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West Virginia Struggles with Loose Balls in Slow Start
Mountaineers fall behind early in loss to Texas Tech
Feb. 8, 2026 at 4:55pm
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The West Virginia men's basketball team has struggled with slow starts in recent games, and that trend continued in their matchup against Texas Tech. Loose balls and turnovers early on put the Mountaineers in an early hole that they were unable to climb out of.
Why it matters
West Virginia's slow starts have been a recurring issue this season, and it has often put them in difficult positions to try and come back. Maintaining focus and control of the ball early in games is crucial for the Mountaineers to have a chance at winning against tough conference opponents like Texas Tech.
The details
In the game against Texas Tech, the Mountaineers had trouble securing loose balls and committed several early turnovers, allowing the Red Raiders to build a sizable lead that West Virginia was unable to overcome. This has been a problem for the team in recent outings, and it's an area they will need to address to be more competitive in Big 12 play.
- The game against Texas Tech took place on February 8, 2026.
The players
Ross Hodge
The head coach of the West Virginia men's basketball team.
Texas Tech
The opponent that West Virginia faced, a fellow Big 12 Conference team.
The takeaway
West Virginia's struggles with slow starts and loose ball control have been a recurring issue this season, and it's an area they will need to improve on if they want to be more competitive in Big 12 play and have a chance at making a postseason run.
