have already erased double-digit deficits in multiple road games. This approach has helped the Mountaineers overcome their offensive limitations and remain competitive in the tough Big 12 conference.

The details

Dawkins highlighted how West Virginia thrives on its defensive effort and ability to dictate the pace of the game. Even when the Mountaineers' offense is not clicking, their refusal to let up on the defensive end keeps them in games. Dawkins pointed to West Virginia forward Honor Huff as an example, noting how Huff was able to heat up late and finish with 21 points after scoring just 7 in the first 31 minutes.

  • West Virginia has erased 14-point deficits in each of their last two road games.

The players

Johnny Dawkins

The head coach of the UCF men's basketball team.

Ross Hodge

The head coach of the West Virginia men's basketball team.

Honor Huff

A forward for the West Virginia men's basketball team who scored 21 points in the game against UCF.

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What they’re saying

“We didn't execute coming down the stretch. You give them (West Virginia) a lot of credit. That's how they've won a lot of their basketball games. We knew that coming in, we had to stay focused, and we didn't sustain in the second half the way we needed to. They just keep playing, and they make some plays. (Honor) Huff, he can get going at any moment. I think he had seven points with nine minutes to go, but he finished with 21. That's what he does. We just have to understand that you have to play for a full forty (minutes) and you can't have any let-ups on either side of the basketball.”

— Johnny Dawkins, Head Coach (si.com)

What’s next

The Mountaineers will look to continue their relentless style of play as they continue their conference schedule in the Big 12.

The takeaway

West Virginia's ability to play with maximum effort for the full 40 minutes, even when their offense is struggling, has been a key factor in their success this season. This gritty, never-quit approach makes them a difficult opponent to put away, as evidenced by their ability to erase large deficits on the road.