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West Virginia Basketball Ranked in Way-Too-Early Top 40 for 2026-27
Despite missing the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons, the Mountaineers are expected to bounce back under coach Ross Hodge.
Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:03am
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A conceptual illustration captures the fractured, high-energy nature of college basketball as West Virginia looks to return to the national spotlight.Morgantown TodayEven though the 2025-26 season just ended and rosters are far from set for the new year, a recent college basketball list shows national confidence in Ross Hodge's West Virginia Mountaineers. Fox Sports' Andy Katz included WVU on his Way-Too-Early Power 36 that he released on April 9, with the Mountaineers clocking in at No. 35, just barely making the cut.
Why it matters
This preseason ranking shows a belief in the progress Hodge has made in his first year as head coach, as well as an expectation that he will be able to land quality talent in the transfer portal to help West Virginia break its three-year NCAA Tournament drought.
The details
In Hodge's first season, West Virginia finished 21-14 overall with a 9-10 Big 12 record, including 0-1 in the conference tournament. Even though Hodge is only responsible for one season so far, WVU basketball is now in the midst of the program's first three-year drought without an NCAA Tournament appearance since failing to get in from 1999-2004.
- The 2025-26 season just ended.
- Katz released his Way-Too-Early Power 36 on April 9, 2026.
The players
Ross Hodge
The head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team, who is entering his second season.
Andy Katz
A college basketball analyst for Fox Sports who released a preseason top 36 rankings for the 2026-27 season.
What they’re saying
“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 (the National Championship Game).”
— Ross Hodge, Head Coach, West Virginia Mountaineers
What’s next
The Mountaineers will look to build on their College Basketball Crown title from last season and secure a spot in the 2027 NCAA Tournament, ending their three-year drought.
The takeaway
Despite recent struggles, West Virginia basketball remains a program with national relevance, as evidenced by its inclusion in a prominent preseason top 40 ranking. Coach Hodge's first-year success has renewed optimism around the Mountaineers, who will aim to return to the NCAA Tournament and potentially make a deep run in the 2026-27 season.
